1 Thessalonians 5:20 Commentary and Bible Study

Of course, prophesyings are over. The age of the prophets has finished. New Testament prophets spoke the Word of God, just like the apostles did in the New Testament churches. They were a temporary order, inspired by God to speak truth. Why? Well, because the Scriptures were not yet complete. The epistles of Paul were still being written. The book of Revelation had yet to be written. The epistles of Peter had yet to be written. The gospels themselves had yet to be put into written form by inspired writers, authorised and approved by the apostles.And so in that period while the Scriptures were not yet complete, God spoke scripture through prophets, inspired them with doctrine and truths. But the prophetic order passed away because the Scripture soon became complete, and then they were the authority of God, the yardstick for all truth, for the determination of all spiritual matters. The Scriptures were complete and they were the authority. No need of prophets any further. That is why there are no instructions for appointing prophets in the New Testament. We are told how to appoint elders and deacons and preachers, but not prophets, because there would be no second generation of prophet. The Scripture was now complete. The temporary prophetic order was fulfilled and finished. So when we read, ‘Despise not prophesyings’, all those prophesyings are now in the Scripture. You might just as well say today, despise not the public ministry of the Word insofar as it is following the Scriptures. Never treat it lightly.