The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

False Appears With the True

These are calm, frank statements, open to challenge by any of the contemporary opponents of Christianity if not true to fact. Those who were truly the disciples of Christ are represented as possessing special gifts for healing, casting out of evil spirits, and leading men and women from paganism to the acceptance of Christ, the Saviour of men. AGP 187.2

It should be observed that Irenaeus makes special mention of visions and prophetic communications. This account of the AGP 187.3

operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is in full accord with the one Justin Martyr left on record. Moreover, in his work “Against Heresies,” Irenaeus, like Justin, recognizes the existence of false prophets in his day, as well as declares the presence of the true. It may be appropriately observed here that whenever the genuine gift is to be found, the spurious will nearly always make its appearance to counterfeit and discredit the true. An example of the workings and character of a false prophet in those days is given in Chapter XIII in Irenaeus’ work, headed “The Deceitful Arts and Nefarious Practices of Marcus.” After describing the method of Marcus in dealing with one of his woman dupes, and telling of the uncleanness of life that accompanied such frauds, Irenaeus adds this word concerning the attitude of “the most faithful“: AGP 188.1

“But already some of the most faithful women, possessed of the fear of God, and not being deceived (whom, nevertheless, he did his best to seduce like the rest by bidding them prophesy), abhorring and execrating him, have withdrawn from such a vile company of revelers. This they have done, as being well aware that the gift of prophecy is not conferred on men by Marcus, the magician, but that only those to whom God sends His grace from above possess the divinely bestowed power of prophesying; and then they speak where and when God pleases, and not when Marcus orders them to do so.”—“Ante-Nicene Christian Library,” Vol. V, “Irenaeus Against Heresies,” Book I, chap. 13, p. 53.

The statements reproduced in this chapter furnish impressive evidence that the Christian church of the second century was still endowed with spiritual gifts such as had been bestowed upon the apostles and their converts in the first century. AGP 188.2