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PROPHETS AND TEACHERS AT ANTIOCH (Ac 13:1) 8/17/14 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. LEADERSHIP AT ANTIOCH A. The thriving church at Antioch was
predominantly made up of Gentiles. They had both “prophets and teachers” in
the church who played a major part in the edification of its believers. B. It is difficult to know exactly in Ac 13:1
who were the prophets and who were the teachers. Some have suggested that
Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius were the prophets, and Manaen
and Saul were the teachers, being separated as such by the Greek particle te. However, it better to take the view that
the entire group comprised both prophets and teachers. II. PROPHETS AND THE GIFT OF PROPHECY A. As mentioned numerous times, the gift of
prophecy consisted of two aspects: 1) prediction of future events
(foretelling) (Ac 11:27-28; 21:10-11) and 2) preaching of God’s
revealed truth (sometimes in written form, i.e. Scriptures cf. 2Pe 1:20-21)
(Ac 13:1; 15:32). Both aspects relied on direct revelation from God and both were infallibly and inerrantly
communicated by them through the Spirit. In fact, infallibility and
100% accuracy were the tests of a true prophet (Dt 13:1-5; Dt 18:20-22). B. With the completion of Scripture and the
cessation of sign gifts, the aspect of prediction (foretelling) through the
gift of prophecy has ceased in the present dispensation (Notes on Acts
11:25-30, Spiritual Gifts, Temporary Spiritual Gifts). But
what about the aspect of preaching (forthtelling)
through the gift of prophecy? C. There are two views among cessationists concerning the aspect preaching (forthtelling) through the gift of prophecy. 1) The aspect
of forthtelling is no longer in operation in the
present dispensation. 2) The aspect of forthtelling
is directed through the gifts of pastors and teachers. D. In regard to the second view, the aspect
of forthtelling (teaching of God’s revealed truth) directed through the gifts of pastors and teachers, the
Scriptural support is 1Co 13:8. There it states that tongues will
cease of itself, but prophecy will be “done away”
when “the perfect” comes. In this view, “the perfect” is most often viewed as
the eternal state. In addition, prophecy appears to be involved in the end
times according to Joel 2:28-32. E. Though it is not difficult to be
sympathetic to this view, the problem is that preaching (forthtelling)
directed by the gift of prophecy, would have to be
infallibly and inerrantly communicated. No
pastor or teacher can claim such a statement, nor is there any Scriptural
support. III. PROPHECY WILL
BE DONE AWAY WHEN THE “PERFECT COMES” A. So while
concluding that the gift of prophecy is not in operation today (both
foretelling and forthtelling), there is a future
time in which the gift of prophecy will reappear (Joel 2:28-32). This
coincides with 1Co 13:8 which states that tongues will “cease” (fut. mid.
of pauō - cease for itself) in and of
themselves, but prophecy will be “done away” (fut. pass. of katargeō - be brought to an end, abolish) by
“the perfect” when it comes (1Co 13:10). B. Though “the perfect” (neuter adj. - to teleion - full, complete, mature, or perfect) has
numerous interpretations, it most naturally refers to the perfect eternal
state. 1. However,
some have suggested it refers to Christ Himself. While Christ is perfect and
He will come again, the term “perfect” is in the neuter gender and therefore
cannot refer to a person. 2. Some have suggested it refers to the
completion of canon. While canon (Scripture) has indeed been completed and
provides everything for “life and godliness” (2Pe 1:3), the present Christian
experience could hardly be described as “face to face” or as to “know fully”
(1Co 13:12). 3. Others have suggested that the “perfect”
refers to the Rapture. However, this does not account for the reappearance of
the gift of prophecy during the end times. C. Through a
process of elimination as well as taking the most natural and contextual
interpretation, “the perfect” is the eternal state. The eternal state will be
at the end of God’s programs, where in addition, the believer will be
perfected in heaven. This would allow for the neuter adjective, the
reappearance of the gift of prophecy in the end times, and the description of
the believer’s eternal experience as “face to face” with Christ as well to
“know fully.” D. In summary, the gift of prophecy, in both
its aspects of foretelling and forthtelling are not
in operation today. However, the gift itself will reappear in the end times.
