Some churches teach say there are no more apostles or prophets, that we do not have apostles or prophets today in the New Testament church.
What does the Bible show us about this subject?
First, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, we read that Jesus from heaven gave gifts to the New Testament church, and these "gifts" were ministers to help the churches.
Ephesians 4:8; 11-12
8 Wherefore HE (Jesus) saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11-12 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(Notice this: Jesus gave "some" ... more than one ... multiple.)
Paul was one of those "gifts" given after Jesus was taken back into heaven. Paul was an apostle, teacher and preacher.
I Tim. 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
In most of his epistles to the church, Paul identifies himself as an apostle, "not of man but of Jesus Christ."
I Cor. 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God
Why would Paul so plainly state this to the churches?
Because some did not believe Paul could be an apostle. Paul didn't walk with Jesus when Jesus walked on this earth in the form of a man. Paul was persecuting the followers of Jesus.
Paul even says to the church: For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. (2 Cor. 11:5)
When Jesus spoke to Ananias from heaven to send him to help Saul (Paul), Ananias objected to Jesus.
Acts 9:10-16 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13-14 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15-16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for MY name's sake.
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Acts 9:17-21 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
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26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
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Paul was not the 12th apostle, who replaced Judas. Paul was persecuting the Christians at the time Jesus was crucified.
The 12th apostle, who replaced Judas was Matthias.
Acts 1:21-26 Peter says: Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that HE (Jesus) was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24-25 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two THOU hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthias was the 12th apostle, replacing Judas.
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So where does Paul fit?
Some churches teach that Paul was the last apostle. Some churches teach Paul was the 12th apostle. But we see that Matthias was the 12th apostle.
Paul was not the last apostle but was one of the first of those apostles Jesus appointed from heaven. And there were other apostles also appointed from heaven for that scripture said Jesus gave: "some apostles" ... multiple apostles
Jesus continues to give these ministers of Ephesians 4:8;11-12 to the churches today and as long as we continue on this earth, Jesus will give from heaven the ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher. (Eph. 4)
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Concerning prophets working in the New Testament church, see the following examples:
Acts 11:27-30 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
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Acts 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
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Acts 16:4-5 And as they (Paul an apostle teacher, and Silas a prophet) went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
This is exactly the same work we, who are ordained by Jesus as HIS apostles and prophets, do today. We take the Bible and deliver decrees from the NT Bible to the church for them to keep today.
We, like Paul, are called by Jesus today from heaven and set into the ministry as gifts to the church today.
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Throughout the book of Acts you can see both apostles and prophets working in the NT church.
Nothing has changed since the time Jesus was resurrected and taken into heaven and the NT church was established by Jesus from heaven.
Actually the New Testament church began with the resurrection of Jesus.
We have the NT Bible and the ministers of Jesus teach the churches by the scriptures given us in the NT Bible and the churches are set up according to those things written in the NT Bible for this is all we have to go by showing us what to do in the church today.
But many set up their churches by their own wisdom and departed from the rules given in the NT Bible and these are the churches of the apostasy who fell away from the doctrines presented by Christ in the New Testament.
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* For writings on additional subjects, click here: Jesus Ministries Exhortations Blog
