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March 10, 2003 Q & A

Apostles Today

Question:

Could there be prophets and apostles today, even though they do not give authoritative new revelation?

Answer:

What would be the point of having prophets and apostles, if not to give new authoritative revelation? That was their function in the Bible; why should we expect that they would have a different function now? Paul defended his own apostleship by asserting, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds" (2 Cor. 12:12). The signs and wonders he performed (e.g., Acts 13:11, 14:8-10, 19:11-12, 20:9-12) authenticated the fact that he was an apostle "born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:8), commissioned to speak on behalf of Christ.

If there are modern-day apostles and prophets who do not give new revelation (since God's revelation of Himself is complete in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments), then what do they do? Where is the Scripture that teaches that the people of God should now expect a new breed of prophet and apostle (different from the biblical paradigm) who do not have the authority to speak infallibly, giving new revelation on behalf of Christ? If men do not speak infallibly, giving new revelation on behalf of Christ, then on what basis could they claim to be apostles and prophets?

 

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