Today’s question is, “Is God restoring the offices of apostle and prophet in the
church today?”
In this video I’ll answer that question from a biblical perspective.
Then afterwards, as always, I’ll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
The movement to restore the offices of apostle and prophet bases the claim that apostles
and prophets are to be a part of the church on Ephesians 4:11-12.
These verses say, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists,
and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ."
During the first century of the church, there was an office of apostle and there was a spiritual
gift of apostle.
The office or position of apostle was held by the 12 disciples of Jesus plus Matthias,
who took Judas’ place, and Paul.
Those who held the office or position of apostle were chosen specifically by Christ (Mark 3:16-19).
The replacement for Judas is seen in Acts 1:20-26.
Note in this passage that Judas' position was called an office.
It should also be noted that Paul was chosen by Christ (Galatians 1:1).
These men were given the task of setting up the foundation of the church.
It should be understood that it was for the universal church that these men were a part
of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20).
The foundation of the church (the universal church) was laid in the first century.
This is why the office of apostle is no longer functioning.
There was also a spiritual gift of apostle (this is not to be confused with the office—they
are separate).
Among those who had the spiritual gift were James (1 Corinthians 15:7), Barnabas (1 Corinthians
9:6), Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7), possibly Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians
1:1), and Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6, 9).
This latter group had the gift of apostleship but not the apostolic "office" conferred upon
the Twelve and Paul.
Those who had the gift of apostle, then, were those who carried the gospel message with
God’s authority.
The word "apostle" means "one sent as an authoritative delegate."
This was true of those who held the office of Apostle (like Paul) and those who had the
spiritual gift (like Apollos).
Though there are men like this today, men who are sent by God to spread the gospel,
it is best NOT to refer to them as apostles because of the confusion this causes since
many are not aware of the two different uses of the term apostle.
The gift of prophet was a temporary gift given by the Christ for the laying of the foundation
of the universal church.
Prophets also were foundational to the universal church (Ephesians 2:20).
The prophet proclaimed a message from the Lord for the believers of the first century.
These believers did not have the advantage we have of having a complete Bible.
The last book of the New Testament (Revelation) was not completed until late in the first
century.
So the Lord provided gifted men called prophets who proclaimed messages from God to the people
until the canon of Scripture was complete.
It should be noted that the current teaching of the restoration of prophet and the office
of apostle is far from what Scripture describes of the men who held the gift of prophet and
the office of apostle.
Those who teach the restoration of the office teach that the men who claim to be apostles
and prophets should never be spoken against, should never be questioned, because the person
who speaks against them is speaking against God.
Yet, the Apostle Paul commended the people of Berea for checking what he said against
the Word of God to make sure he spoke the truth (Acts 17:10-11).
The Apostle Paul also stated to those in Galatia that if anyone, including himself, should
teach another Gospel, that person should be "accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9).
In everything, Paul kept pointing people to the Bible as the final authority.
The men who claim to be apostles and prophets today make themselves the final authority,
something Paul and the Twelve never did.
It should also be noted that Scripture refers to these men in the past tense.
2 Peter 3:2 and also Jude 3-4, state that the people should not stray from the message
the apostles gave (past tense).
Hebrews 2:3-4 also speaks in the past tense of the those who performed (in the past) signs,
wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
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