Customer Reviews

Counterfeit Miracles

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My "one star" compadres haven't given the book its due in any fashion. It is well and good to say (with fingers in ears, repeating like a mantra) "Miracles happen every day...I've seen them...everybody's seen them...God never changes...etc etc." But when one gets down to brass tacs, the complete dearth of evidence for - as an example - miracles of regeneration or resurrection is embarassingly obvious. Does anyone think that if Benny Hinn had more to offer than mind-cures, suggestion, and cures of psychosomatic illnesses that he would not FLOOD the airways with footage to prove it? TBN would be ALL MIRACLES, ALL DAY. I was raised in a charismatic home and fully believe that God gives special providences and that our prayers ARE answered. But the special apostolic gifts are, whether you gauge it by quality or quantity, not with us anymore. I understand the worldview of the charismatic; but charismatics need to learn that whether or not the last regenerative miracle was in 70 AD or yesterday actually has no bearing on the truth of Christianity. Warfields excellent exegesis not only answers questions of charismata that endure to this day, but also reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. Read this 80 year old tome, change the names, and you have a scathing indictment of the modern practitioners of faith healing. Bravo to a scintillating intellect. A final note: If we are truly to be living from one miracle to the next in our Christian life...isn't the term completely diluted of its meaning?

As a former member of the Charismatic movement, I belived that the doctrines of the charismatic movement were "obviously" Biblical and that the issue was black-and-white, and that there were few if any legitimate reasons to agree with cessationism or to question the basic tenents of the charismatic movement. If this describes you, think again! After reading this book, I will never again be able to think of the issue as "black-and-white" or Charismatic doctrines as "obviously" proven. In this book, Warfield:
1. Examines church history and various "examples" of miracles, such as "mind-cure" miracles (like those of Christian Science), Roman Catholic miracles, etc., and shows that we are in no way obligated to believe them, and that the case for these miracles is weak at best. In one particular section of the book, Warfield takes several examples of Christian "miracles" and gives examples of similar miracles being performed through other movements/factors, such as mesmerism, placebo effect, suggestion, and non-Christian religions. Warfield also critiques several miracle "movements." For example, his critique of the Christian Science movement was extremely interesting and informative; for example, Warfield shows how Christian Science is not really Christian at all, but is really a form of pantheism.
2. Shows that many of the common proof-texts of the Charismatic movement do not really support their position.
3. Shows that the Bible actually supports the cessation of the charisma.
My one point against this book: I think that Warfield's arguments on the third point are fairly strong, but could maybe a little stronger. He does an excellent job refuting his opponents' views, but his arguments for his position related to the third position could be a little more in-depth. In all fairness though I am not sure that his primary purpose was simply to write an exegetical case for cessationism, and his arguments are strong in my opinion.

I would definitly recommend this book to anyone who thinks that there is "clear" Scriptural or historical evidence for the charismatic movement, or who is dealing with the charismatic movement or has friends/family in the charismatic movement.

I completely do not agree with Warfield's Reformed theology that the charismata (aka - sign gifts) ceased at the canonization of the New Testament Scriptures, but I can definitely admit that he gives a good exegetical argument for his side of the theological debate. Warfield advocates a cessationist viewpoint of the miraculous and argues firmly that the miracles were only to validate the Gospel and the apostles. He also believes that God doesn't heal today and that today's church is in no need of signs and wonders. As I said, I definitely disagree with his theology, but as a student of the Bible, I can definitely appreciate other view points. The reason why I didn't give this book 5-stars is because at points in it, Warfield shows more bias than objectivity...but you can't really judge him on that. Who can EVER be 100% objective? As compelling as Warfield's argument is, always remember, there are ALWAYS two sides of EVERY debate. For those who would like to read the definitive book for the continualist side of this theological debate, read "On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Post-Biblical Miracles" by Jon Ruthven. You'll find that Ruthven, an equally capable theologian as Warfield, counters every argument that Warfield presents. Also, try "Are Miraculous Gifts for Today", edited by Wayne Grudem. This book presents the four views of this question: Cessationist, Open but Cautious, Third Wave, and Pentecostal/Charismatic. Whatever your denominational persuasion may be, this book covers it all. Try both of these books in addition to "Counterfeit Miracles" and you'll find yourself on the way to becoming an "expert" on the debate.

