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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 If the 'office' of apostle and prophet are no longer active, why do we still have the 'office' of pastor, evangelist, teacher?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: Dear charis, in an earlier post written 04/01/01 (which was exactly 11 days before I found and joined the Study Bible Forum), you have stated as "definitions" of an apostle, and a prophet... "The major problem, as I see it, is that many are adamant that an Apostle must be like Peter or Paul, and a Prophet must be like Isaiah or Jeremiah. APOSTLE (Gk. (apostolos,) a "delegate"). One sent with a special message or commission. In this sense the word is used in the LXX (1KI 14:6; ISA 18:2), and in the NT: JOH 13:16, "Neither is one (who is sent) [apostle] greater than the one who sent him"; 2CO 8:23; PHI 2:25, where persons sent out by churches on special errands are called their (apostles,) or messengers. In HEB 3:1 Jesus is called "the (Apostle) and High Priest of our confession." (New Ungers Bible Dictionary) The Bible describes 3 'types' of apostles; 1) Jesus. 2) The 'Apostles to the Lamb,' also called the 12. Matthai replaced Judas Iscariot, the only 'replacement' apostle in the Bible. 3)The 'post-ascension apostles.' Paul and Barnabas, among others, continued the ministry of 'special commissions' between churches. Sometimes these are referred to as the 'lower sense' of the apostolic ministry. I believe this continues today, although often misinterpreted and abused. I do not think that the present-day apostle equals the missionary, as I know too many missionaries that do not fit the Bible's description. However, some missionaries may well be working in an apostolic calling. Prophet-"But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation." 1 Corinthians 14:3 NASB. Though many definitions demand that a prophet be a soothsayer, I believe that a New Testament prophet will probably speak God's word for the above purposes more than for telling the future. (Though soothsaying is also still possible, this gift must be used carefully, and must be tested before placing spiritual 'weight' upon it) This encouragement should be for the church, not for the 'pumping up' of the people, nor for the edification of the prophet." Deut. 18:21-22 explains to us that whatever a prophet prophecies must come to pass! And in this way, they must be "infallible".. Acts 21:10 states that Agabus, a prophet, came down from Judea to meet Paul. It is interesting to note the presence of this prophet (and he was considered as one) after the Resurrection of Christ! So there is evidence for Biblical support for prophets. So in this light, let us look at a quote of Hank's post written on 04/04/01.. "Luke in Acts extends the title apostle beyond the Twelve. And Paul calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ in the greeting of virtually every letter he wrote that we have in the New Testament canon. In light of the scriptural record, therefore, it is difficult to see how anyone living today could be called an apostle -- not, at any rate, in the Biblical sense.Prophets. Do they exist today? Yes, they do and Scripture supports this view, particularly the existence of false prophets. Jesus issued a stern warning to beware of false prophets and false Christs (Matt. 7:15; Mark 13:22) Paul referred to genuine prophecy as a gift in 1 Cor. 13:2. Prophecy simply means "spokesman for God" and does not always entail the foretelling of future events." I agree with Hank, prophets do exist today. However, I am at a loss as to how apostles could exist based on the Biblical example or sense of the word.. Are we all apostles since we are all ministers of the Gospel? (2 Cor. 6:4) Have we all been given that kind of authority over other believers? As far as 'new revelation' goes, God's Holy Word is the ultimate revelation, and any "NEW" revelation must coincide or be based upon (or found) in God's Holy Word, which is the ultimate message from God to man. John 10:35 states that the Scripture cannot be broken, and Revelation 22:18-19 are definitive commands that we should not add to this 'ultimate' revelation that God has given us. Every gift that is given should be for the building up of the church or for the spreading of this ultimate message that God has given us. I will write more later! I hope this helps.. Your Brother in Christ, Nolan |