Page 31 - November 2025 - Truth & Tidings

Raymond Saxe, Partial or Perfect? The Cessation of Signs and Completeness of
Scripture (N. Ireland, Scripture Teaching Library), 168 pages
Reviewed by Reuben Miller
In this book, Raymond Saxe establishes that the Bible is our only foundation for doc-
trine and knowledge. He then outlines the advent of the Holy Spirit in the scriptural
narrative, first at Pentecost, and then in the widening circle of His manifestation to all
believers.
Having established the biblical roles of the Holy Spirit, the author turns attention to
the gifts of prophecy and tongues. He explores the purposes of both in the early Church.
Prophecy was that gift which allowed men to speak previously unrevealed truth from
God. The gift of speaking in tongues was a sign, specifically to the Jews. Having that
particular gift was not a prerequisite for baptism, and certainly not a requirement of all
believers. And apart from immediate interpretation, the gift of tongues was not to be
employed! It brings into focus the error of endorsing emotional experiences as a vital
and necessary initiation, and calling
it the gift of tongues!
Exploring 1 Corinthians 13, Saxe
shows definitively how proph-
ecy will fail (katargeo), the passive
voice of the verb meaning that God
will cause it to end, since after the
completion of the New Testament
canon, there would be no revelation
of new truth. Tongues will cease
(pauo). This word, however, is in the
middle voice, showing that tongues
will terminate on their own, having
completed their purpose.
While it should be noted to use
caution in regard to the author’s
view of the baptism of the Spirit,
this is a helpful book for our own
instruction that we may know the
ways of God, obey His Word, and
be preserved from error.
The book is available for purchase
at ritchiechristianmedia.co.uk and
gospelfolio.com.

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