Tuesday, March 29, 2022

John Calvin: God "still occasionally raises [up prophets and apostles] when the necessity of the times requires"

  

4. Those who preside over the government of the Church, according to the institution of Christ, are named by Paul, first, Apostles; secondly, Prophets; thirdly, Evangelists; fourthly, Pastors; and, lastly, Teachers (Eph. 4:11). Of these, only the two last have an ordinary office in the Church. The Lord raised up the other three at the beginning of his kingdom, and still occasionally raises them up when the necessity of the times requires (Institutes, 4.3.4)