From the Old to the New Testament Christ's church has always been led by a prophet. If the Catholic church is Christ's church then why isn't it led by a prophet?
2007-12-19 11:20:19 · 17 answers · asked by Malachi Constant 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
heartfir...-a prophet is a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration.
2007-12-19 11:27:34 · update #1
Father K- I understand that but it still doesn't answer why there aren't prophets leading the church anymore.
2007-12-19 11:34:18 · update #2
Not in the sense of "continuing revelation", no. The canon of Scripture is closed. He would be an interpreter of the Scriptures and within the realm of Apostolic Succession and the writings of the Fathers, he would have nothing really NEW to say...
The Church, in Ecumenical Council, does speak with a prophetic voice, but again, only within the confines of what is written in Holy Scripture and that which was handed down by prior Councils.
[Edit] My answer would be simply "because they are not needed anymore" Look at Ephesians 2:20 - it says “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…Notice the PAST tense, "been built".
Once a foundation is laid it does not need to be laid down again, it is built upon
It was upon these men the apostles and prophets that the foundation the church was built on, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. We can certainly agree there!
Those who falsely claim "apostolic authority" (the rank of TV evangelists are full of them) today are attempting to rebuild the church whose foundation was already laid and built!!!
Later on in Eph.4:11 Paul writes, “and he himself gave some to be apostles and prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers…” he does not say he keeps on giving apostles and prophets for the simple reason formerly stated they were the foundation of the church.
Paul makes no distinction of what is continued or what is not in this passage.
We have the Law. We have the Prophets. We have Holy Scripture. We have the Body of Christ, the Church (which I would say is "visible" and has a scripturally-based hierarchy of Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons (Diakonos)....and most importantly, we have the Resurrected Christ, the Word made Flesh.
2007-12-19 11:26:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not think the premise of your question is valid.
Christ's church did not exist in the Old Testament. Also the prophets of the Old Testament frequently were not the leaders of the Temple and conversely, the leaders of the Temple were frequently not prophets.
In the New Testament, Christ's church has only been led by Jesus Christ who is God the Son but not a prophet and Simon Peter, the first Pope who I have not heard was a prophet.
With love in Christ.
2007-12-20 01:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the Pope is not a prophet. He is consider the successor of Peter. That does not mean he is God's prophet, the Catholic church is guided by Apostolic Sucession. In the books of Acts, the Apostles spread Christ's message and kept his word. The Pope has sort of the same job.
2007-12-19 19:25:51 · answer #3 · answered by cynical 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The pope isn't a prophet. I'm sorry but the Catholic church isn't Christ's church either. The tip off should be its not led by a prophet.
2007-12-19 19:30:13 · answer #4 · answered by paula r 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I guess I don't see where this prophet thing is in the New Testament. Could you restate the question again with a bit more certainty?
Personally, I think the only thing that the Catholic Church sees is the profit. (or lack of) I heard last year they paid out over $500 million in damages for priest's ill-behavior.
They better find a better way.
2007-12-19 19:27:21 · answer #5 · answered by craig b 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, He is Not a prophet. And Catholic church says that John The Baptist was the last prophet.
2007-12-19 19:27:08 · answer #6 · answered by Vidocq 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, why?
The pope is a man of god, selected by other men of God through prayer and meditation.
Protestants might bash the Catholic Chruch but it's been around for a good 1600 years because it is organized. That means someone has to be in charge. Because someone is in charge, they OVERALL agree on things. Thier house is not divided, there for it does not fall.
I have a decent amount of respect for Catholics. The are known by thier fruits (good works) and believe that God can speak for himself. He's God after all. Plus all the ones I know have a great sense of humor. Can't beat that.
2007-12-19 19:25:16 · answer #7 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who prophesizes and believes that Jesus Christ is Lord and that the only way to the Father is through Him, then that person is a prophet. Jesus said that young men would prophesy, and today a lot of pastors are young men who fortell unfulfilled prophesees or talk about the ones that are currently being fulfilled.
2007-12-19 19:24:44 · answer #8 · answered by Heartfire 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Pope is profiting by pretending to be a prophet.
2007-12-19 19:28:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good Lord, no! We Catholics do not hold the Holy Father to be anything other than a man.
2007-12-19 19:27:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