Continuationism is the Charismatic theological position that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8-10), have continued throughout church history, and continue to manifest today. Theologically, it is the opposite of Cessationism, which is the perspective that the miraculous gifts ceased or stopped manifesting around the year 100 A.D.–when the Bible was completed. Cessationism is usually believed by conservative Evangelicals such as Presbyterians and Baptists. But, I am a 100% Continuationist. Here are some scholarly Continuationist books.

Deere, Jack. Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993. A powerful defense of Continuationism by a former Cessationist seminary professor. Deere has a Th.D., and was an Old Testament professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. 302 pages.

Doles, Jeff. Miracles and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the History of the Church. Seffner, FL: Walking Barefoot Ministries, 2008. This book is the most comprehensive, chronological record of supernatural, miraculous, and prophetic experiences in church history among Catholic saints and Protestant reformers and revivalists. 271 pages.

Greig, Gary, and Kevin Springer, eds. The Kingdom and the Power. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1993. A powerful collection of Continuationist essays by many Charismatic theologians. 463 pages.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994. Holding a Ph.D. from Cambridge, Grudem presents a powerful scholarly case for Continuationism, in his section on the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Chapter 52. 1264 pages.

______, and Stanley Gundry, eds. Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?: Four Views. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996. I personally favor C. Samuel Storms’ Third Wave perspective. 368 pages.

______. The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today. Revised Edition. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000.

Hyatt, Eddie. 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2002. Hyatt holds a D.Min., and presents a short 2,000 year history of miracles in the church. A sweeping rebuttal of all Cessationist claims about the miraculous gifts ceasing in the year 100 A.D. However, I disagree with his inclusion of the Cathari as orthodox–there is very much evidence that they were really Gnostics. I also disagree with his rejection of the Catholic mystics and their practice of contemplative prayer. But overall, it is a good book. 240 pages.

Kraft, Charles. Christianity with Power. Ann Arbor, MI: Vine Books, 1989. Professor of Anthropology at Fuller Theological Seminary, Kraft presents a strong case for the need of the Holy Spirit’s miraculous power in the church. 242 pages.

Nathan, Rich. A Response to Charismatic Chaos. Anaheim, CA: Association of Vineyard Churches, 1993. A thorough critique of John MacArthur’s Cessationist work, Charismatic Chaos. 28 pages.

Robeck, Jr., Cecil, ed. Charismatic Experiences in History. Hendrickson, 1985. 180 pages.

Ruthven, Jon. On the Cessation of the Charismata. Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993. A powerful academic defense of Continuationism. Ruthven holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology. Presents a strong rebuttal of the Cessationist work, Counterfeit Miracles by B. B. Warfield. 271 pages.

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Milne, Garnet. The Westminster Confession of Faith and the Cessation of Special Revelation: The Majority Puritan Viewpoint on Whether Extra-Biblical Prophecy is Still Possible. Wipf & Stock Pub, 2007. 362 pages. Although this is a cessationist book, it is important historical material for understanding the Puritan origins of cessationism, in their attempts to remain faithful to the Bible, in opposition to the Quakers. Shows that Article 1 on the Scriptures in both the Westminster Confession and the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith were written from a cessationist viewpoint; and are therefore the origin of the cessationism we see today among Presbyterians, Baptists, and non-Charismatic Christians. Also, with John Wesley and the early Methodists, who were continuationists, shows how I agree with them in their acceptance of the 39 Articles as an orthodox confession for Charismatic Christians like myself.