Over the last few months, I have been recovering from a broken hip that required an operation and a week in hospital. When I eventually came home after three weeks in rehab, I listened to a number of Christian messages on the radio and TV. I recently heard some messages mention apostles and prophets in a negative way. It inspired me to take a look at this subject, apostles and prophets. The purpose of this letter is not to present a comprehensive study of these ministries but to emphasize a few significant aspects of apostles and prophets.
Now, let’s begin by recognizing that some teachers do not believe these ministries are meant to operate today. They believe there were for the apostolic age, and the term “cessation” is used for this view. The doctrine of “cessation” of the supernatural (i.e., miracles, etc.) has been expressed as early as Augustine. However, it was in the sixteenth century that it took on a new significance with people like John Calvin.
JOHN CALVIN & CESSATION
Our eldest daughter, Dr. Beth Langstaff, graduated M. Div. from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then went on to complete a Ph.D. in historical theology at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. In the course, she was required to write a major thesis. She chose to study John Calvin and his concepts regarding the gifts of the Spirit, etc. Her thesis was titled “Temporary Gifts” and related to Calvin’s concept of “cessation.” Calvin believed that healing, exorcism, prophecy, and miracles ceased at the close of the apostolic age. In reading her thesis and discussing Calvin and cessationism with her, I came to realize a number of points, including:
- Calvin did not have any scripture to support his claim. He lacked any biblical basis for his position on cessationism.
- Calvin’s views, as seen in a great majority of his statements regarding cessation, are either explicitly or implicitly anti-catholic.
Now, know this is initially dealing with the miraculous, but the role of apostles and prophets is tied up with ‘cessation.’ So let’s take a look at the biblical teaching on apostles and prophets.
THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR APOSTLES & PROPHETS
One has to start by drawing attention to some key passages in the Bible. Firstly, Ephesians 2:18-23 describes Christ as the chief cornerstone, and apostles and prophets are the foundation. Speaking of the church using the illustration of a building, the passage declares, “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21, NKJV).
Some see this as being a once and for all event and that apostles and prophets were for the church’s original foundation. However, this is not so. There were 12 apostles, but God added others, the most significant being Paul, who in this writings such as Ephesians 1:1 (NKJV) claims to be “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.”
Beyond that, we have the teaching of Paul in Ephesians 4:11 (NKJV), “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” If we are going to eliminate apostles and prophets, why keep evangelists, pastors, and teachers? All five (or four as some number them) are necessary for the church to fulfill its calling.
Let me add one other reference. In 1 Corinthians 12 (NKJV), Paul writes about the body of Christ and its individual members. In other words, he describes the various ministries and their foundation in the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV), he writes, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets…” followed by a list of ministries. Obviously, Paul recognized the place of apostles and prophets in the church in those days, and we should recognize them today.
As already mentioned, there are those who teach that these ministries, together with the gifts of the Spirit, were only there to get the church started, and since we now have the scriptures, we no longer need them today. However, there is not one verse of scripture that backs up this view. The verse in 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV) where it says, “prophecies, they will fail… tongues, they will cease…” refers to the second coming of Christ, not the present-day church.
Hence, when the Jerusalem Council met, as recorded in Acts 15:6 (NKJV), where it is written, “Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter,” the apostles were recognized as leaders in the church of that day. In the same way, we should recognize them in the church today. We may call them by other names, such as overseers, or even bishops, etc., but they can still be apostles. Let’s look at the role of apostles and prophets.
APOSTLES
Let me attempt to give you a picture of what is at the heart of the ministry of an apostle. This is not meant to be a comprehensive study of all an apostle is or does; that would take a book. It is simply a concept I have found helpful in understanding the role of apostles. In my understanding, an apostle is called by God to be a ‘leader of leaders.’
In his books on leadership, John Maxwell points out that a leader has followers, so if others are not following you, you are not a leader; you are simply taking a walk. Likewise, with apostles, if no other leaders are following, you are simply taking a walk. An apostle will be a leader of other leaders, mentoring them, encouraging their leadership, and even disciplining them at times. In some ways, an apostle is like a captain or coach of a sporting team. He is a leader of leaders.
