QUESTION: What are the differences in the five gifts described for us in Ephesians 4?

ANSWER: The verse which describes those five gifts reads as follows: "And He [the ascended Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11,12).

In the last issue we looked at the gift of apostles. In this issue we will notice the gift of prophets.

Prophets. It is worthwhile to repeat that since this gift was given by an ascended Christ (Ephesians 4:8), it does NOT include Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah or Jeremiah. Old Testament prophets were sent by God and inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak and write the Word of God (2 Peter 1:21); but they are not included here. The purpose of their messages was to bring God's Word to Israel and sometimes to the nations. The purpose of New Testament prophets is to edify or build up the church (Ephesians 1:6).

A prophet is one who announces God's message. This could include FORE-TELLING (predicting things to come—Acts 11:27-30; 21:10,11)—but more commonly it took the form of FORTH-TELLING (telling forth God's message for that particular moment—Acts 15:32). An evidence of this is seen in the way a prophet preceded his message. He would say, "Thus saith the Holy Ghost" (Acts 21:11), and then would give the message. In short, we could say a prophet is one who is "the mouth-piece of God."

Since the gift of prophets was for the foundation of the church and that foundation has been laid (Ephesians 2:20), this gift, like that of the apostles, does not exist today.

Although we do not have those today of whom we can say, "There goes a prophet of the Lord," we do find that all believers can prophesy today if they are subject to the directions given by the Lord through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11-14 (see especially 1 Corinthians 14:31,34).

Prophets spoke for God before the New Testament Scriptures were written. Those who prophesy today use the written Word of God and apply in the power of the Holy Spirit that particular portion of Scripture which answers to the present need of the listeners.

The effect of this prophesying will always be for edification, exhortation and comfort. It will produce in the hearts of the listeners the realization that they are in the presence of God and that He knows the secrets of their hearts (1 Corinthians 14:3,24,25).

(To be continued.)

—John D. McNeil