Did prophets stop being present at some point around the 1st century AD?
Did prophets stop being present at some point around the 1st century AD?
There is evidence to infer that prophets did not stop being present at some point around the 1st century AD.
Prophets are described as being in the church after the ascension of Jesus
After the ascension of Christ in the 1st century AD, prophets were described as being present in the church. For example:
"during these days, PROPHETS CAME-DOWN FROM JERUSALEM to Antioch" (Acts 11:27).
"THERE-WERE PROPHETS and teachers at Antioch IN THE CHURCH EXISTING (THERE)" (Acts 13:1).
"JUDAS AND SILAS, also THEMSELVES BEING PROPHETS, encouraged and strengthened the brothers" (Acts 15:32).
"(A) CERTAIN PROPHET from Judea, AGABUS (by) name, came-down" (Acts 21:10).
Paul wrote to "THE CHURCH (of) God being in Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2) how prophets should behave in the church, writing: "LET TWO OR THREE PROPHETS SPEAK, and let the others discern" (1 Corinthians 14:29).
Prophets are needed in the church until we all attain the unity of faith
It is written that "PROPHETS" (Ephesians 4:11) are given to the church "UNTIL we ALL attain to the unity (of) the faith and (of) the knowledge (of) the Son of God, to (a) perfect man, to (the) measure (of the) stature (of) the fullness (of) Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). If we did not all attain yet to the unity of the faith, then prophets are still needed.
The presence of false prophets does not have to imply the absence of true prophets
In Acts 13, there was "(a) Jewish FALSE-PROPHET (for) whom (the) name (was) Bar-Jesus" (Acts 13:6). The presence of false prophets does not have to imply that true prophets have to be absent. In the same chapter of Acts, there were also true prophets mentioned, as it is written that "THERE-WERE PROPHETS and teachers at Antioch IN THE CHURCH EXISTING (THERE)" (Acts 13:1).
Prophets are reported to have been present after the 1st century AD
Early Christians authors after the 1st century AD reported that prophets were present in their own times.
Around the 2nd century, a Christian author named Tertullian wrote [challenging the heretic Marcion to produce anything like the gifts of the Spirit that were in clear operation in Tertullian’s Church]:
"Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his god, some prophets, such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God, such as have both predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart (1 Corinthians 14:25); let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer (1 Corinthians 14:26)- only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy, that is, in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him; let him show to me also, that any woman of boastful tongue in his community has ever prophesied from among those specially holy sisters of his. Now all these signs (of spiritual gifts) are forthcoming from my side without any difficulty, and they agree too with the rules, and the dispensations, and the instructions of the Creator; therefore without doubt the Christ, and the Spirit, and the apostle belong severally to my God. Here, then, is my frank avowal for anyone who cares to require it."
Around the 3rd century, a Christian author named Novatian wrote in "On the Trinity":
(29): "This is He who places prophets in the Church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healings, does wonderful works, often discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of charismata; and thus make the Lord’s Church everywhere, and in all, perfected and completed."
What about Ephesians 2:20?
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2: "you-are fellow-citizens (with) the holy (ones) and family-members (of) God, HAVING-BEEN-BUILT upon the FOUNDATION [themelios 2310 in Greek] (of) the apostles and PROPHETS" (Ephesians 2:19-20).
Paul as an APOSTLE was sent, even with PROPHETS such as SILAS, to set the foundation where Christ had not been named, as it is written about "Judas and SILAS, also themselves being PROPHETS" (Acts 15:32) "And Paul, having-chosen SILAS, WENT-FORTH, having-been-handed-over to the grace of the Lord by the brothers" (Acts 15:40).
Paul wrote in Ephesians 4, two chapters after having mentionned the foundation of the apostles and prophets, that "PROPHETS" (Ephesians 4:11) are given to the church "UNTIL we ALL attain to the unity (of) the faith and (of) the knowledge (of) the Son of God, to (a) perfect man, to (the) measure (of the) stature (of) the fullness (of) Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). If we did not all attain yet to the unity of the faith, then prophets are still needed.
What about Hebrews 1:1-2?
It is written in Hebrews 1: "God, HAVING-SPOKEN LONG-AGO in-many-portions and in-many-ways (to) the fathers BY THE PROPHETS, SPOKE (TO) US AT (THE) LAST (OF) THESE DAYS BY (A) SON" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
What about the role of Scriptures if there are prophets?
Click here
What about other passages regarding prophecies?
Click here
Comments
Post a Comment