The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today: In the New Testament and Today

I felt that Wayne Grudems' positions in spiritual gifts and the operating of the Holy Spirit is very balanced and fair.

This book is a great resource for a balanced and biblical view of this subject. If you are not a cessationist yet do not appreciate the way the prophetic gift is approached and practiced with such excess and error in many contemporary expressions of Christianity, than this book will be of great value. I have been pastoring for 22 years and a seminary graduate (GCTS). I have found that when the gift of prophecy is allowed to find expression in a Biblical way in a church body it can be a great blessing. Grudem's book demonstrates fine scholarship in a very readable style, address all areas concerning this subject and is of great help in developing a biblical approach.

Wayne Gruden's book, The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, is a comprehensive and biblical review of prophecy in the Scriptures. With balanced hermeneutical methods, he unveils the nature of the Old Testament prophets, the prophetic ministry of the New Testament, and the value and practice of prophecy in the contemporary church. Combining sound deductive reasoning with a relevant didactic approach, he also discusses the issues that have emerged within evangelical Christianity regarding the office of apostle and prophet, clearly rejecting their contemporary usage with solid exegetical evidence. He also tackles those who position themselves on both sides of the spiritual gift spectrum- the "cessationists", who believe that the prophetic gifts are no longer for today, and those in the charismatic camp who place an overemphasis on prophecy. He strikes a practical balance, encouraging both sides to take a closer look at the biblical data and be receptive to a new approach. With Scriptural safeguards in place, he also encourages those who have never been exposed to the gifts of prophecy to expand their understanding and be open to the experience of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Beginning in the Old Testament, Grudem states that the prophets functioned as messengers from God who spoke with absolute divine authority. Since the prophets' words were the very words of God, the messages were beyond challenge and demanded strict obedience. However, in the New Testament, the apostles took over where the Old Testament prophets left off. Citing a number of parallels, Gruden notes how the apostles were divinely appointed, spoke with absolute divine authority, and wrote the inspired books that make up the canon of the New Testament (27-29, 235). Though the apostolic ministry ended when the apostles passed away, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost bestowed the gifts of the Spirit upon the church, enabling people to prophesy revealed messages from the Lord. Though the nature of the gift of prophecy is delivered through imperfect human means and requires evaluation by the church, it is for the church's benefit and is intended to be in operation until the return of Christ. Grudem, as an ordained Baptism pastor, is surprisingly refreshing in his approach toward spiritual gifts. He repeatedly highlights Paul's exhortation in 1 Corinthians to "eagerly desire" the gifts of the Holy Spirit and especially the gift of prophecy. Throughout the book, he highlights how prophecy is intentionally designed for the "upbuilding", encouragement, and comfort of the church and is a ministry all believers can potentially participate in and develop through sound biblical teaching and the leading of the Holy Spirit (140). Regarding the controversial issue of the office of the prophet in the contemporary church, Grudem provides a number of biblical examples that deny the existence of the office of the prophet even in the early church.

I believe that Reformers should read this book. It is accurate and informative. It will help destroy some of the myths surrounding the gift of prophecy and will bring you closer to God's desire. Being Reformed (CRC), I have had many questions about the gift of prophecy (gathered over many years and many book). Almost all of them have been answered here. As J.I. Packer wrote, this book is "Careful, thorough, wise, and to my mind, convincing." I agree. You will find scripturally-based answers to what the gift is, who can have it, how it is used, and how it can benefit the Church. I highly recommend it, as well as they CRC Acts of Synod 1973 (nearly 30 years old!). This book is much newer, but covers much of the same ground. Read it and pray for God's illumination on the matter.

A fantastic tool for those interested in a balanced, scriptural approach to the New Testament gift of prophecy and its place in the church today. Tons of biblical references are cited, giving this very readable work a scholarly quality. A must read for those serious on the subject.