QUESTION: In light of Ephesians 4:11 do we still have active prophets today?
ANSWER:. Ephesians 4:11 states, “And He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets, and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” When the epistle to the Ephesians was written, Paul was a prisoner in Rome. The miraculous age was still in effect during the first century A.D.
The apostles were enabled to speak in tongues (Acts 2:4); raise the dead (Acts 9:36-42); heal the sick (Acts 9:33- 34); confer the miraculous gifts (Acts 19:1-6); predict future things (Acts 27:10- 32); and strike false teachers with blindness (Acts 13:8-11). The apostle Paul taught that the age of miracles would cease (I Cor. 13:8); those gifts would come to an end (Eph. 4:11- 13). When someone argues that miraculous gifts continue to the present time, that one contradicts the truth of God’s Word (I Cor. 13:8). If someone claims that he has any of those spiritual gifts then here is what I would say to him or her: If you have what the apostles had; then you should be able to do what the apostles did! If not, why not?
There are no active apostles or prophets in the church of the Lord today, not the first one. There are those who continue to affirm that they have miraculous powers or abilities. Notice please that since the close of the first century until today’s date there has not been one single, provable case of “anyone” raising back to life a verified dead person; not one documented case of someone who was blind having their sight fully restored (without medical science assisting); not a solitary case of someone who lost an arm or leg having that appendage, in flesh and blood, fully restored. The Bible has even warned against false prophets making such claims (I John 4:1; Matt. 7:21-23; and II Thess. 2:3-ff).
The nine spiritual gifts were available in the first century (Eph. 4:8). Those gifts were needful for the church in its infancy (Eph. 4:12). The gifts were going to last for a limited time (Eph. 4:13). The word “till” is an adverb of time; “the unity of the faith” refers to the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16).
A warm welcome awaits you at all the services of the Maysville church of Christ. We meet at the corner of Main and Ash Streets. We have Bible classes each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Worship services are held each Sunday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. We welcome your Bible questions and offer a free Bible correspondence: P.O. Box 562 in Maysville, or call 405-867-4807; or email at jessandterr@yahoo.com Please come and be our guest this Sunday where members are expected and visitors are welcome.