PROPHETS
It is helpful to distinguish between the gift of prophecy and the office of prophet.
The Gift of Prophecy – Forth telling. Paul describes the gift of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NKJV), “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” Those are the three distinctive features of the gift of prophecy. It is a gift all Christians can exercise, and all Christians need it from time to time.
The Office of Prophet – Foretelling. While a prophet will undoubtedly exercise the gift of prophecy, they will also have the ability at times to foretell things regarding the future. An example in the New Testament would be Aqabus, who, in Acts 21:10-11, prophesied over Paul concerning his plans to go to Jerusalem.
Now, let us acknowledge prophecies made today that have turned out false.
FALSE MINISTRIES
A further criticism of apostles and prophets points to false expressions of these ministries, mainly regarding false prophecy. This especially arose after the 2020 election when a number of prophets had prophesied Donald Trump would be reelected president. However, in 2016 many leaders correctly prophesied Trump becoming president, which initially was not expected.
Obviously, those 2020 prophecies were wrong, but that does not eliminate the office of prophet. Some will refer to where the Bible talks about putting false prophets to death in Deuteronomy 13. However, let us remember that in the Old Testament days, they did not have the Word of God by which one could test prophecies. The only way was to see whether they came to pass. Today we have the scriptures by which one can test a word. There is no reason to kill the prophet today than it is to kill an evangelist who preaches in error or a pastor who teaches false doctrine. Simply, in this age of grace, all of these Ephesians 4 ministries can make mistakes and present things that are false but God can still use them.
MODERN-DAY EXAMPLES OF APOSTLES
Over ten years ago, I was invited to be part of a three-man presentation regarding apostles at what is now North Central University (Assembly of God). I told them the story of Frank Houston, who God called, even as he was General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand, to come to Sydney, Australia. This he did, and without going into all the details, he exercised an apostolic ministry that really impacted the church at that time over 40 years ago. Now, I am fully aware of certain issues regarding Frank Houston, but though not perfect, he exercised an apostolic ministry back in that period of the charismatic renewal.
If you look around, you will see many persons who are called by God to be a ‘leader of leaders’ and who are given Apostolic leadership in the body of Christ today.
MODERN-DAY EXAMPLES OF PROPHETS
Across the years, I have been blessed by the ministry of prophets whose word either confirmed what God was already saying to me or was later confirmed. I have seen prophets release words that did that. For example, at the beginning of Vision Bible College back in Australia in the mid-70s, I was especially blessed by Dick Mills from California as he prophesied over Murray Cameron in a ministers meeting in a downtown church. It was truly a prophetic word from God that led up to the formation of the Bible School.
ONE FINAL STORY
Let me finish with a story from a good friend of mine in Pennsylvania, Pastor Phil Roland, sharing how he first encountered a supernatural prophetic word.
The year was 1973 and I was 33 years of age. I moved my family to Orange County in So. Calif. to I could be closer to my school I chose to prepare me for full-time ministry. My Bible school was Melodyland School of Theology in Anaheim California. It was a night school so I could continue to work at my shop in Long Beach, California.
I was an emotionally and physically exhausted, burned-out Southern Baptist Deacon enrolled in my first semester of Bible school. On my way to class one evening after a day’s work at my shop I had a gripe session with the Lord. I told Him as I drove to class, “Lord, I’m upset with how things are going right now.”
Remember, I sold our house in Hawthorne and moved 40 miles to our new home on a cul de sac in suburban Orange County near my school. I have expected more from this school experience.
“Lord,” I continued, “There are three things I have against You!”
My Professors are presenting the same Gospel Message I have always heard at my So. Baptist Church. I was hoping to hear something different and new. .”
I went on listing my other two complaints until I arrived at the parking lot where my class was held.
Melodyland School of Theology had a Mission statement, “We are a Prophet-Making Institution!” We started each class with a prayer and a worship song. After the voices died there was always a soulful silence, and occasionally a voice would chime up. “Thus says the Lord. . .” A prophetic word would follow. It usually was a word of comfort, encouragement or assurance.
