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Apostles and Prophets: The Foundation of the Church
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First published October 2, 2000
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About the author
C. Peter Wagner
195 books46 followersCharles Peter Wagner (August 15, 1930 – October 21, 2016) was a theologian, missiologist, missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist best known for his highly controversial writings on spiritual warfare.
Wagner served as a missionary in Bolivia under the South American Mission and Andes Evangelical Mission (now SIM International) from 1956 to 1971. He then served for 30 years (1971 to 2001) as Professor of Church Growth at the Fuller Theological Seminary's School of World Missions until his retirement in 2001. He is the author of more than 70 books. He was the president of Global Harvest Ministries from 1993 to 2011 and served as the chancellor emeritus of Wagner Leadership Institute, which trains leaders to join in a movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation, an organization Wagner also helped found. He was also the vice president of Global Spheres, Inc.
Excerpted from: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Pete...]
Wagner served as a missionary in Bolivia under the South American Mission and Andes Evangelical Mission (now SIM International) from 1956 to 1971. He then served for 30 years (1971 to 2001) as Professor of Church Growth at the Fuller Theological Seminary's School of World Missions until his retirement in 2001. He is the author of more than 70 books. He was the president of Global Harvest Ministries from 1993 to 2011 and served as the chancellor emeritus of Wagner Leadership Institute, which trains leaders to join in a movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation, an organization Wagner also helped found. He was also the vice president of Global Spheres, Inc.
Excerpted from: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Pete...]
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March 13, 2017
Apostles and Prophets: The Foundation of the Church by Dr. C. Peter Wagner [2013 Kindle Edition]
I read this in March 2017.
Below is this book’s table of contents with 1) the book’s provided chapter descriptions and 2) my chapter summarizations.
1. The Church’s One Foundation
[The book’s provided chapter description] Jesus wanted His followers to see Him as the cornerstone of the Church, but His design for a foundation was apostles and prophets.
[My chapter summarization] In this first and introductory chapter, Wagner confirms that Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the church. To support his belief that the office of apostles and prophets are still in existence, he writes:
To postulate that apostles and prophets were needed for only a century or so is to sidestep the implications of the rest of the sentence that begins in Ephesians 4:11. The last words establish a specific time frame for the operation of these five gifts: ‘Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Eph. 4:13). Very few, if any, Christian leaders I know would claim that the Body of Christ has reached the stage of perfection described here. And if this is the case, it would follow that there is still a need for apostles and prophets in the Church. (84)
Wagner, to support his position that we are in an Apostolic Reformation, outlines that since the Protestant Reformation, the church has sequentially re-emphasized biblical truths that were forgotten by much of the church:
Sixteenth Century: Reformed Theology
Eighteenth Century: Wesleyan Holiness
Nineteenth Century: The Modern Missionary Movement
THE MAJOR STEPS THROUGH THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
1900s: The Pentecostal Movement
The 1950s: Evangelism
The 1960s: Compassion for the Poor and Oppressed
The 1970s: A Great Prayer Movement
The 1980s: The Office of Prophet
The 1990s: The Office of Apostle
Wagner further wrote:
The New Apostolic Reformation could not have materialized without the springboard—and without the various steps along the springboard—during the past century. A major reason is that the foundation of the Church needed to be in place before God could begin to do all He wants to do in our new millennium.
To reiterate, the foundation of the Church is apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Now let us look at what this might mean for us and our churches. (287)
2. What Apostles Have
[The book’s provided chapter description] Two important characteristics set apostles apart from other members of the Body of Christ: the authority of apostles and the spheres of apostolic authority.
[My chapter summarization] In Wagner’s second chapter, he explains apostolic authority:
APOSTLES HAVE UNUSUAL AUTHORITY that is given to them by God that people voluntarily recognize.
1. APOSTLES are A SPIRITUAL GIFT
2. APOSTLES HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT OR CALL over specific ministries or groups. They are not popes that lord over the entire Body of Christ. They specifically serve only where God calls them to.
3. APOSTLES HAVE EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER. They are above average and answer to a higher standard (like Bible teachers do [Jam. 3:1]).
Apostles Must Be Blameless
Apostles Must Be Humble
4. APOSTLES HAVE FOLLOWERS that voluntarily follow them.
5. APOSTLES periodically have VISIONs or receive directions for ministry from God directly or through prophets.
3. How Apostles Operate
[The book’s provided chapter description] All apostles have the same gift, but I now see that it is extremely helpful to distinguish four different ministries of apostles.
[My chapter summarization] Wagner believes that there are four different ministries of apostles:
1. VERTICAL APOSTLES assume and exercise general leadership over a number of churches with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters that is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches.
2. HORIZONTAL APOSTLES, unlike vertical apostles, have authority over other apostles, either for a defined, prolonged period of time or, in other cases, for a season or a particular assignment. Their sphere of authority is broader (though not necessarily greater or stronger) and, thus, horizontal.