With brilliant academic precision BB Warfield starts out his discourse by challenging the unhistorical assertions held by the mass-media-marketing segment of Christianity. The cause of much criticism, and praise, this work has remained the bastion of cessationism. Christianity has been historically involved in a web of deceit and the words and deeds recorded in church history have been evidence of the very opposite of the authentic words recorded in Scripture. Criticism of religion on theological and philosophical but especially historical grounds is of the utmost importance in the pursuit of truth.

'Miracles', Warfield wrote, 'do not appear on the pages of Scripture vagrantly, here, there, and elsewhere indifferently, without assignable reason. They belong to revelation periods, and appear only when God is speaking to His people through accredited messengers, declaring His gracious purposes.' pp. 25-26 Without a blind adherence to Catholic doctrine that has defeated some, Warfield conquered the view that after the decease of the apostles miracles remained 'until they finally dwindled away by the end of the 3rd century, or a little later'.

That miracles died out gradually in the early church over time is contra to church history, yet is overwhelmingly evident in much of what Warfield majestically sets out to prove erroneous by supplying a true account of the story from its Judeo-Christian inception. 'It is very clear from the record of the New Testament that the extraordinary charismata were not (after the very first days of the church) the possession of all Christians, but special supernatural gifts to the few; and it is equally clear from the records of the sub-apostolic church that they did not continue in it.' pp. 235-236, n 6

'It is from these apocryphal miracle-stories and not from the miracles of the New Testament, that the luxuriant growth of the miraculous stories of later ecclesiastical writings draw their descent.' p 18 The 'lying wonders' that arose in essence from the sphere of apocryphal literature will eventually find their ultimate manifestation in the appearance of the Antichrist, who will, quiet imaginably, be difficult to identify if the accepted and rising cult of seducing miracle workers had to continue. If the two cases, that of the biblical warning of 'lying wonders' and that of the claimed miracle workers, had to be compared, we shall have to say that they agree in the unholy pretensions displayed in both. Warfield believed that there was only one historical answer for the superabundance of claimed miracles: 'They represent the infusion of heathen modes of thought into the church.' p 61

Warfield believed in a supernatural God, let no one deny - 'We believe in a wonder-working God, but not in a wonder-working church.' p 58 Vos acquiesced with Warfield: 'What is unique to the miracle is the assertion of absolutely divine supernatural power. Such things are possible to God and to God only.' Biblical Theology p 388 The distinction was, for the old Princetonians, a simple one: 'The apostolic church was characteristically a miracle-working church.' p 5 But it is to Catholicism that Warfield attributed the invoking and approval of the office of marvel-worker, a proof that the divine favor rested on the Roman Catholic church. 'Ecclesiastical miracles of every conceivable kind were alleged', p 48, Warfield followed. The relic-worship of saints and the rise of Marian worship within Catholicism are meticulously reduced to writing by Warfield. Centuries of admissible superstition and the popular fancy for the wonder-tale were the bedrock for manifestations of the miraculous, which by now had achieved acceptance as the art of the ecclesiastical state.

'The world-view of the Catholic is one all his own, and is very expressly a miraculous one.' p 100 We, in hindsight, have the privilege of knowing full well that there are those within evangelicalism who welcome a return to the inexplicable magic and captivating awe that emerged with the Roman Catholic bid for insuperable power. 'This is the mystic's dream. It has not, however, been God's way.' p 26 And as only Warfield could state with great integrity: 'There are many things which we cannot explain, and yet which nobody supposes to be miraculous. Yet we must not be stampeded into acknowledging as sheerly miraculous everything the laws of whose occurrence are inscrutable to us.' p 120

Counterfeit Miracles was principally occasioned by Warfield's engagement with those who made unsound appeals to Scripture. In one such an injudicious appeal, his textual criticism of Mark 16: 9-20 can only be welcomed: 'In point of fact, of course, Christ did not utter these words; the appeal is to the spurious last twelve verses of Mark. We see, however, that the belief that Christ uttered these words was a powerful co-operating cause inducing belief in the actual occurrence of the alleged marvels.' p 45 and 'The spuriousness of the passage evacuates the argument.' p 59

