Did the apostle Paul have the Spirit of Prophecy?

[Ron Amnsn]

I'm not talking about the writings of Ellen G. White.  I'm asking if Paul had the gift of the Holy Spirit that is called "the Spirit of Prophecy" ?

 

 

[8thdaypriest]

A prophet is NOT just one who tells of future events. 

The definition is "one who speaks for another". 

In this case you are asking whether Paul spoke for God. 

 

Galatians 1:11-12:  "the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 

for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." 

 

So I would say, "Yes".  Paul had the "spirit of prophecy". 

 

I'm thinking you want to quote Paul to prove something.

[Ron Amnsn]

So I would say, "Yes".  Paul had the "spirit of prophecy". 

 

Thank you, Rachel.  That seems to be a valid interpretation of what the Bible says. I was wondering what the SDA view was.

 

There are two different issues here.  Back when I was an SDA the evangelists used to preach that having the "Spirit of Prophecy" was a necessary characteristic of the true end-time church. Then they would point to Ellen White, or to a bookshelf of her writings, to show that the SDA denomination had that necessary characteristic.  But if the apostle Paul had the "Spirit of Prophecy" then any denomination could to point to the apostle Paul, or to the New Testament, and say that they too had the Spirit of Prophecy.

 

The other issue has to do with levels of authority.  If you were to list Ellen White, the apostle Paul, and Jesus in order of descending authority, Jesus would be at the top of the list, but who would be in the second position? 

[Stewart (SDA)]

Ron, if I remember rightly, there are dozens of comments contained in Mrs. White's writings similar to these:

(It seems plain to me that Ellen White viewed the "spirit of prophecy" as something that extended far beyond her own work, and I think this represents the SDA view on this point... at least the early SDA view.)

 

"Silas, Paul’s companion in labor, was a tried worker, gifted with the spirit of prophecy..." (AA p.203)

 

"...God, by the spirit of prophecy, elevated the mind of Jacob above his natural feelings. In his last hours, angels were all around him, and the power of the grace of God shone upon him. (1SP p.156)

 

"Enoch faithfully rehearsed to the people all that God had revealed to him by the spirit of prophecy. Some believed his words..." (1SP p.62)

 

___________

 

And yes, Paul himself possessed the "spirit of prophecy". I believe that it was only by that means that Paul was able to write things like this:

 

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (2Thess 2:3-4)

[Gregory Matthews]

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider the role and function that Ellen  White played in the development of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.  According to: 

 

Raoul Dederen, Editor, HANDBOOK OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THEOLOGY; COMMENTARY REFERENCE SERIES, VOLUME 12, Review & Herald, George Rice, "Spiritual Gifts," copyright 2000,  [NOTE: There is a different edition (in two volumes) with a different publication date and therefore different paging.]  page 634.

 

The role of Ellen White was to guide the developing denomination in:

 

1) Establishing the denominational organization.

2) Establishing a global view of the mission of the SDAA Church.

3) Beginning a foreign mission outreach that would  be global in nature.

4) Establishing the medical outreach of the denomination.

5) Establishing health and temperance programs for both church and community.

6) Establishing an educational system that went from elementary school through graduate training.

7) Establishing and publishing system.

 

You will note that all of the above consisted of administrative guidance of the developing denomination.  Not once is it suggested that she had a role in determining the Biblical and/or doctrinal teachings.  In that matter, it can clearly be said that all of the Biblical writers had greater authority than she had.

 

NOTE:  In my reference above I have not quoted exactly.  Rather I have summed up what the author, George Rice wrote.  It is for that reason that I have not enclosed my summation in quotation marks.  But, ti should be clear that Rice is the author and I am not of that listing.

[Gregory Matthews]

^{I am going to add another comment to the above.  In the same book but in a different chapter:  Richard M. Davidson, "Biblical Interpretation,"  on page 60 says:}

 

 

 

A fundamental principle set forth by Scripture concerning itself is that the Bible alone (sola scriptura) is the final norm of truth.  . . .the two Hebrew words torah (law) and tudah (testimony) point to the two loci of authority in Isaiah's day.  These now constitute holy Scripture:  the Pentateuch and the testimony of the prophets to the  different culture from that of biblical times.  Different languages--biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek-- require translation and interpretation.   Different social customs;. . .different patterns of thought--all of these and more mandate the hermeneutical process. 

 

^{It should be clear:  The Bible ins the final doctrinal authority in SDA teaching.}

[Ron Amnsn]

Ok. Thanks.  That answers my question.

[Gerr]

Did Paul have the gift/spirit of prophecy?  YES!