The night in question everything went routinely, except the voice that chimed in during the holy silence was a woman’s voice. I knew who the voice belonged to immediately. It was a woman I didn’t particularly like. She was an obnoxious person who spoke up in class and was personally annoying to me. Here is how she started,
“My Son, I have heard your complaints! I know how exhausted you are! I know the sacrifices you have made to get here. Here is my answer. . .”
She went on to list all three of my complaints in the same order I listed them on my drive to class that night. Another reason I was annoyed by this woman was that at the time I didn’t believe in women preachers.
This was my first encounter with a person operating in one of the New Testament Spiritual Gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, the Gift of Prophecy. That experience has not been the last.
A CLOSING WORD
As I said before, this is not a comprehensive study of apostles and prophets. Nonetheless, I believe they are ministries that God is using today. So, I encourage people to be open to see how God has raised up apostles and prophets to serve the church in this present generation.
Kairos Ministries 
Pastor Alan: two brief comments: First, some cessationists use I Corinthians 13:12 as a passage supporting their position — that when the perfect comes (inspired, inerrant Scripture), then the partial and temporary passes away (prophets as an office), since Scripture, once completed, is final and cannot genuinely be “added to” (at least not in a covenantal sense). Benjamin Warfield accepted that view also, as a Calvinist — and you are right, he used it as a polemic against Roman Catholicism, which, historically and theologically, had used miracles as an apologetic for why people should view Rome as the One True Church. But with regard to the continuation of prophecy as a gift, that does not automatically support the continuation of “prophet” as an “office” in the Church. Tetrtullian ruined his ministry by embracing Montanism, sometimes called “the New Prophecy” movement, which lost any objective criteria for keeping the Faith on orthodox doctrinal tracks. Secondly: As for apostleship, Irenaeus in Against Heresies spoke of succession FROM apostles, but never of a succession OF apostles. The word “apostle” meant “deputized one for carrying a message for someone else” in its generic sense (just as the word “angel” means, originally, “messenger”, not always a supernatural being) — so not everyone called an “apostle” (small “a”) can be assumed to be an Apostle (capital “A”) like the Twelve and Paul were. Even our Lord’s brothers James and Jude did not refer to themselves as “Apostles” in that sense: God used them as a part of His once-for-all (New Testament) “foundation” for His Church (as He also used Mark and Luke and the author of Hebrews), but He does not use bishops or network leaders or even great teachers like Luther or Calvin or Wesley in that same way today. (Irenaeus and, later on, Eusebius the early Church historian, never refer to any post-NT era Church leader as an “apostle” or “Apostle” like the so-called “New Apostolic Reformation” does today. No modern-day “apostle” carries that same level of authority now, nor must a local congregation have its own “apostles” and “prophets” in order to be rightly founded, so long as it builds on Scripture, is open to the Holy Spirit, and embraces Jesus Christ as its actual Lord and Head). Bottom-line: Some Evangelicals thus reject anything that embraces any sort of “prophetic” or “apostolic” ministry-orientation today, as allegedly “competing” with biblical orthodoxy over the centuries. That, I believe, is a mistake: you are right that God’s gifts are without “recall” (Rom. 11:29) until they accomplish the maturing of the Body and completing of its ministry until our Lord’s return (Eph. 4:11ff.; Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 24:14; etc.) But we need to be careful as to how we “label” or “theologize” about the realities that we uphold: some “prophets” have been terribly wrong over the years, and some “apostles” have been terribly abusive of their authority. So — unlike the offices of prophet in the OT or true office of apostle (Apostle 🙂 in the New — we need to “judge” (evaluate, and keep accountable) anyone who makes claims to such authority among us today. True pastors and true teachers have that overarching and unending responsibility until the Lord comes back again — so, while “open”, we need to be careful for the sake of the sheep and the Faith that have been entrusted to our care. — Amen? — Blessings: and better to be a good and faithful pastor-teacher “only” than elevate oneself to a position of grandeur as a “prophet” or “apostle” who will face chastisement on the Last Day, as so many are perhaps now likely to end up doing due to hubris, pride, stubbornness of heart, or worse (e.g., the case of Charles Schmitt in Washington, D.C., who started his career here in Minnesota)…. — Lance Wonders
Hi Lance
Thanks for your response. I appreciate you wrote a long reply but I will not try to reply to all the points you covered. Simply to reply to a couple.
