[Easy E]

When did Paul lose his signs?

Or did he?

All I know is that he couldn't heal Timothy or Trophimus. (I Tim 5:23 and II Tim 4:20).
Interested to know what ye think.

2 Timothy is very possibly Paul's last letter written (I think he also wrote Hebrews, and that comes later - but that is another debate). He no longer needed the signs of an apostle as he was nearing the end of his ministry and nearing the end of the revelation he was giving from God.

As you stated yourself - Paul's signs did disappear. If they had not he would have healed. The question is not really if, but when? That is a very important question. But a preliminary question may be why he had signs? If we answer that question we will find the answer to the first question.

The first answer would be he was an apostle, so he had the signs of an apostle (2Co 12:12). But why did an apostle need signs for that matter? 2Co 5:7 says we are to walk by faith, not by sight so we are not to require signs. 1Co 1:22 says the Jews required a sign - that is not because of unbelief - that is exactly what God told them would come from Him when He spoke to His prophets. There were two requirements God told them they were to have when He sent them a prophet - one was that the message was to be in line with what God taught them in His word - and there was to be a sign that came to pass (Deu 13:1-5; 18:20-22). So when God sent the Apostle Paul he had the appropriate signs that came to pass and he said over and over during his ministry what he taught was in line with what God taught them in the OT.

When you start out the book of Acts salvation belongs to the Jews (john 4:22) and they get a renewed offer to receive their Kingdom that was "at hand" during Christ's ministry among them. The Holy Spirit was part of their New Covenant which preceded the Kingdom. When you close the book of Acts you see the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles (Acts 28:28), it is no longer of the Jews. Israel is set aside while God is out there among the Gentiles, and when God is done with the Gentiles in forming the Body of Christ, He will return to Israel once again and fulfill all the promises that God made for them according to Romans 11:25-29. Israel during this age is mostly blinded - hence the small amount of Jews that are in the Body of Christ and the large amount that are Gentiles. We did not replace Israel or supercede them - God is going to do for them exactly as He said He would when He is done with the Gentiles.

While Israel has been set aside and temporarily blinded God is among the Gentiles and the signs that belonged to the nation of Israel are set aside as well so you see God now tell us we are to walk by faith, not by sight (signs).

The truth of the matter is that Israel was given signs (such as crossing the Red Sea on dry ground) and that was supposed to cause them to believe in God and follow Him, which you see Israel rarely do. But today is an age of "full knowledge" that faith has always been the real issue with God so we are told to walk by faith, not sight. We are told to believe God period. So we are a people who are to just believe what God said in His word given to us and apply it to the details of life by faith.

Hope that helps brother!

[Easy E]

ah, thanks guy,

I see what you are saying and I appreciate that answer. But when the charismatics ask us to explain why these signs are gone in our age, I have had a hard time pointing to a specific verse and saying "Before this there were signs and afterwards there were none."

I very much understand why they are gone. I think that Acts 28:28 is that verse I was looking for. But I kinda see the Gospel going to the Gentiles at ch. 13 (esp vs46). Can you explain the reason for their existence all that time?

[Renee]

Easy E,

If you haven't already, go to : Doctrine----Thread ---The gifts of the Holy Spirit for today? It may help you find an answer to your question about Paul.

Aloha Renee

[chette777]

signs were used to prove one had authority of God to go about His business. once his auuthority was established there was no longer a need for the sign. Pauls signs were notjust to Jews they were also to Gentiles.