Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: July 30, 2006
“THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE”
Ben Justice
Mark’s account of the Greek Commission states, “And he (Jesus) said unto them
(apostles), Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any
deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover” (Mark 16:15-18).
Most members of the church clearly understand verses 15-16. However, there is
not quite that clear understanding with regard to verses 17-18. Many have
asked, “Since verses 15-16 still apply today, and why not verses 17-18?” It is our
intention to study this, in particular the expression, “And these signs shall
follow them that believe.”
“Signs” is from the Greek word semeion. This Greek word has several different
meanings in the NT, but most of the time the word refers to miraculous acts. In
fact, this Greek word is often translated as “miracle(s)” in the NT.
The term “signs” signifies that which was miraculously wrought and was a token
of divine power and authority. The sign that was performed pointed to something
beyond them — namely God. A couple of verses later in v. 20, Mark records, “And
they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working them, and confirming the
word with signs following. Amen.” So, the purpose of these signs was for the
confirmation of the Word of God. The word “confirm” in v. 20 carries the sense of
“to establish.” The signs (or miracles) that followed would “confirm” or
“establish” the truth of what was preached as being from God.
Back to v. 17, note the word “follow.” Jesus said, “these signs shall follow them
that believe.” The term “follow” is from a word meaning “to follow close up or
side by side.” The idea then is that the signs (or miracles) would accompany
them that believe.
In v. 20, the English word “follow” is used again, but this time, a different Greek
word is used. It means “to follow after, close upon.” Whenever the word was
preached, miracles would follow close upon to confirm or establish the truth of
what was preached.
Consider carefully the language of Jesus. We must not be guilty of reading into
the text what is not there. This promise does not specify how long these signs
would be around, nor does the promise state that every individual believer will
have these spiritual gifts. This is a general statement made by our Lord. These
signs, however, did follow believers during the apostolic age, but not every
believer. In I Cor. 12:29-30, Paul asked a series of rhetorical questions: “Are all
apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30) Have all
the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” In the context,
every question has to with the miraculous in some aspect. The obvious answer
to all of these questions is, “No.” The conclusion that we draw is that
miraculous gifts (including those listed by Jesus in Mark 16:17-18) were limited
to selected persons. They were not available universally to all believers. To say
that the words of Jesus apply to every single believer in every day and age is to
read into the text that which is not there and is to contradict other passages in
the NT.
We must consider what I Cor. 13:8-10 teaches. This chapter speaks of the
duration of miracles. Paul penned, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be
prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there
be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in
part. (10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be
done away.” Paul specifically lists “prophecies,” “tongues,” and “knowledge” (i.e.,
inspired knowledge). Note the duration of these miraculous gifts:
MIRACLES DURATION
Prophecies Shall Fail
Tongues Shall Cease
Knowledge Shall Vanish
Concerning prophecies, Paul said they “shall fail.” The original word translated
“fail” means “to reduce to inactivity.” With reference to “knowledge,” Paul said it
“shall vanish away.” This phrase is from the same Greek word translated “shall
fail.” (Why the translators translated the same word in the same context
differently, we can’t be sure.) Just as prophecies would be reduced to inactivity,
so would inspired knowledge. Concerning “tongues,” Paul said they “shall
cease.” Concerning the word “cease,” Vine wrote that it means, “to stop, to
make an end.”
In v. 9, Paul said, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” The word
“know” corresponds to the word “knowledge” in v. 8. In other words, Paul was
saying that we have “part knowledge.” The word “prophesy” corresponds to the
word “prophecies” in v. 8. This was also “in part.”
As we come to v. 10, it is extremely important, for it clearly sets forth when the
“in part” shall be done away, that is the miraculous gifts. Paul plainly stated,
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done
away.” So, when will the “in part” be done away? Paul plainly said, “when that
which is perfect is come.” It is not the aim of this article to set forth the various
views concerning the meaning of this expression. However, there is not but one
meaning that fits the context. Very simply, “that which is perfect” refers to the
completed and final revelation of God’s will to man. The original word translated
“perfect” is teleios, which carries the sense of “complete.” Vine wrote, “having
reached its end (telos) finished, complete, perfect.” He states that the word can
refer to “persons” or “things.” The phrase “that which is perfect” is literally, “the
complete/perfect thing.”
The “in part” refers to the piece-by-piece revelation of God’s truth via the various
miraculous gifts (prophecies, tongues, knowledge, etc.) that accompanied the
piece-by-piece revelation of God’s word. Paul clearly contrasted the “in part”
with “that which is perfect.” Verse 10 begins with the contrasting conjunction
“but.” The first phrase in v. 10 is in direct contrast to v. 9. Since this is the
case, it therefore follows that Paul was speaking of the completed revelation in
contrast to the partial revelation. When the completed revelation of truth came,
the miraculous would cease. Paul plainly stated this would happen in v. 8.
Now, back to what Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18. The overall context of the Bible
as it relates to miraculous gifts must be studied to get the full truth. Those who
ignore to do this do so to their own peril. The signs listed in Mark 16:17-18 have
served there purpose in bringing the NT to completion (Mark 16:20). They are no
longer available to people, no matter how sincere and zealous people are in
advocating and believing that they still exist.