3. HYPHENATED APOSTLES have other gifts and offices as well: “prophetic-apostles,” “evangelistic-apostles,” “pastoral-apostles” and “teacher-apostles.”
4. MARKETPLACE APOSTLES minister mostly outside the Church, although all of them need to be rooted in and covered by a local church in order to minister effectively.
Wagner, being a gifted teacher, in my opinion, has created “boxes” to help us better understand all the different ministries of apostles.
4. What Apostles Need
[The book’s provided chapter description] Apostles have five principal needs: 1) positive relationships with prophets; 2) personal intercessors; 3) recognition and affirmation; 4) open communication channels; 5) and functional accountability.
[My chapter summarization] Wagner wonderfully and logically defends these five principal needs.
5. Both Apostles and Prophets Are Crucial
[The book’s provided chapter description] Prophets began to be more widely recognized in the 1980s, while apostles started to come into their own only in the 1990s. This was necessary because the prophets first had to open the curtain of God’s revelation to key church leaders, allowing them to look through to see that when the apostles came, it was truly something the Spirit was saying to the churches.
[My chapter summarization] In chapter five, Wagner writes that the cooperation of both prophets and apostles are mutually beneficial for each other. He provides examples of how his apostleship has benefited from prophets’ ministries and outlines how he was introduced to prophetic ministries with John Wimber and the Kansa City Prophets.
6. Hitching Apostles to Prophets
[The book’s provided chapter description] Apostles can do certain good things on their own. Prophets can do certain good things on their own. But hitched together, they can change the world!
[My chapter summarization] The following are Wagner’s six points on “Hitching Apostles to Prophets”:
1. THE PROPHET SUBMITS TO THE APOSTLE
2. GOD SPEAKS TO THE PROPHET
3. THE PROPHET SPEAKS TO THE APOSTLE
4. THE APOSTLE JUDGES, EVALUATES, STRATEGIES AND EXECUTES
5. THE PROPHET SUBMITS TO THE APOSTLE
7. Apostles and Prophets in Real Life
[The book’s provided chapter description] At these relatively early stages of the resurgent prophetic movement, we have a mixed bag on our hands. There are some really good things going on, and there are also some things that we hope will soon be corrected as the movement itself matures.
[My chapter summarization] Wagner, in chapter seven, recognizes that by apostles leaning on prophets for help, they can be further equipped for ministry by being directed by their prophetic words. Wagner wrote:
In summary, I am acutely aware that I would not have been afforded the same level of effectiveness in ministry if I had not been opened by the Holy Spirit to receive the directive words from the Lord that have come to me through His prophets. “Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (2 Chron. 20:20). (1612)
8. Apostolic Order in the Prophetic Movement
[The book’s provided chapter description] Prophets can better be what God wants them to be if they agree to become hitched to apostles for the long haul.
[My chapter summarization] For chapter eight, Wagner wonderfully gives examples of how having apostles provide coverings for prophets is beneficial and helpful for the church:
Prophets can better be what God wants them to be if they agree to become hitched to apostles for the long haul.
I am going to try to describe the process that led a number of nationally recognized prophets to take two steps: first, to form a unique association; second, to look to me as the apostle providing leadership for the group. I believe it has the potential to raise the integrity of the prophetic movement. (1622)
We cannot have the best possible foundation for the Church of the future unless we have genuine apostles and genuine prophets. But the gifts and the offices are not enough. It is only when apostles and prophets are properly harnessed and pulling together that the kingdom of God will advance throughout the world as God desires it to advance in our generation. (1887-1895)
In this chapter, Wagner also included a list of good books on guidelines for the gift of prophecy, the prophetic office, and movement.
I read this in March 2017.
Below is this book’s table of contents with 1) the book’s provided chapter descriptions and 2) my chapter summarizations.
1. The Church’s One Foundation
[The book’s provided chapter description] Jesus wanted His followers to see Him as the cornerstone of the Church, but His design for a foundation was apostles and prophets.
[My chapter summarization] In this first and introductory chapter, Wagner confirms that Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the church. To support his belief that the office of apostles and prophets are still in existence, he writes:
To postulate that apostles and prophets were needed for only a century or so is to sidestep the implications of the rest of the sentence that begins in Ephesians 4:11. The last words establish a specific time frame for the operation of these five gifts: ‘Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Eph. 4:13). Very few, if any, Christian leaders I know would claim that the Body of Christ has reached the stage of perfection described here. And if this is the case, it would follow that there is still a need for apostles and prophets in the Church. (84)
Wagner, to support his position that we are in an Apostolic Reformation, outlines that since the Protestant Reformation, the church has sequentially re-emphasized biblical truths that were forgotten by much of the church:
Sixteenth Century: Reformed Theology
Eighteenth Century: Wesleyan Holiness
Nineteenth Century: The Modern Missionary Movement
THE MAJOR STEPS THROUGH THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
1900s: The Pentecostal Movement
The 1950s: Evangelism
The 1960s: Compassion for the Poor and Oppressed
The 1970s: A Great Prayer Movement
The 1980s: The Office of Prophet
The 1990s: The Office of Apostle
Wagner further wrote:
The New Apostolic Reformation could not have materialized without the springboard—and without the various steps along the springboard—during the past century. A major reason is that the foundation of the Church needed to be in place before God could begin to do all He wants to do in our new millennium.
