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NASB | Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], |
Subject: Prophets in the church |
Bible Note: Nevvveine :: Before getting into the business of considering percentages of accuracy of today's so-called prophets, should we not first search Scripture to determine whether it supports the doctrine that there in fact are contemporary prophets at all? From the multiple passages in Scripture that warn against false prophets we may be sure that there are prophets today whose message is patently false. But are there true prophets? We can extend the question by asking can there be true prophets and what need is there for them if the Scriptures are complete? When we assert that there are divinely inspired prophets today, we affirm that God's word is incomplete and requires additional revelation. Such a position poses a most serious problem, and flies in the face of what the Bible says about itself. See, for example, 2 Timothy 3:16,17. ....... Ephesians 4:11 has been suggested in this thread as a "proof text" in support of the continuation of true prophets from Apostolic times down to the present time. But this text does not support such an assumption, nor does any other passage in the New Testament. ....... There are true prophets today, yes, but not in the sense of being foretellers of the future. There is another sense in which the word is frequently used in Scripture, and that is forth-tellers. In our time those who proclaim the gospel of Christ as it is revealed in the word of God are in fact forth-tellers or prophets. ...... I'd like to close this post by recommending an article by John MacArthur in which he exegetes Ephesians 4:11 as well as sets down an excellent biblically-based exposition of the subject of apostles and prophets. Please note how the Amplified Bible renders Ephesians 4:11 ,,,,,,, Perhaps you and Bloodwashed and others could profit from a study of this article by John MacArthur. The URL is as follows: http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg1851.htm --Hank |