Does The New Testament Replace The Gifts of The Spirit?
Paul laid hands on Timothy to impart a gift of the Spirit and encouraged him to use the gift God gave him (2 Tim. 1:6). Paul was in essence, Timothy's teacher and like a father to him (1Cor 4:17; Ph 2:22; 1Tim 1:2, 18; 2 Tim 1:2). He took him from his home to train him up and commission him to be a leader of the church. Paul taught Timothy the same teachings contained in the letters he wrote to the other churches (1Cor 4:17). Timothy, already knowing most of what the New Testament would contain, still had a supernatural gift imparted to him. The New Testament did not take the place of the supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit and he still experienced its gifting. Timothy was already a Christian believer (2Tim.1:5) and did not need proof that the message was from God but needed a powerful gift in order to accomplish what the Lord wanted him to do. One cannot assume Timothy would have been able to carry out his commission without it. For the same reasons, miraculous gifts can occur in the absence of the New Testament in any particular language. Paul told Timothy that he needed to activate this extra strength and supernatural ability (2Tim. 1:6-8).
Read more about this topic: Continuationism
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