That Which Is Perfect

Are the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit still active today? What was their purpose in the early church, and what does the New Testament teach about their continuation?

In That Which Is Perfect, John F Parkinson examines the gifts of the Holy Spirit, tracing their introduction at Pentecost and their role in the development of the early church. Some gifts served as signs to the Jews, others revealed new truth, enabled evangelism or contributed to the building up of the church. But were all these gifts intended to continue throughout the Church Age?

Through a careful examination of Scripture, the author presents the biblical case for cessationism, the position that the revelatory, miraculous and sign gifts ceased with the completion of the New Testament. Particular attention is given to the meaning of "that which is perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13 and the relationship between spiritual gifts and the completed revelation of God's Word.

The book also considers baptism with the Holy Spirit, the apostles' doctrine and the teachings of modern Pentecostalism, encouraging readers to examine these subjects in the light of Scripture.

Written as a concise and accessible study, That Which Is Perfect is intended for Christians seeking a clearer understanding of spiritual gifts and their implications for gospel witness, worship and service in the local church.