PROPHETS:

PROPHETS: from the Greek word prophetess means "a proclaimers of divine truth". Prophets are placed second in the order of ministry gifts Christ gave to the church to prepare and equip it for service (cp Eph 4:11-12; 1Cor 12:28). Yet there are many who teach that together with apostles the ministry gift of prophet no longer exists; that it ceased with the first century church. But as our study on apostles show, that is not correct (cp Mt 24:14; Jn 17:18-21; Eph 3:1-12; 4:7-16; 5:25-27). Scriptures clearly teach that Christ has given the ministry gifts of Eph 4:11 to the church and ordained them all to remain there while ever the church exists.

They are all vitally necessary - "for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry" (cp Eph 4:11-12). Perfecting in Eph 4:12 means "to make fully ready", which defines the completed process outlined in V13-16 (cp Eph 4:13-16). We learned all these truths in our study on apostles but they need to be re-stated here. All the ministry gifts Christ gave to the church will remain there until God's purpose for the church is accomplished, which can only ever be when it has fulfilled its mission on earth and is taken up to heaven to be with Jesus (cp Eph 2:19-20). This further emphasizes the continuing importance of apostles and prophets in God's purpose for the church and underlines the reason why they are placed first and second in the order of ministry gifts Christ gave to the church. God includes them with Jesus as the foundation of the church. Foundation in this context is used metaphorically of the ministry of the gospel and the doctrines of faith - the church is built upon the teachings of the apostles and prophets.

It is their responsibility to bring clarification and illumination concerning God's word to the church and to those they are establishing in the faith. They are both teachers and preachers. Those who teach that the ministry gift of prophet ceased with the first century church equate the prophet's function in the contemporary church to the "pastor's" sermons and preaching. Nowhere in scripture however is the term "pastor" ever used to define rank, authority or title of anyone in the New Testament church which we also learned in our study on apostles, yet there are many men designated prophets: Paul (or Saul as he was known then), Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen (cp Ac 13:1); Agabus (cp Ac 11:27-28; 21:10-11); Judas surnamed Barsabus, and Silas (cp Ac 15:22,27,32). Barnabas, whose name actually means prophet, was so named by the apostles (cp Ac 4:36-37). Remember that Paul, Barnabas and Silas were also apostles as well as prophets, and we will find that they were evangelists and teachers as well.

They functioned in all the ministry gifts, as also did Timothy and others, as we shall see shortly. The function of prophet as one of the ministry gifts of Eph 4:11 in the New Testament church is not to be confused with the gift of prophecy, one of the nine gifts, or manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the church (cp 1Cor 12:7-11). These are not ministry gifts but manifestations of the Spirit which only operate at certain times when the need arises and according to the earnest desire of the believer (cp 1Cor 14:1-4). The gift of prophecy here is potentially available to every believer baptized in the Holy Spirit but it is only for specific occasions, whereas the ministry gift of prophet is a permanent ministry. Furthermore, every prophet has the gift of prophecy but not everyone with the gift of prophecy is a prophet (cp Ac 21:7-9). Philip's daughters prophesied, but they are not designated prophets in scripture as Agabus is who prophesied over Paul in their house (cp Ac 21:10-11). Also, as with all the ministry gifts of Eph 4:11, every prophet is a qualified elder in the New Testament church, but not everyone with the gift of prophecy is.

There is more teaching on the gift of prophecy as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament than what there is on the ministry gift of prophet (cp 1Cor 12:1-11). These are all manifestations or gifts of the Spirit which includes the gift of prophecy in V10 (cp 1Cor 14:1-9, 15-19, 22-25, 29-33, 37). It is generally agreed that all these scriptures refer to the gift of prophecy not to a prophet, though 1 Cor 12:29-33, 37 can refer to both. By their very definition prophets speak by inspiration and divine revelation but they are not infallible and their utterances must be subject to evaluation by other prophets, the church and the infallible word of God (cp Ac 17:10-11, 1Cor 14:29-33; 2Pe 1:16-19). Ac 17:10-11 and 2Pe 1:16-19 are used in our study on the teachings of false apostles but they are applicable here also. They both teach that scriptures are the only proof text we have against which we must measure every teaching in the church. Now let us look at some of the characteristics of false prophets in the New Testament church.

Jesus, Paul, Peter and John all warn against them and we need to be able to discern them. Jesus said they come in sheep's clothing. That means their deception is subtle – they have the outward appearance of a true prophet but inwardly are ravening wolves. But Jesus said we shall know them by their fruit. That is why it is so important to be thoroughly grounded in God's word, because the only way we can ever test any teaching in the church is by the word of God (cp Mt 7:15-23; Ac 20:29-32; 2Pe 2:1-3; 1Jn 4:1-6). All teaching must be tested against the revelation of God's truth in scripture. John's admonition to the church in 1Jn 4:1 to "try the spirits whether they are of God" makes it obligatory upon Christians to examine and prove every teaching in the church (cp Ac 17:10-11; 1Th 5:21; 2Pe 1:16-19). Scriptures are the only proof texts we have, and if any teaching cannot be proved by them then it must be disregarded, irrespective of who is teaching it.