The Mailbag: Potpourri (Was John a prophet?...) - By Michelle Lesley

Found here. Our comments in bold.
----------------

Somehow this "Bible teacher" manages to avoid quoting any Scripture.

---------------
(...)

In response to the question about Simeon [in this article], would you consider John (the John that wrote Revelation) to be a prophet? I know he was an apostle but I was just wondering if he would also be considered a prophet due to all the Lord showed him regarding Revelation.

Great question! I love it when women are thinking deeply about the things of God. Since you’re asking my opinion, I didn’t delve into any scholarly works on the subject, I’m just going to give you my take on it based on what I know of Scripture.

As you probably know, in the Old Testament, there were two different types of people who prophesied:

• Men who held the office of prophet – what we might think of as a “professional prophet,” so to speak – like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, and so on.
• People to whom God gave a “one and done” (or maybe twice or thrice) word of prophecy for a particular reason or moment in time, like Eldad, Medad, and the 70 elders, Saul, Eliezer, and others. 

(If there are "two different types" of prophets in the OT, we would expect Ms. Lesley to provide a Scriptural reference to document this concept. It is an idea with important doctrinal implications. But as is typical for these self-styled "Bible teachers," she does not.

In fact, simply because the Bible mentions someone who prophesied once does not mean they never uttered another prophecy. The absence in the record does not speak to other possible prophecies which were not recorded in Scripture.

This means Ms. Lesley is making an Argument From Silence.)

Jesus was, and is, the final, permanent occupant of the offices of prophet, priest, and king. (Not that we would disagree, but again, where in the Bible does it say this?)

This is why we don’t see the office of prophet or priest in the New Testament church or anyone installed as “king” over New Testament Christians. (Um, no.

Mt. 11:9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Mt. 23:34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. 

Ac. 11:27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Ac. 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers...

Ac. 15:32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

1Co. 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets...

Ep. 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets...

Until the canon of Scripture was complete, however, and foretelling prophecy become obsolete, (No Scripture provided...)

we do see occasional references to the second type of prophecy in the New Testament church. (No Scripture provided...)

It seems to me that second category is the category John’s prophecy in Revelation would fall into. He held the office of Apostle, but not the office of prophet (since that position was filled), (No Scripture provided...)

and God gave Him a “one and done” prophecy to communicate to us. (No Scripture provided...

John wrote the book of John and three letters, as well as Revelation. And he may have uttered other prophecies not recorded in Scripture. But he was "one and done," according to Ms. Lesley.

Again and again we find this self-styled Bible teacher to be wrong.)

**

I’m learning so much from your articles, and I think my husband would benefit from and enjoy hearing what I’m learning. Can I share your posts with him? I don’t want YOU to be teaching my husband and break that command.

It’s always important to be obedient to God’s commands, but it’s equally important that we understand exactly what the command does and doesn’t prohibit so we can obey it properly. (Ms. Lesley will commence to split doctrinal hairs...)

For example, the sixth Commandments says, “You shall not murder,” but this Commandment doesn’t preclude self defense, capital punishment, fighting in a war, or vehemently annihilating an uppity rat or snake with a shovel (I hate rats and snakes. :0) (No documentation provided...)

In the same way, the New Testament’s prohibition on women instructing men in the Scriptures (Which she will not quote, so we will do so: 

1Ti. 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 

Now with the prohibition in front of us, we are prepared to ascertain the truth of her claims.)

doesn’t mean no male can ever learn anything – even biblical things – from a woman. (Ms. Lesley immediately gives an exception to her rule...)

For example, we see Lois and Eunice instructing Timothy in the Scriptures when he was a boy, and Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, privately correcting and instructing Apollos. (Re-read 1Ti. 2:12. Paul does not permit "a woman" to teach "a man." Period. 

Further, when we actually open our Bibles, we find there is no reference to Lois and Eunice teaching Timothy as a child:

2Ti. 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

However, Ms. Lesley is quite correct that Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos, apparently in violation of her version of Paul's doctrine. Ms. Lesley will later claim that "private" instruction done by women to men is permissible. The biblical support for this is never mentioned.

We discuss 1Ti 2:12 in some detail here.)

The biblical prohibition against women teaching men in 1 Timothy 2:11-3:7 has a very specific context. Women are prohibited from preaching to or instructing men (not boys, girls, or other women), (No documentation provided...)

in the Scriptures (not in other subjects), (No documentation provided...)

or holding authority over men, in the context of the gathering of the body of Believers (the church). (No documentation provided...

Again and again Ms. Lesley refuses to quote Scripture. She makes several claims, with various provisos and exceptions, but never documents a single one of them.)

Women are also prohibited from holding the office of pastor or elder. (No documentation provided...)

Long story short, yes, you can feel free to show your husband my articles and discuss them with him. Showing your husband one of my articles and having a private discussion with him about what you’ve learned from it doesn’t meet the criteria of the biblical prohibition against women instructing men. (No documentation provided...)

A blog is not the gathering of the church body, (There is no indication in 1 Timothy chapter 2 that this is about what happens in church. Rather, it is a plain statement: a woman cannot teach a man.)

and as you can tell from the title of it, “Discipleship for Christian Women” I’m teaching you as a woman, not him as a man. (The doctrinal gymnastics continue.)

The principles in these Scriptures are the applicable ones for sharing with your husband in this way, not 1 Timothy 2:12.

Additional Resources:

Rock Your Role: Jill in the Pulpit (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

Rock Your Role FAQs

Rock Your Role article series

(...)