When the the perfect eternal state comes, then the gift of prophecy will be
“done away.” IV. PROPHETS AND
TEACHERS IN THE 1ST CENTURY A. Combining the terms “prophets and
teachers” (Ac 13:1) seems to suggest that both prophets and teachers were
instrumental in the preaching and teaching in the edification of the church. B. We generally think of prophets as
predicting future events through direct revelation from God. While this is absolutely true, it is not the whole picture concerning
prophets in Scripture. C. The word “prophecy” (prophāteia)
includes the idea of expounding, speaking, and preaching of revealed truth
from God. At times, prophets would reiterate divine truths previously
revealed (Eze 2:3-8; Acts 2: 17– 21, 25–28, 34– 35; 4: 25– 26; 7: 2– 53). D. It is most likely in this
sense that we see the five men (Ac 13:1), who were “prophets and teachers,”
proclaiming God’s truth in the church. This is not to say that it would not
include divine predictions or instructions (Ac 11:27-28; 21:10-11; Ac 13:2),
but it certainly included preaching and teaching for edification. E. Not only is this implied in Ac 13:1, but
Ac 15:32 tells us that the prophets Judas and Silas, “encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a
lengthy message.” In addition, we get this
understanding from 1Co 14:2-3, which tells us that
the gift of prophecy was for “edification and exhortation and consolation” in
order to “edify the church.” F. This would have been
expounding and preaching the Scriptures, prophecies, and doctrine. However, having the gift of prophecy,
these men would have communicated these truths infallibly and inerrantly. V. PASTORS AND TEACHERS THEREAFTER A. How does the gift of pastors and teachers
play into the understanding of the gift of prophecy? When Paul lists the
offices and gifts given to the church in Eph 4:11, it included not only apostles
and prophets but also evangelists and pastor/teachers. Apostles and prophets
were in a class all by themselves because they received direct revelation
from God and preached and wrote infallibly and inerrantly.
Evangelists would be those who proclaimed the truth of the gospel that was
recorded in Scripture and that was taught by apostles and prophets. “Pastors
and teachers” is most likely one gift since together they shared the same
Greek article (tous poimenas
kai didaskalous). Paul also includes the gift
of teaching (Ro 12:7; 1Co 12:28).They would expound and teach the truths that
were recorded in Scripture and that was taught by apostles and prophets. B. It could be said that pastors and teachers
continued the task of edifying the church after the foundation was laid by
the apostles and prophets (Ep 2:20). Now that the authoritative and
revelatory offices and gifts of apostles and prophets have ceased, the church
is edified by pastors and teachers. Yet they do not receive new revelation,
rather they are aided by the Holy Spirit to teach the completed Scriptures to
the church. In addition, the church is aided in its understanding of the
completed Scriptures by the illumination of the Holy Spirit (1Jn 2:27). VI. THE FIVE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS A. Barnabas, “the son of encouragement,” a
Hellenistic Jew (Levite) from Cyprus (Ac 4:36), had recently returned from
the mission to Jerusalem with Saul (Ac 12:25). B. Simeon, a Jew, was also called, “Niger,”
most likely referring to his African heritage and/or dark skin. It is highly
debatable that he was the “Simon from Cyrene,” who carried the cross of Jesus
(Lk 23:36). C. Lucius, a citizen of Cyrene in North
Africa, was not the author of Acts (i.e. Luke) or the Lucius of Ro 16:21. D. Manean, had been
“brought up” (suntrophos - close friend,
or foster brother) with Herod the tetrarch (also called Herod Antipas,
who beheaded John the Baptist, Mk 6:16), but believed on Jesus as Messiah. E. Saul, who will be called “Paul” from Ac
13:9 forward, will be the leading figure in the book of Acts. VII. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Edification is the priority for the church
(Ep 4:11-16). B. Teaching is the main mode of edification
(Ep 4:12). C. All the gifts of the Spirit in operation
today are for the edification of the church (1Co 14:26). |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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