Are Apostles and Prophets in the Church Today?

4/12/2017

In this post I explore what the Bible teaches about whether apostles and prophets function in the church today.

Paul taught that the apostles and prophets are the foundation upon which the church has been built: 'having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone' (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation is the first thing to be laid when constructing a building. It belongs to the beginning stage of the building and is only laid once. As such, the offices of apostle and prophet, which constitute the church's foundation, belong to the beginning stage of the church’s history. They are not repeated today - the foundation is only laid once.

Ephesians 4:11-13 has been misunderstood as indicating that apostles and prophets are still in the church today. According to this passage, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are to equip and edify the church until we all come to unity and spiritual maturity. However, the apostles and prophets fulfill this role, not by their continued presence, but by the writings they have left for us in the New Testament. Whilst evangelists, pastors and teachers are present in the church today, the apostles and prophets are not.

Does this mean that the gift of prophecy has ceased? Yes and no. It has ceased as a means of doctrinal revelation. The prophets in the New Testament were, along with the apostles, the recipients of God's revelation about Christ (Ephesians 3:5-6). As the stewards of this revelation, they are the foundation upon which the church has been built (Ephesians 2:20). The truths pertaining to this revelation have been preserved for us in the New Testament, which has completed the canon of Scripture. There is no further need for doctrinal revelation, as we have it preserved for us in Scripture. However, prophecy also functioned as a means of bringing strength, encouragement, and comfort to God's people (1 Corinthians 14:3 NLT). In this capacity, prophecy has not ceased. Click for more information on the gift of prophecy.

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Verses marked NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Verses marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Verses marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verses marked NLT are from Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Quotations marked NEB are from The New English Bible: The New Testament © ‘The
Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press 1961, 1970.

James Evans

4/21/2017 02:10:53 pm

May I use this research to enlighten a friend between the different of being prophetic and the office of prophet.

Dr. Stuart Pattico

4/21/2017 03:00:50 pm

Hi James, thanks for your comment. You are more than welcome to use this research. I would simply ask that you acknowledge this site as the source. Every blessing

Stuart Pattico

9/21/2022 03:14:08 pm

Thanks for your comment on the initial version of this post. My understanding regarding the office of prophet has developed since I wrote it and I have now updated this post to reflect this.

Uchendu

8/9/2017 06:23:51 am

What can we learn from the Hebrew Scriptures re: Prophet?

I would like to understand the teachings of Paul in light of the context and understanding he had. His view of prophet and prophesying was deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Father Abraham was called a prophet (I think it's the first mention in the Scriptures)
Moses
Samuel
Nathan
Hosea etc
Perhaps looking into why these men are specifically called Prophets or prophesied will shed light on us as Disciples of King Messiah?

I say this because I often question what is called "prophecy" because it doesn't align with the REST of Scriptures. Even in terms of the topics that are being spoken about from those who claim prophetic utterances

Edna Hermon

9/8/2017 07:53:48 am

Gm Sir, I was just talking to someone the other day of this very subject and I'm grateful I search for the difference between the two...and yours is great information that I'd like to use. May I use this enlighten study...Simply a deep eye opener that many aren't aware of. Peace n Blessings Sir

9/8/2017 07:56:58 am

Hi Edna, thanks for your comment. You are more than welcome to use this blog post. I would simply ask that you acknowledge this site as the source. Every blessing

Adora Bailly

10/30/2017 08:27:12 pm

Will like to learn more about the prophetic office and it's challenges foe am just going through some will want to know how to get along

Sascha

12/30/2017 01:00:36 pm

My ability to hear Christ speak to my spirit about others has increased tremendously over the past 3 years. It all began about 6 years ago when I noticed it (or He really caught my attention). It’s now to a point where I will be out in public and when I’m near certain people (whomever He chooses to speak about) He will drop few words into my spirit about them that only they would know about, and it’s usually something painful they’re either going through or have gone through in the past that has pushed them away from Him. My question is though, I’m still trying to figure out what exactly is going on. Does this mean I was meant to walk in the office of a prophetess? Or is it the gift of prophecy? He has also shown me things to come. Like the entire ordeal with North Korea. I was given a vision of that 2 years ago. I’ve seen into the spiritual realm when I was younger, but once I lost my fear of them (knowing Christ would not allow them to harm me) they stopped appearing. I’ve experienced MANY things! And I witness to others nearly on a daily basis, either those He sends me to or those who come to me asking for help. Can you please help me to know for sure my calling??? I was also told I could have received the mantle of a prophet. But I don’t know what the difference is between being a prophet and having the mantle of a prophet. If there is a difference. Thank you for your help! God bless 😁🙏💕

2/21/2018 05:01:29 am

Great to hear how God is using you! As I don't know you personally, I cannot comment on what you are called to do. I wouldn't imagine that there is any difference between the mantle of a prophet and the office of a prophet. My advice would be to simply continue to do what you are doing and trust God to make all things clear. Every blessing, Pastor Stuart

David

10/20/2019 04:14:15 am

Bless you I hope you are well and have eased into all He has for you if not I pray you found amazing teachers. Your faith is moving you and it will continue,.

Clement Maluleke

4/30/2018 03:51:08 am

Greetings sir
The are many things I would like to learn from you especially in the prophetic and more about the nature of the prophet. I believe learning from you it'll increase my eye sight when it comes to prophetic. please if you're having some teachings based on the prophetic I'll really appreciate if you email those teachings to me. Thanks

Neo Mokibelo link

11/6/2018 02:07:20 am

one of the topics which are mostly confusing in this age,thank you for this deep exposure of the topic

9/21/2022 03:18:30 pm

Thanks to all above for your comment on the initial version of this post. My understanding regarding the office of prophet has developed since I wrote it and I have now updated this post to reflect this. Every blessing

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