THERE WERE PROPHETS IN THE EARLY CHURCH AGE

In Early Church There were Prophets as Well as Apostles

Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32; Eph. 4:11

"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch."

"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."

"And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them."

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

 

N.T. people were a new society – new circumstances and respondsibilities – so a new message was needed. This is not Israel.
 The word prophetes means "to speak before" or "to speak for." Thus it refers to one who speaks for God or Christ. Prophets were also called pneumatics (pneumatikos), "spiritual ones" (1 Cor. 14:37). The prophets played a foundational role in the early church

"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."

These prophets received new revelation from the Holy Spirit. Eph. 3:5 - Arg. Not O.T. prophets, but N.T. prophets. Hidden in the past but now needed in the Church, the mystery of Christ, not a secret.

"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;"

These N.T. Prophets Wrote Scripture

Rom. 16:25-26 Arg. Speaks of the closing of N.T. prophets

"Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."

As Paul was Chosen by the Lord after His Ascension, so these Prophets Evidently Were Chosen

1 Cor. 12:28 "God hath set some...secondarily prophets." Mark, Luke, James, Jude may be placed in this category.

Historical Argument:
The writings of these prophets were accepted as Scripture by the early churches in an age presided over by the Twelve. Since Christ directly chose the Twelve, His authority reaches down historically to those writings accepted by the Twelve. For they are ambassadors.

Conclusion:
Although the testimony of Christ to the N.T. seems less direct than in the case of the O.T., yet it should be clear that He would not have regarded the N.T. as of less value than the O.T. which in certain respects it superseded. As a matter of fact, He laid great emphasis on the revelation which was to come.