Answers to Correspondents: Prophets in Eph., Luke, and Acts?

From: Words of Faith: Volume 1

• 2 min. read • grade level: 10

23. Q.-Are the prophets spoken of in Ephesians 2 and 3, the same as those referred to in Luke 24 and Acts 3? S. H.

A.-The prophets in Eph. 2:20²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20) refer to the prophets of the New Testament, as is plainly taught in Eph. 3:5⁵Which 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; (Ephesians 3:5), where the fact is stated that the "mystery of Christ" (that is, the church) had not been made known unto the sons of men in past ages, but "is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." What is in question is the ministerial foundation (by teaching) of the church; in this building (the church) Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone.

In Rev. 21 where the church is seen in glory, as the bride the Lamb's wife, we read (ver. 14), "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." This confines the foundations of the church to the apostles of Christ, not as the Messiah, but as the Lamb; that is, after redemption had been accomplished: see Acts 1:26²⁶And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26).

In Luke 24:27,44²⁷And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44), the prophets referred to are certainly those of the Old Testament, and their testimony is concerning Christ as the Messiah of the nation of Israel, and the church is not in question.

The same is true of Acts 3:18,21,24¹⁸But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. (Acts 3:18)
²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21)
²⁴Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. (Acts 3:24). All these refer to Christ in connection with Israel, and have nothing to do with the church. Till the ascension of Christ to glory there could be no Head of the church; and no revelation was given to any Old Testament prophets as to Christ, save in connection with Israel and the nations, and this only went as far as blessing for man on the earth under Christ as King and Savior.

The church had been hidden in the mind and purpose of God, till Christ, having been rejected by Israel, had wrought redemption and entered into His glory. C. W.

London: G. MORRISH 20, Paternoster Square.

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