New Testament Prophets, Holy Books
New Testament Prophets
Some in recent years have argued for the fallibility of the New Testament prophets – a view that excuses fallible prophecies among modern-day Christians who claim to have the gift of prophecy. They note that New Testament believers are urged to judge what is offered as prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29), thus allegedly implying that a New Testament prophet could be in error.
Actually, this instruction was given to guard against false prophets. If a prophet tries to pawn off some revelation that contradicts the previous prophets, he or she is clearly a false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:18).
We know that New Testament prophets were infallible because:
New Testament prophets are portrayed as being in continuity with their Old Testament predecessors (Malachi 3:5; Matthew 11:11; Revelation 22:7).
Old and New Testament prophets joined the apostles as the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20), and since the apostles’ revelations were infallible (1 Corinthians 14:37), we can infer that the New Testament prophets were likewise infallible.
New Testament prophets received revelations from God (1 Corinthians 14:29) and were therefore just as infallible as Old Testament prophets who received revelations from God.
New Testament prophets gave bona fide predictive prophecies (Acts 11:28; 21:14), just as the Old Testament prophets did (Deuteronomy 18:22).
You can absolutely trust your Bible, for God’s prophets and apostles never erred in their revelations from God.
Holy Books
Some people believe that the Bible is not unique because it teaches the same kinds of things found in the Muslim Koran and the Hindu Vedas. They suggest these holy books are essentially the same and only superficially different. The truth is that these books are essentially different and only superficially the same.
Consider the doctrine of God – the most fundamental doctrine of any religious system.
In the Bible, Jesus presented one personal God who is triune (Mark 12:29; John 4:24; 5:18 – 19).
In the Koran, Mohammed promoted the idea of one God who is not a Trinity.
The Hindu Vedas refer to millions of gods , with a single impersonal and monistic deity underlying them all.
We can find other significant differences.
The Muslim Koran and the Hindu Vedas , for example, promote a works – oriented view of salvation, where as the Bible says salvation is a gift for those who trust in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8 – 9).
Moreover, Christianity teaches that Jesus is absolute deity.
Islam denies this and portrays Him as a mere prophet to Israel (who is far lesser than Mohammed).
Hindus claim Jesus was a mere avatar. These holy books set forth completely contradictory views on central doctrines.
Many radical and irreconcilable differences separate the Bible, the Vedas, and the Koran. If one is right, the others must be wrong. If the Bible is God’s Word, then the others cannot be God’s Word.