If we compared the list of servants which “God has set … in the ekklesia” in 1 Cor. 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11, we will find that the apostles and prophets take first and second places respectively in each of the texts. (Cf. Chs. 2:20; 3:5). They are the first in the list because they are the foundation upon which the saints are built (Eph. 2:20).
A prophet of the New Testament order (cf. 2:20 and 3:5) is defined in 1 Corinthians 14:3 as one who “speaketh unto men to edification, to exhortation and comfort.” From this description, the work of a prophet is more of forth-telling than foretelling. Early on, the saints in Antioch of Syria are described as having “certain prophets and teachers” (Acts 13:1), two of whom were Barnabas and Saul.
The restoration of the prophets to Israel would be a sign that the last days had come and God would pour out the Holy Spirit as a precursor and preparer for the great and terrible day of the Lord. His presence would also act as a sign that the arrival of the kingdom is coming. It was widely believed among the Rabbi’s themselves that the miraculous manifestation of the Spirit would return as when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. This had stood as a powerful testimony that God has been present with his people and that the work of prophets had ceased to exist in Israel with the closing of Malachi’s work. That’s not to say that God would not on occasion intervene for Israel. God may have intervened during the Maccabean period, but that does not mean that He had prophets on the scene in those days.
Of the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4, if anything is spoken about them ending, it would be the apostles and prophets. They are thought to have ceased with that first generation. However, as we will demonstrate, they must continue if the others continue because all of them are listed as gifts given in that generation for the same purpose and duration. In other words, they all stand together or cease together. It is difficult to find any hermeneutic principle that would allow us to claim that the first two ended with the end of the first generation, but the others continue with us, today. They must stand or fall together. Of course, the reason they must be paired together is that they form the gifts that God gave to build up the body until such a time of completion or fulfillment was reached. Remember, the promise of Joel 2, Mark 16:20, Acts 2:38-39, and Acts 5:32. These were the last days in which the Holy Spirit would be poured out as a security or guarantee and confirmation of divine revelation. The men given in Ephesians 4 were the rich recipients of this promise. The evangelists, pastors, and teachers shared slightly different gifts of teaching but the same Spirit as their source of power.
Another use of the word “prophet” described those who possessed the gift of predicting future events, among whom was Agabus. (Acts 11:28; 21:10.) The Old Testament prophets did both – foretold future events and called the people to repent of present sin. Given the context of these gifts listed in our text of study having a certain purpose and fall in the category of teaching, it seems more reasonable to take the later view that these were people who spoke an oracle from God concerning their present condition.
Another distinction may be found between the prophet mentioned here and the gifts of prophecy referenced in 1 Corinthians 14. Just exactly how these prophets compare to those with the gift of prophecy is uncertain. It may be that one was given oracles from the Lord (revelation) while the others were interpreters of prophecy. Or, it may be that the gift of prophecy was more limited in content, whereas the prophets offered a complete picture of heaven’s will. The prophets were inspired, like the Apostles, and seemed to have come in after them, probably to expound on the teaching of the Apostles. In this sense, the Apostles were the planters and the prophets were the waterers. I would hesitate to offer a definite view without being given more explanation in the Scriptures. But, what we do know is that both apostles and prophets are described as having provided the foundational teaching upon which God’s people were built.