Signs of the Apostles

The Story

How should the Christian assess contemporary claims about spiritual gifts? In this second and revised edition of sign of the Apostles, Walter Chantry describes the world-wide spread of the charismatic movement, and discusses its significance. But it is his conviction that miraculous powers are no longer placed in the hands of individual men and women. Tracing the occurrence of miracles in the Old and New Testaments, he concludes that their function was primarily to attest the commission of the spokesman of God. This is why, he maintains, every recorded instance of the reception of miraculous power in the New Testament Church occurred through the ministry of an Apostle. Now that the canon of Scripture is complete, Walter Chantry believes that the pursuit of all the spiritual gifts of the apostolic age can only proceed upon the basis of a failure to recognize the sufficiency and finality of the Bible. The argument of this book is enhanced by biblical exposition. A striking discussion of 1 Corinthians 13 shows that spiritual gifts may be present while love is absent, indicating that their presence was never regarded in the New Testament Church as an evidence of spiritual maturity. From 2 Corinthians 10-13, the author demonstrates that it is human weakness, and not conscious 'power', which God uses for his glory. From Psalm 85 he outlines the true character of revival, and closes the book with material drawn from the Great Awakening of the 18th century. This short work is written with clarity and vigour. It carefully distinguishes some kinds of charismatically-inclined Christians from others. It poses questions with which every Church-member is faced. Walter Chantry's answers tally with those of the greaters leaders of the Church during the Christian centuries.