VI. The Spirit's Gifts of Apostleship and Prophecy
By John Orr Corliss
The words "apostle" and "prophet" not only stand in close relation to each other in the New Testament, but several times occur in a single sentence. Eph. 2:20; 3:5; 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28. This peculiar use of the words is at least an inference that they are not entirely dissimilar. But like every other word in use, each of these has its own particular significance. The unchangeable order in which the two words occur, when used together, should not, however, be overlooked, especially when comparing their origin and obvious intent. The word "apostle," which always leads when the two words are found together, signifies "one sent forth," and this without reference to time. As employed in the New Testament, the English word "prophet" is a simple anglicized original, which means a "public expounder." Stated in a more comprehensive form, it would stand for one who proclaims God's Word, whether past, present, or future. With this knowledge of the significance of the two words, the reason is plain why the word "apostle" stands first in the order of gifts. The original commission to go into all the world and preach, must cover the intent of both words; but to "go" must certainly precede a public exercise of the gift to "preach." Whoever, therefore goes out in any age, under orders from the Gospel commission, is "one sent forth," just as verily as were the original twelve apostles. This act must be undertaken the same now as then, by any or all, because of the general order of the Lord to all His followers. But upon one's being sent forth, another consideration enters upon the list, which demands settlement. Having been sent forth as a "sheep among wolves," how shall one conduct himself? What shall he say? How shall he fulfil the trust committed to him? The prophetic part of the plan enters here to answer these questions, and to provide a message fitted for the occasion. Teach them, says the Saviour, "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Matt. 28:20. But how may one thus sent forth know the exact limit of these "all things"? The response to this is, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." This answer is not hard to understand, when one remembers the promise given, that the "Spirit of truth,"—the heavenly witness for both God and Christ,—will be permitted to dwell in every true believer in the Gospel, and teach him all things, even to the restoration of forgotten statements of holy import. John 14:23, 26. So when the Spirit performs its office work in one's heart, it simply gives him the words of Christ, and so guides him into "all truth," even to the revelation of future developments. John 16:13. Therefore when called before tribunals to answer for his faith, one need not even take concern regarding the answer to be given, but speak that which is suggested at the time; "for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:11. The result of such a course has not been left in doubt; for speaking further on this point the Saviour declares, "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist." Luke 21:15. This is the legitimate work of the Holy Spirit, when permitted to act its part. True, the world knows little about this; but it is none the less true, and would be more generally acknowledged were it not for the almost universal pride and hardness of heart which prevail. The real fact is that anything short of this standard of measurement for the achievement of the Spirit is, to say the least, an underrating of the promised power of Jehovah. It is more than that; it is a misrepresentation of the testimony of Christ, hence is a false witness of His faithfulness to truth. The devoted Paul declared that as Christ was revealed in him, he preached Christ. Any one, without the first glimmer of the Spirit's life within, may preach about Christ; but to preach Christ Himself, the very Son of God, with power, one must, as did the apostle, have Christ uncovered, or displayed in himself, that the listening world may view Christ in the burning words His Spirit may speak through the human instrument. It is in this way alone that all men may be made to see the fellowship of the mysterious working of the Gospel. Eph. 3:9. A message of the Holy Spirit delivered thus through a man to his fellow man, is no less than the pneuma,—the breathing,—the true Spirit of Christ's Word publicly expounded, and is, therefore, the "testimony of Jesus." That it was not originally designed for this gift of prophecy to be confined to a single person, or to an inconsiderable number of persons, one may gather from the exhortation of the apostle to the church at Corinth. Altho in chapter 14:1 of his first letter to that church, he exhorted all to desire to prophecy; yet further along in his epistle we find at least some of the prophets in that communion contending for the mastery, and some of them desiring to have preeminence over the others. The apostle was therefore obliged to say to them: "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." 1 Cor. 14:29-32. From this rebuke we learn that differences of opinion and of intent brought confusion to believers. This spirit grew in the early church, until this precious gift of prophecy was largely lost sight of, and men came to believe that it was designed to cease with the apostolic church. In later stages of the church, however, when reformation was needed, God invariably called leaders for that office who were humble enough to trust His guiding impulse. Such have had need of divine wisdom above others to direct in counsel, and have been permitted to see the safe way, through the inspired wisdom of God's Spirit. This was, and is yet, as necessary as in the days of Israel, when God's professed people seemed lost to holy incitement, and needed the directing voice of God to unite their efforts. Were God to leave His people untutored when overtaken thus by an adverse spirit of carelessness, His course would prove Him subject to wavering impulse, and therefore unreliable as to stability. But the gift of prophecy may now be sadly restricted in the human family, yet we believe that if God should speak audibly to His people now, He would say as of old, I would "that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them." Num. 11:29.