The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

Jim Thompson Cessationist





















Over the summer I bought and later read Jim Thompson's book Healing and healers today which is an excellent enquiry into New Testament healing, overwhelmingly specious modern claims and the matter of whether we should expect miraculous healings today. This book led me to his shorter related book Prophecy Today which came out a few years ago. This well argued little book sets out the cessationist argument. I couldn't go with him on the argument from 1 Corinthians 13 in the end but that is not an essential interpretation for the cessationist case. I think every Christian, whatever view they hold to or if they are unsure, would benefit from a perusal of these two books. They are clear, through and irenic. I for one am very thankful for them. (Not sure why EP didn't come up with more uniform covers. Hope they sell out of both soon and bring out a combined version).

2 comments:

Andrew Haslam said...

Would you be able to summarise what Biblical arguments the books give for cessationism? My research has come up empty so far since neither 1 Corinthians 13.8-12 nor Ephesians 2.20 seem to give any real force to the cessationist view (and could actually be used quite easily to reinforce the continuationist view).

Gary Brady said...

Hebrews 1:1, 2; Jude 3; 2 Tim 3:16, 17; Rev 22:18, 19 are the other texts.