This is a very important question, it goes right to the heart of the trustworthiness of the Bible. If there are apostles and prophets in the church today, then we really need a loose-leaf Bible because there may be new revelation from God that supersedes the old Bible.
The Bible clearly says there were apostles and prophets in the foundation of the church.
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
After the resurrection, when it became necessary to choose a replacement for Judas, the Apostle Peter described the qualifications…
Therefore it is necessary to select one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22)
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” (Acts 10:39-43)
Later, the Apostle Paul was specially called by Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9; 22; 26)…
- This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1)
- For I speak to you, the nations, inasmuch as I am apostle of nations (Romans 11:13)
- to others I am not an Apostle, at least I am one to you: for the fact
that you are Christians is the sign that I am an Apostle (1 Corinthians 9:2) - For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth,
I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth (1 Timothy 2:7) - For which I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles (2 Timothy 1:11)
- This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:1)
- When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I
patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you (2 Corinthians 12:12)
The New Testament records prophets in the early church…
Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30)
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood companion of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. (Acts 13:1)
However, just as there is a difference between a lord and The Lord, there is a difference between an apostle and The Apostles and there is a difference between a prophet and The Prophets.
- apostolos: a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle
- prophétés: a prophet (an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will)
Therefore, the New Testament writers talk about special messengers and interpreters of the divine will as apostles and prophets. But, not The Apostles and The Prophets.
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
These men and women are in the church today, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, but not for adding or subtracting from the Bible with new revelations from God that supercede anything that we already have.
If someone claims to have new revelation, we need to ask 3 questions:
- Is the new revelation consistent with the existing written word of God. Then it is not new. This is legitimate Bible exposition and teaching.
- Is the new revelation opposed to the existing written word of God. Then it is not true. The Apostle Paul and The Apostle Peter explicitly warned against these false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:12-13; Acts 20:30; Galatians 2:4; Philippians 3:18; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelation 2:2)
- Is the new revelation outside of the existing written word of God. Then it is not necessary.
But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. Out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:10-17)