Part of the church broke away in the early sixteenth century deliberately because of claims to possession and exercise of powers that fit this account, which were received with justifiable suspicion. Warfield's words will always serve as a timely reminder: 'Pretensions by any class of men to the possession and use of miraculous powers as a permanent endowment are, within the limits of the Christian church, a specialty of Roman Catholicism. Denial of these pretensions is part of the protest by virtue of which we bear the name of Protestants.' p 127

And so Warfield, not content with claims of continuity between the apostles and Rome, could constructively dismiss and conclude: 'The whole tenor of this representation of the miracle-workers of the patristic and medieval church to their miracles is artificial.' p 49

In "Counterfeit Miracles" B.B. Warfield makes a persuasive case for the cessation of miralcles after the time of the apostles. The book is well written and cogently argued, and I would highly recommend it. For those wanting to read a good response to Warfield's thesis, I would also recommend Jon Ruthven's "On the Cessation of the Charismata."

In this book, B.B. Warfield, a conservative theologian at Princeton who died in the early 19th century, makes an good case for the cessation of the charismata (Greek for "spiritual gifts"). This is a classic, and a must read for those interested in the topic. The book is a fairly difficult read, given the way Warfield skips around from viewpoint to contrasting viewpoint, but it is incredibly interesting and I highly recommend it. I bought mine at a local bookstore, and it cost me $10, so their price looks reasonable.

This is a classic and a must read and reread for anyone seriously interested in examining modern claims to miraculous charismata. As a scholar and a christian man, Warfield has few peers. Jack Deere and others have tried to counter his arguments. Be sure you read Warfield for yourself. You should also read (for a Charismatic perspective) Jack Deere's book, Surprised By the Spirit. Then reread Warfield and decide if you think Deere adequately relayed and answered Warfield's arguments. Jack Deere's effort is the best so far, but he falls far short IMHO.

This classic deals with miracles in a broad sense related to the modern Charismatic controversy. One noteworthy peculiarity of this book is Warfield's detailed examination of miracles in history and various groups.

B.B. Warfield was widely regarded as the most able conservative theologian of his generation in the English-speaking world. He applies his characteristic Biblical thoroughness and clear-headed rigor to this topic, with very challenging results. He changed my mind on several issues he addresses. Overall, very good.

Warfield's first chapter, "On the Cessation of the Charismata" flies directly into the face of Jesus' criticism of the scribes who espoused the first-century Jewish doctrine of "it is not in heaven" (that God no longer speaks, but has given all authority to the written Torah and its interpreters--basically rejecting the New Covenant of the Spirit [2 Cor 3]). Jesus' response to the central doctrine of Judaism was: "the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. *His voice you have never heard*, his *form you have never seen* [no visions]; and you do not have his [prophetic] word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me (John 5:37-39 RSV). Warfield's cessationism is exactly that false teaching of the scribes, who continued to "refuse to hear the One who speaks"...."TODAY if you hear his voice" (Heb 12:24-25 [note present tenses]; 3:7,15). The New Covenant is the "word" of God revealed directly into the heart (Jer 31:34) and the Spirit and his prophetic word in the mouth (Isa 59:21, cited in Acts 2:39 as the crucial goal of the Pentecost sermon).
SCRIPTURE ITSELF teaches the continuation of the [miraculous, prophetic] charismata in a paraphrase of Isa 59:21 in Romans 11:29, Paul insists: "The charismata and the calling of God are NOT WITHDRAWN." Therefore, "desire earnestly the best gifts" [including prophecy].
Cessationism is a false doctrine, based on the traditions of men (invented by the Jews, pagans and Christian heretics), BECAUSE IT DENIES THE VERY SCRIPTURES IT PURPORTS TO DEFEND.
See, Ruthven, *What's Wrong with Protestant Theology: Religious Tradition vs Biblical Emphasis* (forthcoming 2012) and the definitive study, *On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Post-Biblical Miracles* Revised and expanded ed., 2011.

Also the overwhelmingly documented two-volume work: Craig Keener, *Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts* Baker Academic, 2011. For a clear-cut "miracle" today see video interview: "Metal Disappears" (Metal disappearing from wrist--one of hundreds such accounts).

This writing introduced the belief that the gifts stopped with the apostles. It is heresy and there is no scriptural support for this concept of Warfield. Unfortunately, many Christians & denominations have bought into this lie because of this book. If you want insight into the rejection of the supernatural work of God, for today, and how it was mainstreamed in the US this is a good read. My 1 star is for false teaching though a powerful writing, obviously.