“That the things of the Kingdom of God are the facts testified concerning the Kingdom of God in the writings of the prophets and apostles, and definable as in the next twelve paragraphs.” Article XVIII
Criticism has sometimes been leveled at the wording of Article XVIII, suggesting that the writings which constitute the Word of God should not be confined to the prophets and apostles. It is reasoned that inasmuch as some of the New Testament Books, i.e. “Luke” and “James” were written by men other than apostles, it is incorrect to limit the inspired Scriptures to prophets and apostles. At first glance this argument appears plausible; but let us take another look, and see if it is altogether applicable.
The True Office of the Prophet
The Old Testament rightly enough is comprehended under the work of prophets, when we understand just what the ministry of the prophets consists of. Generally speaking, popular usage of the word, “prophet” means predominantly one who foretells the future. However, careful study will reveal to the discerning mind that announcements concerning future events constitutes but a small and subordinate part of the prophets’ mission. The prediction of things to come was not an essential element of the prophet’s work. Elijah, who is considered to be not only a colorful, hut a great prophet actually made no far reaching predictions. His announcements concerning coming events concerned the immediate presence; unless one construes his pronouncements concerning the destiny of Ahab and Jezebel to be predictions. In the New Testament, John the Baptist, though proclaimed by Jesus as at least among the greatest of the prophets did not predict the distant future.
The work to which the prophets were called was a more noble one than merely to foretell future happenings. Consider the calling of Isaiah and the work which was committed to him in reference to Israel: “And he said, Go and tell this people. Hear ye, indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” (Isa. 6:9, 10) Perceive how the emphasis is placed upon Jeremiah to relate God’s message to His people: “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee: but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.” (Jer. 1:17-19) These denunciations of doom which the prophets were to utter were quite different from specific predictions. The prophets’ activities were more concerned with moral teaching and spiritual guidance than foretelling future events.
As Spokesmen for God
Popular misconception of the words, “prophet” and “prophecies” stem from a misunderstanding of their etymologies. The Hebrew word for prophet is “NA-BI’,’ which in turn is derived from the Hebrew, “NABA”, signifying to speak by inspiration; (in prediction or simple discourse). Gensenius derives the word from one which means ‘to bubble up”, hence giving colorful significance to Jeremiah’s lament that when he had determined not to “make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name”, the power of God’s inspiration worked on him so forcefully that he cried, “But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (Jer. 20:9).
We see, therefore that a prophet was not so much a “fore-teller” as he was a “forth-teller”. One who conveys messages received directly from God, and acts as a spokesman for Him could be considered a prophet. This is amply illustrated in Exodus 7:1,2 where the Lord speaks to Moses; “See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharoah, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.” Aaron was to be Moses’ prophet; that is, his interpreter, or, as expressed in Exodus 4:16, “he shall be thy spokesman unto the people, and he shall be to thee a mouth”. Again, to the prophet Jeremiah, God declares, “Thou shalt be as my mouth” (15:19)
New Testament Prophets
And now, as regards the New Testament, it is quite apparent in the book of Acts and in the Epistles that the prophets of the first century were for the most part, (some exclusively) moral and spiritual teachers. The following verses from the 13th chapter of Acts illustrates the wider and more beneficial character of their work: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and layed their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” (VV1-4)
In his letter to the ecclesia at Ephesus, Paul refers to the apostles and prophets as having laid the foundation upon which the Spiritual edifice comprised of believers rests; “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophet,. Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22) It must be understood as the apostle declared in 1 Cor. 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than is laid which is Jesus Christ.” Through the work of the apostles and (New Testament) prophets the Name of Jesus has been preached as the only basis for salvation. As Peter announced, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
In the reference to prophets in the quotation above, it is evident that the ones mentioned belong to the era of Christ. This is manifest in the third chapter of Ephesians, where Paul speaks of the more lucid nature of the revelation of the mystery of Christ as revealed to the apostles and prophets of his day: “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power” (VV 5-7) Paul, as well as the other prophets had received his “knowledge in the mystery of Christ” directly from the Lord: “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words)” (VV 2,3) This points out graphically the principle mission of the New Testament prophets; that of proclaiming the acceptable way of salvation; “that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs”.
Teachers — True And False
Among the first century prophets there were true and false teachers. These are styled “spirits” by John, whose validity could be tested by comparing their teachings with those of the Scriptures: “Beloved, believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 Jo. 4:1) Peter uses the term in precisely the same way in warning his readers of the inevitable presence of heretic teachers. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Pet. 2:1, 2) Jesus, likewise cautioned His followers against the deceitful tactics of the enemies of the Truth; “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt. 7:15)
The foregoing comments illustrate the correct and somewhat varied manner in which the Scriptures use the word, “prophet”. Since the primary role of prophet is that of a moral guide or spiritual leader, we can see how fitting it is to describe the New Testament writings as being those of the prophets and apostles.
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