The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

Both True and False

Recognizing along with the true the presence of the false who came to harass the church, the same writer adds: AGP 181.2

“After stating other matters, he [Miltiades, the historian] enumerates those who had prophesied under the New Testament. Among these he mentions one Ammias and Quadratus. ‘But the false prophet,’ says he, ‘is carried away by a vehement ecstasy, accompanied by want of all shame and fear. Beginning, indeed, with a designed ignorance, and terminating, as beforesaid, in involuntary madness. They will never be able to show that any of the Old, or any of the New Testament, were thus violently agitated and carried away in spirit. Neither will they be able to boast that Agabus, or Judas, or Silas, or the daughters of Philip, or Ammias in Philadelphia, or Quadratus, or others that do not belong to them, ever acted in this way…. For the apostle shows that the gift of prophecy should be in all the church until the coming of the Lord.’” Id., Book V, chap. 17, p. 187.

Quadratus, here named, was a man of considerable influence. He wrote an Apology and a defense to Emperor Adrian in behalf AGP 181.3

of the Christians. It seems to have been existent as late as the seventh century (Photius: Cod., 162). Concerning Quadratus, Dean (Frederic W., D. D., F. R. S.) Farrar writes: AGP 182.1

“Nothing is really known of the writer of the Apology, of which an interesting fragment is preserved by Eusebius, in which the writer says that some were still living in his day on whom Christ had performed His miracles of healing.” “Lives of the Fathers,” chap. 4, p. 129. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1907.

Eusebius says of this Apology, extant in his day, the fourth century: AGP 182.2

“The work is still in the hands of some of the brethren, as also in our own, from which anyone may see evident proof, both of the understanding of the man, and of his apostolic faith.

“This writer shows the antiquity of the age in which he lived, in these passages: ‘The deeds of our Saviour,’ says he, ‘were always before you [the emperor] for they were true miracles; those that were healed, those that were raised from the dead, who were seen, not only when healed and when raised, but were always present. They remained living a long time, not only whilst our Lord was on earth, but likewise when He had left the earth. So that some of them have also lived to our own times.’ Such was Quadratus.” “The Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus,” Book IV, chap. 3, p. 118.

This is instructive and valuable testimony. It connects us up closely with the apostles. It expresses confidence in the possession and working of the spiritual gifts at that period, it tells us of the great power that attended Christian workers, and of the marvelous results that followed. It should be observed that “Quadratus is said to have been distinguished for his prophetical gifts.” This was in the early part of the second century after the apostles had gone to their rest. AGP 182.3