Critical Issues Commentary | Apostles and Prophets - Understanding Ephesians 4:11-13 @CICministry | Uploaded January 2022 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
This program, based on CIC Issue 66, examines Ephesians where it addresses apostles and prophets. Many have claimed that God is restoring a “new order of apostles and prophets” that will do even greater miracles than the biblical ones. To examine this claim, we discuss Ephesians 4:11-13. Those who promote the restored “five-fold ministry” claim that authoritative apostles and prophets are to be expected throughout church history. Our claim is that Paul is speaking of Christ and His apostles who gave normative revelation which is the New Testament scriptures. To explain this, we emphasize the nature of the foundation and building analogy found in Ephesians. The foundation is laid once and never again and the church is built upon that foundation. The evangelists, pastors and teachers are building on the foundation as God builds His church. This church is comprised of saved Jews and Gentiles who are the “once new man” (Ephesians 2:15). There are no valid successors to the apostles. This program includes a description and critique of the Latter Rain movement and its current successors.
This program, based on CIC Issue 66, examines Ephesians where it addresses apostles and prophets. Many have claimed that God is restoring a “new order of apostles and prophets” that will do even greater miracles than the biblical ones. To examine this claim, we discuss Ephesians 4:11-13. Those who promote the restored “five-fold ministry” claim that authoritative apostles and prophets are to be expected throughout church history. Our claim is that Paul is speaking of Christ and His apostles who gave normative revelation which is the New Testament scriptures. To explain this, we emphasize the nature of the foundation and building analogy found in Ephesians. The foundation is laid once and never again and the church is built upon that foundation. The evangelists, pastors and teachers are building on the foundation as God builds His church. This church is comprised of saved Jews and Gentiles who are the “once new man” (Ephesians 2:15). There are no valid successors to the apostles. This program includes a description and critique of the Latter Rain movement and its current successors.
