And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. And as a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by the craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up on all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
It has been said here on this site that there are no prophets because the bible has been completed, and there is no more revelation of Christ Jesus to receive. This passage says that Jesus gives first apostles, then prophets, then evangelists, and then pastors and teachers. Now Paul did not say that Jesus gives one of these, or maybe two of these, but He gives all four of these offices. If one is not needed today because we have the completed bible, then none of these are needed. Therefore, the saying that there are no prophets because we have the bible is not supported logically, because we still have need of evangelists and pastors and teachers. You cannot have some and not the others, unless you are a judge of the scriptures, which makes you a judge of God.
I won't even go into the second part of this passage, except to say that the next most important part of this is the last part, where these offices are given for one reason, that the body should grow up into all aspects of Jesus Christ, who causes the whole body to to grow by building itself up in love.
If we are going to believe something, it at the very least should not make God a liar. If there are not prophets or apostles any more, then there are also no evangelists or pastors and teachers.
In Christ,
It has been said here on this site that there are no prophets because the bible has been completed, and there is no more revelation of Christ Jesus to receive. This passage says that Jesus gives first apostles, then prophets, then evangelists, and then pastors and teachers. Now Paul did not say that Jesus gives one of these, or maybe two of these, but He gives all four of these offices. If one is not needed today because we have the completed bible, then none of these are needed. Therefore, the saying that there are no prophets because we have the bible is not supported logically, because we still have need of evangelists and pastors and teachers. You cannot have some and not the others, unless you are a judge of the scriptures, which makes you a judge of God.
I won't even go into the second part of this passage, except to say that the next most important part of this is the last part, where these offices are given for one reason, that the body should grow up into all aspects of Jesus Christ, who causes the whole body to to grow by building itself up in love.
If we are going to believe something, it at the very least should not make God a liar. If there are not prophets or apostles any more, then there are also no evangelists or pastors and teachers.
In Christ,
