In this article, I want to respond to a common but what might seem at first to be a somewhat peripheral part of a popular cessationist argument. But as we will see it is foundational for the so-called Cascade Argument as well as arguing for a fundamental distinction between the apostolic era and our own (a distinction I agree with but not in the same way).

The argument is that: if one believes the charismatic gifts continue today, and one believes that there are no more apostles today. Then one believes that at least one gift (what could be argued is the most important gift) has ceased. This argument has been put forward by many cessationists as a part of the Cascade Argument popularised by Dr Sam Waldron. Dr Waldron says: 

“If there are no Apostles of Christ that creates the precedent for saying that, at least in certain respects, the apostolic period and the church today are distinctly different because the absence of Apostles of Christ is a great difference between the apostolic period and today. The first gift, the most important gift, is now missing in the church. I think that exposes a fundamental flaw in continuationist argument and in the mockery of cessationism that you meet in some circles.” https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2007/interviewing-sam-waldron-about-cessationism/

Waldron here uses the term “gift,” the gift he is referring to is the gift of Apostleship that Paul teaches us in Ephesians 4:8-11:

Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.

The gifts here that Christ gave to the church are the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists and the shepherds and teachers themselves, given to the church to equip the saints for works of service. Waldron argument, therefore, is that since Christ has ceased giving the gift (δόμα) of Apostles today (a view agreed upon by myself and many continuationists) then it is possible and likely he has stopped giving other gifts today. Moreover, there is a distinct and notable difference between the apostolic age and what we should expect regarding the gifts of the Spirit today (I would agree that there is a difference but the difference is one of degree not of cessation)

Waldron goes on to argue that since the Apostles have ceased, the Sign Gifts have ceased and since the Sign Gifts have ceased, the charismatic gifts described in First Corinthians 12 like Prophecy, Tongues, Miracles etc have also ceased because those charismatic Sign Gifts were connected to the Apostolic ministry of confirming the word of the gospel in the apostolic age. For an in-depth presentation of the argument from one who agrees with Waldron see: https://www.aomin.org/aoblog/theology-matters/waldrons-cascade-argument/

Now without reviewing the merits of the whole of the cascade argument itself. I would like to point out a major problem with the first part of the argument. The problem with the first part of the argument is that it is based on an etymological and category error. Waldon and others’ argument relies on the cessation of the gift (δόμα) of the Apostle in Ephesians 4 to argue for the cessation of the gifts (χάρισμα) of the Holy Spirit in First Corinthians 12. 

But the Greek words used in each case are different. Just because the δόμα of Apostles has ceased it does not follow by necessity that the χάρισμα have ceased. This is demonstrated by an important consideration that in the case of Apostles, the giver of the gift is said to be Christ: 

“He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (Eph 4:10-11).”

But in the case of the Charsmata (χάρισμα) the giver of the gift is said to be the Holy Spirit, who is said to “apportion to each one individually as he wills:”

1Co 12:11  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Now as trinitarian Christians, it is not good to divide up the work of the Trinity, for as Paul has said: 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone (1 Cor 12:4-6)

God is at work in each one, but theologians often speak of different roles in the economy of the persons of the Trinity, for example in the work of Redemption. We can correctly say: The Father chose the Elect and sent the Son, the Son died and secured The Redemption of his Elect, and the Spirit applies Redemption to his Elect. 

In the case before us, it is Christ who gives the δόμα of apostles, and the Holy Spirt who gives the charimata χάρισμα. We argue that δόμα and χάρισμα should not be thought of as the same thing as if δόμα and χάρισμα are synonims when they clearly refer to different things. It might be said that Christ appoints the officers who are a gift to the church, while the Spirit empowers the church through the Charismata to do works of service. As Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

In the workings of God in the body of Christ, it is the Spirit who gives the “varieties of gifts,” it is the Lord Jesus who appoints to “varieties of services,” (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists Pastors and Teachers) but God is at work in it all of it.

So while it might be said the gift of Apostles has ceased, the word used for “gift” in Ephesians 4 is a different Greek word from First Corintinas and the one giving the gifts is said to be different. In conclusion, then, the argument that because the gift of Apostles has ceased to be given to the church then the charismatic gifts have ceased to be given to the church is a category error. These gifts are not the same, one is an office for service given by Christ, (and in 1 Corinthians 12:28 by “God) and therefore one type of gift (δόμα), that could cease while the other gifts (χαρισματων) charismatic gifts might remain.