Bible Question: I would like to know if apostles and prophets exsist today in the fullest sense of the meaning, and if so where is the scripture stating that their is going to be anything as those types ,raising dead etc. doesnt the bible teach that there will be a great falling away before Christ returns.wasnt their signs and wonders just a foundational gift and the best we could call someone today is a missionary.and how come the church fathers didnt think they were or write of these apostles or prophets if they still exsisted .please use scripture. love in Christ RCScroll |
Bible Answer: May I suggest that yes there are both apostles and prophets in the church today, and that there have been since the "birth" of the church at Pentecost. That does not mean, however, that any of them of them have the same degree of authority as did the 12 (or 13) apostles appointed by Christ. I haven't time at the moment, but if you like, I can did dig out a study that I did on this a while ago and give some scriptural support for my view. In a nutshell, I have come to understand an apostle (other than when speaking of one of the 12 or Paul) to generally refer to a missionary, and more specifically a church-planting missionary. A prophet in the New Testament (again, except when referring to one of the 12 or Paul) seems to have a greatly reduced authority from an Old Testament prophet. A New Testament prophet (other than the 12 or Paul) seems to be one who would interpret a message rather than dictate it, and sometimes even interpret it wrong (as in Agabus on at least one occassion). I would appreciate any hearing other thoughts. |