Are modern day prophets just elders or teachers?

By John Chopores

 

 The answer is no!

 

Acts 13:1 ¶ Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

This verse says: “prophets and teachers”, not “prophets, that is teachers”!

 

Acts 14:23  So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

It says here that “they” appointed “elders”, not prophets.   

 

1 Corinthians 12:29  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

Ephesians 4:11  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

 “Some” teachers, “some” teachers.

We see from the above verses, that not all Christians have the same calling. 

 

Acts 15:32  Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

Even in the time of Paul, there were some know to be prophets.   You will notice, that they were prophets, not just thought themselves to be so!

You will also see that they “strengthened” the brethren” A modern day prophet can help build up the Church.

 

 

1 Peter 5:1 ¶ The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

It would seem however, that an Apostle could also be an elder. We know that St. Peter was an Apostle; this verse also says that he was an elder.