The Inspiration of Scripture

• “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)

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• ​ "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2 Peter 16-21)

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• “For we know that the Law is spiritual…But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully...” (Romans 7:14; 1 Timothy 1:8)

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The Role of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor-Teachers

• “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. 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 craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what 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.” Ephesians 4:11-16

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• “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

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•  "And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us... if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith."  Romans 12:6

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• Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:29–33.

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• "Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."  1 Thessalonians 5:20-221 Thessalonians 5:20-22

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The Law and the Prophets and the New Testament

While the Law and the Prophets of the First Covenant can be studied separately as from Genesis to Revelation, they reveal the Plan and Purpose of God, both share a common bond – Covenant Relationship. The First Covenant (Exodus 20) yields to the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31), yet the New Covenant retains the features of the first but takes on the Spirit of the Law rather than the Letter. (Romans, 2 Corinthains 3)

Jesus and The Law and the Prophets

When Jesus declares, He has not “come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill,” He provides a paradigm for interpretation and application of the Scriptures He uses to establish a foundation for His system of righteousness. (Matthew 5:17-21)

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When asked which is the “great commandment”, Jesus responded with a two-fold summary: “One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment.’” ‘The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ‘On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:35-40; see Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18)

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Not only did He realize the message of hope the Law and the Prophets portrayed were to be fulfilled in His life and works (Luke 24:44-48), the Covenant Relationships He taught rested upon the Law and the Prophets as He cited fulfillments, were foundational for the lessons and parables He taught, and cited to reveal coming events leading to His Second Coming and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

 

Recognized Prophets in the New Testament

From Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Nathanial, Elijah, The Major and Minor Prophets (the Literary Prophets) and others, the Prophets of the First Covent spoke to the Kings and Israelites on God’s behalf, brining messages of indictment, judgment, Instruction, and Restoration. These same prophetic themes are found in the Teachings of Jesus and the Apostles.

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Among the Spiritual Leadership of the Church, named among the Prophets are Agabus (Acts 11:28; 21:1), Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32), and Philip’s four daughters who were recognized as prophetesses (Acts 21:9). Recognized Prophets were responsible for maintaining order in the Church services (1 Corinthians 14:29-32).

While the emphasis of the Book of Acts predominantly records the history of the early Church, careful reading reveals the role of the Prophets and their imprint upon forming teaching and doctrine.

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What about Cessation?

See the article, “When did the Era of Prophets in the Church Cease – or Did It?