John wrote:
When you read this word, you see "office"
and argue from that perspective. When
I see the word "apostle." I see function,
assignment, a specific and personal calling
to the exclusion of "office."
I'm not sure what you mean by "to the exclusion of office," but you have
basically given a definition for how I use the word office.
John wrote:
... [apostles were] presented with the assignment of
imparting the message of Christ in word and script.
Where in Scripture do you see the apostles being given the assignment of
imparting the message of Christ in script? I don't think that was part of
their assignment because most of them did not leave us script, and it
seems
likely to me that most of them never wrote anything. I believe their
assignment was oral preaching and ministry to the poor and sick.
John wrote:
It is a function to me and an office to you.
No, it is a function to me too, but the word "office" helps describe an
assigned function in the body of Christ. It is a stewardship, a
responsibility to the body of Christ that they have.
John wrote:
IMO, a faith healer is one who thinks he/she has
identical powers and purpose as that of Jesus and
the typical "12." That power emanates from their
person.
Say what???? I don't know of any "faith healer" who has ever claimed that
"power emanates from their person." Even the apostles decried such
characterizations (Acts 14). Please name me one faith healer who has ever
held to such a position.
I have brought up Smith Wigglesworth as a faith healer of the last
century.
If you like, we can talk about him from my perspective of what a faith
healer is.
John wrote:
He [Wigglesworth] does not seem to fit into the mold
of the "faith healer." But, I really do not know.
If Smith Wigglesworth does not fit the mold of a faith healer, then I
don't
know of anyone, including the apostles of Scripture, who would. He prayed
for the sick, had healing lines in his meetings where he would lay hands
upon the sick, and he had tremendous testimonies of people being healed
and
raised from the dead.
John wrote:
You and I cannot point to a single healer, not one,
David, who healed all who made appearances at
their services IN SPITE OF AN EFFORT TO DO
SO.
I am not aware of any effort to do so, but I would agree with you that I
do
not know of anyone who healed all who came to them. The problem from my
perspective is that unbelief is far too prevalent for us to expect such to
happen.
John wrote:
I do not see that same failure when I consider
Jesus and the apostles or those whom they
commissioned.
The Bible gives us an example of where the apostles failed to heal, and
even
Jesus too was unable to heal sometimes.
Matthew 17:16
(16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mark 6:5
(5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon
a
few sick folk, and healed them.
John wrote:
I have given you reference !!
I have quoted from several biblical writers.
I'm talking about your assertion that you are on the side of theologians
and
I am not. Which theologians hold to this viewpoint of yours that the
prophets today are guys like Barth, Wright, etc.
John wrote:
What is not going to work, in this discussion, is
for you to continue to pretend that I might be
making up "stuff." I do not do this.
Please reference for me those who have fed you the thoughts you have, that
there are no faith healers today, that the last apostle was John, and that
prophets are theologians like Barth, Wright, etc. If you are not making
this stuff up, then who is teaching it to you? If possible, give me some
Pentecostal references please.
John wrote:
In the current discussion, who have you
referenced other than H. ??
The Didache.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may
know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6)
http://www.InnGlory.org
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