I realize cessationists use I Cor 13.12 to support their position. But as I wrote ,.this is a reference to the second coming and not to the formation of scripture.
Mark Johnson wrote to me this morning ad pointed out that Ephesians ch 4.11 was given by Christ after the ascension and did not refer to the 12 Apostles .[but to the future church}
Also Beth showed that Calvin did not have a biblical base for cessation. Dr Douglas who was Beth’s supervisor for her doctorate wrote ih the Abstract to Beth’s thesis…. “This doctrine of the cessation of miracles,.lacking in scriptures , is expressed as early as Augustine”. Note the words” Lacking in scripture”. Cessation is likewise applied to Apostles and Prophets not just to miracles etc.
.This debate will not be solved this side of heaven. Thanks again Blessing
Alan.
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Pastor Alan, For obvious reasons, what the “next generation” — who were directly taught by the Apostles themselves — believed about apostles and prophets and about what was “essential” to the true Church’s functioning, as found in the early Church fathers, should not be ignored, whether by traditional Protestants, Catholics, charismatics, or Evangelicals. The normative “office” of apostle and prophet ceased to exist, in their view, after the OT ended (with regard to prophets) and the NT canon was closed (with regard to apostles). Hence, though cessationists are wrong about the spiritual gifts not continuing to the end, the foundation of a house, once laid, does not perpetually continue to be laid — rather it is BUILT UPON. (This was the view of St. Irenaeus.) Churches then need to perpetually lay the same foundations according to God’s own floor-plans and overall blue-prints — what He has once-and-for-all revealed in His Word — but we dare not ADD TO, nor SUBTRACT FROM, those blue-prints…therefore, we do not add on “new” prophets and apostles in the old canonical sense of things (which is the point, primarily, of N.A.R. critics like Holly Pivec) but also we must not refuse an ongoing place for charismatic gifts and ministries until the end is reached (as Beth Foell, your daughter, rightly maintained). We “discern” whether leaders are teaching us aright, meanwhile, by comparing their “words” and doctrines and interpretations and “prophecies” to what Scripture itself most obviously already tells us. Otherwise, we are left adrift in a sea of subjectivity and claims and counterclaims that have no end…. As a result, when we continue to refer to ministries today as being “prophetic” or “apostolic”, we need to be clear that these are NOT at a “normative” or canonical level of authority. If we fail to do that, we have no protection against deception or cultic tendencies (as happened here in the U.S. with Joseph Smith and the Mormons, among others). I therefore no longer find it useful or helpful to call people “prophets” or “apostles” today, because of the canonical and non-canonical categories perpetually getting blurred into one another, with detrimental theological and pastoral effects. Good friends disagree with me, and I am not trying to be dogmatic about the abandonment of such labels; but, practically, it seems like their “day” has now come and gone….
A rather timely letter as the current March/April 2023 issue of Charisma magazine that features a host of wonderful tributes to Jack Hayford also includes an article that compliments this offering of yours. “The Case For Modern Apostles” by J.D. King addresses a number of questions that includes a helpful understanding of the Greek use of “Apostolos and Apesteilen.”
His reference to Rev 2:2 also shows that there was also an evaluation process to determine true apostles from false ones. Since this was arguably written after all the other original Apostles had died, what need for a test was necessary if the office had ceased? This idea of a test for Apostles and Prophets is also included in the 2nd century’s Didache which is accepted as an early church document.
Thank you for another fine letter and I know your best one is yet to be! 😊
Hi David
Thanks for your reply to the recent Langstaff Letter on Apostles and Prophets. I wrote the Letter before I received my copy of Charisma Jack Hayford was great man and undoubtedly an Apostle. I appreciate your other comments such as the one on Rev 2. As I said in the arlicle I was not trying to cover everything about Apostles & Prophets,
Good to hear from you . Must get together sometime.
Blessings
Alan
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