Are All Prophets?

In 1 Corinthians Paul addressed the church concerning spiritual gifts. He didn’t want the church to be ignorant and he spoke about the Gentiles serving dumb idols. He explained that anyone who has the Holy Spirit knows that Jesus is Lord. There are different spiritual gifts that have been given to the church by the Holy Spirit. The spirit works in everyone for the benefit of the church. Paul listed the different spiritual gifts that have been distributed to the church including: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. All of these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as he chooses to do the work of God. Paul then spoke about the need for unity in the body of Christ, because in the same way that our physical body have different parts that have different functions, the body of Christ has different members with different gifts that all play an important function. 

All believers in the body of Christ have the same spirit, which makes one despite race, ethnicity or social and economic standing. He continued to draw parallels between the human body and the body of Christ in referencing what would happen for example, if the foot were to say because they are not the hand, then they are not the body. Similarly, if the ear said because they are not the eye, then they are not the body. Furthermore, if the entire body were an eye, how would it function when it comes to hearing? If the entire body were hearing, where would the sense of smelling come from? God positions each member in the body of Christ, in different functions as he pleases. In essence the variety and diversity of gifts is so that the body of Christ can function well. “And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you”” ‭‭(I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬). Even those parts of the body who seem weak and insignificant are necessary for the body to function. The parts that we consider insignificant should be given greater honour, in the same way that the private parts of our body are treated with modesty. 

“that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” ‭‭(I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬). If one member suffers, all the members should empathise with their suffering and if one member is honoured, all the members should rejoice. Paul said that God appointed different members as first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles and the gifts of healing, helps, ministrations and speaking in tongues. He then asked a rhetorical question about whether or not all are prophets, teachers, workers of miracles. Do all have the gifts of healing, speak in tongues and interpret tongues. What he was saying is that different people in the body of Christ have different gifts. It means that not everyone is called to the office of a prophet, not all are called to be Apostles or teachers and not all have the gifts of healing or any of the other spiritual gifts. 

It is possible for one person to function or flow in a variety of different gifts, but they may have a strength in one main gift. For example, someone who is apostolic may operate in the gifts of healing and miracles and are often teachers. Many prophets also have the gift of faith, word of knowledge and word of wisdom. Prophets also see dreams and visions and are often able to discern spirits. God is the one who distributes the gifts and most of us know from childhood, the gifts that have been given to us based on our propensity and disposition. Some gifts in the church are often put on a pedestal and treated as more important than others. This should not be so as Paul was clear that all members of the body are important and even the parts that seem insignificant are of great value. All believers need to have a relationship with God, in order to understand their primary gifts and assignment. Chasing after gifts that have not been assigned to you can lead to error deception. 

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” ‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬).

A.P.-Y. – Anneta Pinto-Young