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NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:27 ¶ Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:27 ¶ Now you [collectively] are Christ's body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function]. |
Bible Question:
Dear Tim, Nolan, and saints, I have asked this question before, but here goes. If the 'office' of apostle and prophet are no longer active, why do we still have the 'office' of pastor, evangelist, teacher? It is late, so my mind may not be so sharp...but where in the Bible does it say that the prerequisite for apostles and prophets is that they must provide *new* revelation? For that matter, where in the Bible is the prerequisite that these ministers must be infallible? Not all apostles and prophets wrotes books of the Bible. (Thomas, Philip, Bartholomew, etc.) Some of the saints that did write books were not identified as apostles or prophets. (Dr. Luke, John Mark, Jude) None of them were infallible. So why must a present-day minister be made to fulfil these requirements? Martin Luther showed a *new thing* to the church, something called 'grace.' Somtimes things are called *new* after they have been lost for a while. Apparently, the church has lost quite a few things, and the ministerial gifts are there to help find them. I am not sure that I understand 'not offices, but gifts.' This is too complicated to be of God, IMHO. I must say that it sounds as if 'church-planters,' missionaries, and appliers of God's Word are SCC (second class citizens) Why must we give so much glory to men who were simply obedient to God, and deny bona fide status to present-day ministers doing the same thing? With all due respect, this sounds like beatification to me. I look forward to answers. In Christ Jesus, charis |
Bible Answer: Greetings Charis! It is great to have you back on the forum! Let me know when you are in your office sometime and we can hook up on the video conference. It would be good to "meet" face to face. Your question deserves a much better answer, but allow me to address it briefly. My understanding is this: There are three key verses which indicate that the aposltes and prophets served a fundemental role in the start of the church. 1) Eph. 2:20: "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." 2) Eph. 3:4-5: "In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets." 3) 2 Peter 3:2: "I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles." Each of these verses seems to indicate that these two groups served in the unique capacity of revealing the Gospel to the world. With the completion of the canon, that function is no longer active. There will not ever be any "new" revelation. This doesn't mean that pastors, teachers, and evangelists are second class in Kingdom work. They also are gifts of God given to build up the body of Christ. The difference though is that they apply what has already been revealed. They do not reveal anything "new." Even the gift of prophecy doesn't reveal anything "new." It simply applies God's revelation to a particular situation. For instance, you cited the example of Luther and "grace." This is a good example of what I am saying. "Grace" isn't new. It was already in God's Word. Luther, as a Pastor/Teacher simply applied it. Concerning infallibility, Scripture doesn't say a lot about the Apostles, but it does say that Prophets had to be 100 percent correct in everything they prophesied. In summary, I would say that when Christ came and the canon was completed, the revelatory function or office of apostles and prophets ceased, in the sense that there will be nothing "new" from God. Salvation history was completed on the cross. The function of applying His Word to build up the church is still in effect. This is the essential and vital role I see for pastors, teachers, and evangelists. If we were only debating whether or not apostles still exist and what role they play if they do, I would see this as more a matter of opinion than anything else. However, if you read the writings of those who are promoting the "five-fold ministry" you will see that they are actually claiming the authority to present "new" revelation from God. Here is where the problem comes in, in my opinion. We do give a special status to the prophets and apostles. Paul wrote under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. His writtings are God's Word. My writtings, as good as they may be :-), are only my understanding of God's Word. These modern day "apostles" would elevate their writting above Paul's. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |