Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets.

“So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-20

[Who are the prophets?] is he speaking of the prophets of the old that prophesied about the coming of the Christ or is he speaking of prophets of the new testament along with Apostles to whom this mystery is revealed?

There are quite a few apostles listed in the early church, but only a few prophets who are named. That being the case the manner prophets are spoken of shows there were many. The Church of Christ is meant to overflow with prophets not be lacking them. The promise of God says, “And it will be in the last days, God says, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams. And even upon My servants, and upon My handmaidens, I will pour out of My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18

God speaking of the basic essence of a prophet says in the old testament, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.” Numbers 12:6 And Paul teaching on orderly conduct in a church gathering says, “let 2 or 3 prophets speak, and let the others discern.” 1 Corinthians 14:29 Paul says this of a regular gathering of a church in one locality, he does not say this to Apostles or Evangelist but prophets. There are diversities of ministries and activities. [1 Corinthians 12:5-6] There are differences in magnitude, depth, reach and implication but the basic essence of a prophet is in operation that is to be able to hear from God.

Of the new testament Prophets who were named are those who were in the Church of Antioch, “there were certain Prophets and teachers.. ” Among whom were Paul [Soul], Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen. Paul and Baranabs were later sent out by the Holy Spirit and where refered to as Apostles thereafter. The others are Agubus [who was one among a few prophets that went up from Judea and prophesied about the coming famine], and Judas and Silas who were sent with Paul and Baranabs to confirm the decision of the church of Judea.

While the doctrine of the Apostles is clearly observed, there is no clear indication of the teaching of prophets of the early church as foundation of the church. The prophets of which, “the foundation of the apostles and prophets,” Ephesians 2:20 speaks of is not prophets of the early church but the prophets of the old, who by revelation were serving us. Of this Peter expounds:

“[Concerning this salvation], the prophets sought out and searched out diligently, having prophesied of the grace toward you, inquiring into what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them was signifying, testifying beforehand [of the sufferings of Christ and the glories after these], to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves, but you, in those things which now have been proclaimed to you by those having proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven, into which angels desire to look.” 1 Peter 1:10-12

Here Peter lays side by side those who proclaim the gospel with the prophets of the old in declaring the Salvation, which was achieved through the suffering of Christ and the glories that is brought forth. This is the foundation of the church which the apostles proclaimed by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is proclaimed, by apostles and prophets, evangelist and teachers. 

In his second epistle Peter makes a point to direct their attention to the word prophesied to be sure grounds to build on, even against his own eyewitness testimony. “And we have the more certain prophetic word, to which you do well taking heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until this day shall have dawned and the morning star shall have arisen in your hearts…” 2 Peter 1:19 The reason being the prophets who spoke of Christ did so by the Spirit of Christ in them. “Knowing this first, that any prophecy of Scripture is not of its own interpretation. For no prophecy at any time was brought by the will of man, but men spoke from God, being carried by the Holy Spirit.” vs.20-21

[J.P] teaching says, On the road to Emmaus when Jesus walked with the two disciples He made the point of showing them from Scripture of His suffering, rather than just tell them who He was. “O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all that [the prophets] have spoken. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? And having begun from Moses and from all the Prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:25-27 The witness of the Prophets [old] in the Scripture is a foundation that testifies of the Lord Jesus Christ.

While apostles John and Peter were eyewitness of the Lord, but it is not to them God gave the extent of the revelation of the mystery of Christ but to Paul, who had not known the Lord in His ministry on earth. But through the merit of Scriptures he was given wisdom to understand, for the Lord in calling him to service says to him, “For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a servant and a witness both of that which you have seen of Me, and of the things in which I will appear [reveal] to you.” Acts 26:16 And Paul would later write, “The gospel having been preached by me, that it is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12 How did God reveal Jesus Christ to Paul if it was not in the Scriptures?

Paul uses the Scriptures to be the sure foundation of the faith for the gospel. And was proclaiming Jesus is the Christ, by drawing out the revelation of Jesus from the Scriptures [prophets], of His sufferings, of His death and resurrection and says, “The gospel that I proclaimed to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I proclaimed to you; otherwise you have believed in vain. For I delivered to you in the foremost what also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Similarly the testimony given of Apollos is that, ” who [Apollos] having arrived, helped greatly those having believed through grace. For he was powerfully refuting the Jews publicly, [showing by the Scriptures Jesus to be the Christ.] The Scriptures, the writing of the Prophets is the foundation.

