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The Function of Apostles and Prophets
Ephesians 4:7-16
It is significant that the apostles and prophets are listed first among those to
whom Christ "gave gifts." This order is seen again in 1 Corinthians 12:28 which
states: "And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second
prophets....." The Ephesian passage, however, defines the purpose served by all
of these gifted men: "....for the equipping of the saints for the work of
service, to the building up of the body of Christ." Wherever the body of Christ
exists, saints must look to the
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip them to serve in
order that the body might be built up.
Since we all have had some contact with evangelists, as well as pastors and
teachers, we have little difficulty in understanding how they can "equip us to
serve." But we do not know any legitimate apostles or prophets. An apostle was
one who had been an eye-witness of the resurrected Christ and who could perform
miraculous signs (see Acts 1:21-22; 2 Cor. 12:12). The term "prophet" was always
used to describe a miraculously-inspired individual (or in the case of a false
prophet
- one who claimed inspiration) (See 1 Cor. 13:1; Eph. 3:5; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 Jno.
4:1). True apostles and prophets do not live among us today. Yet, the Lord
designed that they equip and edify us. How can this be?
The answer is seen in the fact that both apostles and prophets were individuals
who received new revelation. To the apostles Jesus said: "I have many more
things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of
truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13). Paul affirmed:
"...the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the
sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in
the Spirit" (Ephesians
3:4-5). This fact explains why the apostles and prophets are listed first in
God's plan for the equipping of His people. Revelation of the Lord's will as to
what we should be and how we should live is indispensable in equipping us to
serve. What would the evangelists preach and what would the pastors teach were
it not for the revelation furnished through the apostles and prophets?
The very existence of the church necessitated the foundational work of these
men. Of God's household, the church, Paul wrote: "...having been built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner
stone" (Ephesians 2:20). While the work of evangelists and pastor/teachers is
important, only the apostles and prophets are described as being the foundation
upon which the church is built. It has been popular to say that the "foundation
of the
apostles and prophets" means the foundation which they laid, i.e., their
revelation. However, the figure used by Paul is that of a building. The
cornerstone of the building is the Person of Jesus Himself. According to verses
21 and 22, the building itself also consists of people - believers. Consistency
with the figure would appear to demand that the foundation also refers to people
- identified as the apostles and prophets. If this conclusion is accurate, then
this constitutes positive
evidence that apostles and prophets were not to be a permanent "office" in the
church today. For, just as the Cornerstone has been laid, Jesus Christ, so also
has the foundation been laid and the church built upon it. There is no need for
other cornerstones (other Christs), since Jesus finished His work which still
benefits the church. Just so, there is no need for other foundations (latter-day
apostles and prophets), since their revelational work was completed and we still
benefit from
it. It was in obedience to the apostolic revelation that the three thousand were
added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:14-41). Obedience to the same revelation
today will add people to the same body. But notice also that these
newly-constituted people of God "...were continually devoting themselves to the
apostles' teaching..." (verse 42). Their continued existence as the church
depended upon the apostolic revelation designed that they might be "complete in
Christ" (Col. 2:28; Eph. 4:13-16). The same is true today. Our growth toward
maturity in the faith depends upon our learning and vigorously applying the
apostolic revelation.
By Robert H. West
From Expository Files 3.9; September 1996
