B. B. Warfield
1851–1921
Last of the great Princeton theologians, known above all for his defence of the inspiration and authority of Scripture.
In his own words
The Samaritans were the first converts to be gathered into the church by men who were not Apostles; and the signs of the Apostles were accordingly lacking to them until Peter and John were sent down to them that they might "receive the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:14-17). The effect on Simon Magus of the sight of these gifts springing up on the laying on of the Apostles' hands, we will all remember. The salient statements are very explicit. ''Then laid they their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost. " "Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given. " "Give me also this power, that, on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. " It could not be more emphatically stated that the Holy Ghost was conferred by the laying on of the hands, specifically of the Apostles, and of the Apostles alone; what Simon is said to have seen is precisely that it was through the laying on of the hands of just the Apostles that the Holy Ghost was given. And there can be no question that it was specifically the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit that were in discussion; no doubt is thrown upon the genuineness of the conversion of the Samaritans; on the contrary, this is taken as a matter of course, and its assumption underlies the whole narrative; it constitutes in fact the very point of the narrative. This case of the Samaritans was of great importance in the primitive church, to enable men to distinguish between the gifts of grace and the gifts of power.
Quoted verbatim from the library, as an answer would quote it.
What we hold of him
Counterfeit Miracles
Classic
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