Questions in this section
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Has knowledge vanished away?
Yes, the Bible says the apostolic gift of knowledge would only last the forty years during the ministries of the apostles. There was no further benefit or need for such an incomplete and partial gift after the scriptures were completed (I Cor 13:8-10). The Pastoral Epistles of Paul make no mention of Timothy or Titus exercising any word of wisdom or knowledge – they were to study the Bible (I Tim 4:13-15; II Tim 2:15). The inspired scriptures have more knowledge than any gift of knowledge, if the man of God will study them as he should (II Tim 3:15-17).
Knowledge itself has not failed; there is more knowledge of spiritual things today from the Bible than ever existed by a word of knowledge at Corinth. Even average Christians that can read the Bible are able to know more than any gift of incomplete and partial gift of knowledge they had. In fact, though Corinth had such gifts while the apostles were alive, they failed the knowledge test by their carnality, false teachers, and weakness (I Cor 15:34; 8:7).
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Has prophecy failed?
Yes, the Bible says the apostolic gift of prophecy would only last the forty years during the ministries of the apostles. There was no further benefit or need for such an incomplete and partial gift after the scriptures were completed (I Cor 13:8-10). The Pastoral Epistles of Paul make no mention of Timothy or Titus exercising any prophetic ability or gift – they were to study the Bible (I Tim 4:13-15; II Tim 2:15). The inspired scriptures are a more sure word of prophecy than hearing God’s voice from heaven in the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (II Pet 1:16-21). There is no prophet on earth that can fulfill the requirement for a prophet (Deut 18:22).
No prophecy of God has failed: all of God’s prophecies have been or will be fulfilled perfectly. But the childish apostolic gift of prophecy ended around 70 A.D. when the church entered into manhood with the finished scriptures able to make the man of God perfect without prophecy (I Cor 13:11; II Tim 3:16-17). Who would want to listen to a prophet when we have the Bible!
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Have tongues ceased?
Yes, the Bible says the apostolic gift of tongues would only last the forty years during the ministries of the apostles. There was no further benefit or need for such a gift after the scriptures were completed (I Cor 13:8-10). The Pastoral Epistles of Paul contain no mention of them, and he instead emphasized what tongues-speaking churches like the least – plain Bible preaching (II Tim 4:1-4). There is no church on earth that even has real tongues being spoken, and none of the churches that think they are speaking in tongues obey Paul’s clear and simple rules for their use.
Detailed Bible evidence that tongues have ceased: Tongues Have Ceased.