I see ‘for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, edifying etc. those are a portion of examples of the five offices in the scripture I put on this text.
Let’s go to scripture; “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18).
If you will, can you fill me in with what you know regarding ‘Biblical requirements’ for these offices? As for me, I know a New Testament prophet is used for confirmation, edification and correction. I’d like know what your studies have revealed. In both of my posts, I quoted scripture, New Testament scripture. Thereby validating these offices. In addition, I know some people who believe Jesus came to change things around even tho he personally said in
Mathew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
But he probably said it in something other than the Kings English.
I definitely agree that Jesus wasn’t speaking English when he said those words haha
Yes the ministry gifts are designed to build up the body of Christ. I’m not disagreeing with that. My point is that the office of Apostle is not held by people who are with us today. Yet, their ministry is still bearing tremendous fruit, world wide.
The biblical requirements for an Apostle (office of Apostle, as apposed to missionaries, “sent ones”) are that they had seen Christ in his glorified body with their own eyes “eye witnesses”and they had received the Gospel from Jesus directly. I don’t know of anyone today who can seriously claim such credentials. The Apostle Paul said, “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” 1 Corinthians 15:8 KJV. If Paul was the last to see him, and as he says he was “as of one born out of due time” anyone claiming to be an Apostle today has some splaining to do
. Paul said that he didn’t learn the Gospel from any man but that he learned it directly from God. There is not a list of requirements for the office of Apostle as there is for elders and such, because the office of The Apostles is filled and is not taking applications.
On to prophets. The requirements for prophets are unchanged from the Old Testament, just as plural marriage didn’t change. Nothing in the New Testament makes any changes to those two things. True prophets of God must have 100% accuracy 100% of the time. Also, if they make a prediction that comes true but they are not theologically sound and don’t adhere to the written word of God we are not to listen to them. Do you know anyone who fulfills those requirements? If you do i want to meet them.
You quoted Matthew 5:17, i am assuming that you read it as saying that Jesus didn’t come to get rid of prophets, but I don’t think that is what he is saying at all. When he says “the law and the prophets” he is referring to scripture, as in, the Old Testament. Did I misunderstand what you where getting at there?
The prophecy of Joel that Peter quoted was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, according to Peter. Read a couple verses before and after where you left off and it is clearly a prophecy of about the time of the crucifixion and Pentecost.
In scripture we find miraculous signs and wonders in clusters. They are located around the writing time of large portions of scripture to authenticate, that what was being written is indeed scripture. Even in the New Testament, if you look at it chronologically, the farther you get from the crucifixion the sign gifts and miracles become less and less frequent. Paul, by whom Christ healed people, by them just touching hanker chiefs that had touched him, coming toward the end of his ministry says this, in 2 Timothy 4:20 KJV “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” Why didn’t Paul just heal him?
Miracles and signs were given to authenticate that the texts that the Apostles where writing down were, in fact, the very Word of God. We have the Word of God. We don’t need to add to it, therefore we don’t need new Apostles to give us fresh doctrine. We have The Revelation of Jesus Christ, in the book of Revelation, and therefore do not have need of new prophets. What would they prophesy of? The scriptures testify of Christ, as Jesus himself said. The Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of Messiah and the New Testament prophets have prophesied of his return. John, the last living Apostle wrote in Revelation that no one was to add to the prophesies of that book, if you stand up today and give a new prophecy about the return of Christ, you are adding to Revelation, and that is very dangerous ground. We are to remain steadfast in the Apostle’s doctrine i.e. The written Word and preach the Gospel until The Son of God returns! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!