Now Paul making a point on how the church is profited by and says “If I should come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you, unless I should speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? 1 Corinthians 14:6 A revelation is one of the features by which the church is to be continually be profited by.

The main aspects of new testament prophet is to bring revelation of mysteries and expound truth. Paul speaking on the gifts of the Spirit says, “And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern. But if a revelation should be made to another sitting by, let the first be silent.” 1 Corinthians 14:29-30 establishing the main feature of a prophet to be revelation. And again “If anyone considers himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I write to you are the commands of the Lord.” vs 37 Here Paul equates prophets as with spiritual, that is as one who is mature in Christ, “He who is spiritual judges all things, but he himself is judged by no one.” 1 Corinthians 2:15 One who is able to discern spiritual truth, [as taught of by the Spirit] that they may verify the teaching he gives them is of the Lord.

Of such merit, we have Judas and Silas who were also identified as Prophets, were sent by the church of Judea that they may verify the decree of the church and says, “Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, exhorted and strengthened the brothers by much talk.” Acts 15:32 It says they being prophets themselves “exhorted” and “strengthened.” In pointing the course of direction as confirming the truth as with Paul’s charge v37. Paul teaching about the gift of prophecy says, “one prophesying speaks to men for edification and encouragement and consolation.” v.3 That is the same as one who interprets tongues. So when Paul say “I wish you all prophesy,” v.5 he is saying as Moses, responded when he was told two people on whom the Spirit fell, were prophesying and says, “I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!” Numbers 11:29

In Ephesians also Paul credits prophets as ones to whom the mystery of Christ is revealed to by the Holy Spirit. In that God’s salvation goes far beyond the boarders of Israel. “You are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as now it has been revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets, that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.” Ephesians 3:4-6 That is to have a revelation on the current working of God.

Therefore when it says here, “revealed in the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.” Ephesians 3:5 He is not speaking in terms of in the previous chapter [Ephesians 2:20] as the foundation of the church, but as to ones to whom this truth is revealed to. Consider Paul writes, “For no one is able to lay another foundation, besides the one being already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 The foundation is Jesus Christ, of whom the apostles gave eyewitness account of Him on which to build. “And you also bear witness, because you are with Me from the beginning.” John 15:27 Now the other account that bear witness is the Scriptures, written by the prophets [old] inspired by the Holy Spirit to declare the suffering of Christ and the glories to follow. Then the foundation of the doctrine of Christ is established by Apostles [eyewitness] and Prophets [the for-inspired writers].

[Note]: The very first sermon the Apostle Peter preached, that broke ground for the church was [instigated by the Holy Spirit], supported by Scripture revelation of the prophets Joel and David, with Apostles themselves being eyewitness, of the Lord Jesus Christ, suffering, death and resurrection resulting in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The point is, for us to say there are no prophets is to say, God has nothing more to say to us in His Scriptures. There is nothing more to be made clear, to be taught or for us to appropriate, “we know all…” There are no point of views we have not seen or considered. From early fathers to recent days, the teaching on “the pearl of great price,” has been taught from the point of view of what it costs us, but it is Derek Prince who taught the cost is to Christ, that it cost Him all to gain us. It is a revelation on the love of Christ to a deeper measure we have not known. If we consider Luther’s revelation of, “the just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 on which the salvation of the modern church stand on, has overhauled the entire structure of the time. A revelation given to him by God, of a truth that eluded the church for centuries. An old revelation yet it might as well be a new revelation that dropped right out of heaven for the light of truth it brought.

Prophets of the old prophesied about the Christ on which the foundation of the church is built on. But now there are no prophets required to do that Christ has already come. And the Lord marking the close of the old testament prophets says, “The Law and the prophets were until John. From that time the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone forces his way into it.” Luke 16:16 But God has given prophets to the church that they may draw out meaning by the revelation given by God from Scriptures already written. That they may declare the workings of God, they may exhort and strengthen. “And [He gave] some indeed to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12 [AND] We have not yet attained to the perfection that is Christ, we are still being pulled and pushed by every wind of doctrine then we have as much need for those offices as the early church did.

Knowledge of truths and of things to come, is an going privilege of the children of God. “He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He may hear, He will speak. And He will declare to you the things coming. He will glorify Me, for He will take from that which is Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:13-14 It is the Holy Spirit who does it, therefore we ought not dictate to Him what His job is. Note: “He gave, some to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, pastors and teachers…” God [gave] not man made or demanded But “God gave…”

“But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed should come in, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all, and the secrets of his heart become manifest. And thus having fallen upon his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”

1 Corinthians 14:24-25

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