Originally Posted by patricius79
I don't see in Scripture where the purpose of the gift of prophecy (1 Cor 14:1) is limited to validating the authority of the Apostles.

It wasn't limited to validating apostolic authority. I said that the purpose of the gifts (on the whole) was the validation of the apostolic ministry (Heb. 2:3-4), e.g., the good news they preached & the expansion of the people of God from Israel to believers in Christ of all nations. Part of the purpose was also the laying of the foundation upon which the church would be built (Eph. 2:20). God is not still laying the foundation of the church. That said, some gifts do continue in the church, e.g., the gifts of teaching, of ruling, of mercy - the ordinary, non-miraculous gifts, which are necessary to the ongoing adminstration of Christ's church on earth.

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(I brought up Jude 3 to agree that public revelation does end with teh Apostles, though the text is not explicit on that.)

Ah, thanks, I understand.

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As far as what is going on with the laying on of hands--which is brought up in this thread--this was passed on through others than the apostles, namely the other, lesser, presbyters. Cf. 1 Tim 4:14. In fact, instructions on laying on of hands is regarded as a permanenent foundation of the the faith, along with instructions about repentance and faith in Christ, and the last judgment. Cf. Heb 6:1-2. Does anyone have the explicit verses which say prophecy ended with the death of the last apostle?

Laying on of hands is still practiced in Reformed churches to this day when ordaining officers. But Timothy did not receive the gift of prophecy - that is not what is stated, at least, in I Tim. 4. His gifting was as a pastor, & this he received by prophecy & the laying on of hands.

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Does anyone have the explicit verses which say prophecy ended with the death of the last apostle?

There are none.

Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.