Are the offices of apostle and prophet being restored in the church today?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Old Testament, prophets were called by God to speak His truth, foretell the future, and warn of judgment. The role of the apostle, as seen in the New Testament, has roots in the Hebrew concept of being "sent ones," which aligns with the mission of certain figures in the Old Testament, like Moses or other key leaders. In the New Testament, the office of apostle and prophet became more defined, with apostles specifically chosen by Jesus, and prophets continuing to guide and speak God's truth to the early church. However, apostles were specifically time-bound for foundational purposes and are no longer necessary today especially due to the completion of the Bible.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Prophets were called by God to either foretell the future (Isaiah 53; Daniel 7-12) or to forthtell or speak God’s truth to a certain people, often warning them of judgment for those who do not repent and turn to God (Isaiah 1:11-20).
• In Deuteronomy 18:15-22, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, and gives instructions on how to recognize true prophets.
• Isaiah is called to be a prophet to the people of Israel, declaring God's message of judgment (Isaiah 6:9-10).
• God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations, declaring that He will put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth (Jeremiah 1:4-10).
• Amos 3:7 reveals the purpose of the prophets in declaring to the people God’s messages: "For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets."

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Luke 11:49, Jesus mentions that prophets were sent by God to speak to Israel.
• Peter quotes the prophet Joel in Acts 2:17, saying that God will pour out His Spirit and “young men will see visions” and “old men will dream dreams,” referring to the continued prophetic role in the church. However, this is different from the office of prophet. Prophecy still occurs as we tell the truths of God’s Word.
• Apostles were kept to a minimum number (Matthew 10:1-4).
• Apostles were specifically chosen by Jesus from among His disciples with specific qualifications (Luke 6:13).
• Apostles had to have spent time with Christ following the resurrection (Acts 1:21-22).
• Ephesians 2:19-20 describes the church as being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the cornerstone. Revelation 21:14 reaffirms their role in the early church as it describes the new Jerusalem where the twelve apostles’ names are written on the twelve foundations of the city, symbolizing their foundational role in the church.
• While Ephesians 4:11 acknowledges the gifts of apostles and prophets as crucial for the church's growth and edification, this doesn't necessarily mean these offices continue in exactly the same way today. The foundational roles they played have been completed, but the functions—such as teaching, evangelizing, and guiding the church—can still be carried out today in different forms.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The offices of apostle and prophet are no longer necessary in modern society. Their purpose seems to have been as a temporary stand-in for those who were illiterate or had no access to Scripture in the Greek-speaking, Gentile world.

There are three main views regarding the office of apostle and prophet: 1) Yes, God is restoring apostles and prophets today, 2) Apostles and prophets have existed since New Testament times and are therefore not being restored since they have not ended, or 3) No, God is not restoring apostles and prophets today.Those who argue for the first view claim that certain healings or prophecies experienced today "prove" that certain people are modern-day prophets or apostles. Any such claim based on experiences is fraught with problems. Scripture often warns against false teachers who lead others astray through miracles and false powers. Experience is not sufficient evidence to support whether a person is an apostle or prophet today.Second, some believe apostles and prophets have existed since New Testament times and are, therefore, not being restored since they never ended. The concern in this case is in how one defines what makes a person an apostle or prophet. In a strict sense, only the twelve

apostles and a few others in the New Testament were clearly noted as apostles. However, the word "apostle" means "sent one" and in a general sense, could refer to a missionary type of worker. The same problem exists in defining a prophet. In a general sense, a prophet is one who tells the truth about God. However, the New Testament only mentions a small number of people specifically as prophets. In either case, those who hold this view do not see apostles and prophets making a "comeback" because they have existed throughout the history of the church.The third view argues God is not restoring apostles and prophets today. Based on a stricter definition of apostle and prophet, those holding this view argue that the apostles and prophets only existed during the first generation of the church and are no longer necessary for the church's health and growth.

Some support this view with the fact that Scripture speaks of prophets and apostles in the past tense in Jude 1:3-4 and 2 Peter 3:2. Hebrews 2:3-4 speaks of these leaders as operating in the past as well. Though not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, this third view appears to be the best supported by Scripture and indicates that apostles and prophets are not being restored today.

UNDERSTAND

• God gave the Israelites prophets and gave the new believers apostles as foundations for their faith.
• Prophets and apostles called the people to see God’s plan and call to faithful living.
• With the completion of the Bible and the foundation of the early church established, the specific offices of apostle and prophet have ended, though the functions of teaching, evangelizing, and guiding the church continue today in other forms.

REFLECT

• How does the role of apostle and prophet in the Old Testament and early church influence your understanding of God’s involvement with humanity?
• What does the completion of the Bible mean for your life and faith, especially in terms of God's revelation to His people?
• What challenges you in understanding that the roles of apostle and prophet were for a specific time and purpose?

ENGAGE

• How does the function of apostles and prophets continue today, even if their offices are not restored?
• How might modern-day experiences of prophecy or spiritual gifts challenge or align with biblical teachings on apostles and prophets?
• What are the potential dangers of claiming modern apostleship or prophecy, and how can the church protect itself from false teachings?