To reiterate, the foundation of the Church is apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Now let us look at what this might mean for us and our churches. (287)
2. What Apostles Have
[The book’s provided chapter description] Two important characteristics set apostles apart from other members of the Body of Christ: the authority of apostles and the spheres of apostolic authority.
[My chapter summarization] In Wagner’s second chapter, he explains apostolic authority:
APOSTLES HAVE UNUSUAL AUTHORITY that is given to them by God that people voluntarily recognize.
1. APOSTLES are A SPIRITUAL GIFT
2. APOSTLES HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT OR CALL over specific ministries or groups. They are not popes that lord over the entire Body of Christ. They specifically serve only where God calls them to.
3. APOSTLES HAVE EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER. They are above average and answer to a higher standard (like Bible teachers do [Jam. 3:1]).
Apostles Must Be Blameless
Apostles Must Be Humble
4. APOSTLES HAVE FOLLOWERS that voluntarily follow them.
5. APOSTLES periodically have VISIONs or receive directions for ministry from God directly or through prophets.
3. How Apostles Operate
[The book’s provided chapter description] All apostles have the same gift, but I now see that it is extremely helpful to distinguish four different ministries of apostles.
[My chapter summarization] Wagner believes that there are four different ministries of apostles:
1. VERTICAL APOSTLES assume and exercise general leadership over a number of churches with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters that is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches.
2. HORIZONTAL APOSTLES, unlike vertical apostles, have authority over other apostles, either for a defined, prolonged period of time or, in other cases, for a season or a particular assignment. Their sphere of authority is broader (though not necessarily greater or stronger) and, thus, horizontal.
3. HYPHENATED APOSTLES have other gifts and offices as well: “prophetic-apostles,” “evangelistic-apostles,” “pastoral-apostles” and “teacher-apostles.”
4. MARKETPLACE APOSTLES minister mostly outside the Church, although all of them need to be rooted in and covered by a local church in order to minister effectively.
Wagner, being a gifted teacher, in my opinion, has created “boxes” to help us better understand all the different ministries of apostles.
4. What Apostles Need
[The book’s provided chapter description] Apostles have five principal needs: 1) positive relationships with prophets; 2) personal intercessors; 3) recognition and affirmation; 4) open communication channels; 5) and functional accountability.
[My chapter summarization] Wagner wonderfully and logically defends these five principal needs.
5. Both Apostles and Prophets Are Crucial
[The book’s provided chapter description] Prophets began to be more widely recognized in the 1980s, while apostles started to come into their own only in the 1990s. This was necessary because the prophets first had to open the curtain of God’s revelation to key church leaders, allowing them to look through to see that when the apostles came, it was truly something the Spirit was saying to the churches.
[My chapter summarization] In chapter five, Wagner writes that the cooperation of both prophets and apostles are mutually beneficial for each other. He provides examples of how his apostleship has benefited from prophets’ ministries and outlines how he was introduced to prophetic ministries with John Wimber and the Kansa City Prophets.
6. Hitching Apostles to Prophets
[The book’s provided chapter description] Apostles can do certain good things on their own. Prophets can do certain good things on their own. But hitched together, they can change the world!
[My chapter summarization] The following are Wagner’s six points on “Hitching Apostles to Prophets”:
1. THE PROPHET SUBMITS TO THE APOSTLE
2. GOD SPEAKS TO THE PROPHET
3. THE PROPHET SPEAKS TO THE APOSTLE
4. THE APOSTLE JUDGES, EVALUATES, STRATEGIES AND EXECUTES
5. THE PROPHET SUBMITS TO THE APOSTLE
7. Apostles and Prophets in Real Life
[The book’s provided chapter description] At these relatively early stages of the resurgent prophetic movement, we have a mixed bag on our hands. There are some really good things going on, and there are also some things that we hope will soon be corrected as the movement itself matures.
[My chapter summarization] Wagner, in chapter seven, recognizes that by apostles leaning on prophets for help, they can be further equipped for ministry by being directed by their prophetic words. Wagner wrote:
In summary, I am acutely aware that I would not have been afforded the same level of effectiveness in ministry if I had not been opened by the Holy Spirit to receive the directive words from the Lord that have come to me through His prophets. “Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (2 Chron. 20:20). (1612)
8. Apostolic Order in the Prophetic Movement
[The book’s provided chapter description] Prophets can better be what God wants them to be if they agree to become hitched to apostles for the long haul.
[My chapter summarization] For chapter eight, Wagner wonderfully gives examples of how having apostles provide coverings for prophets is beneficial and helpful for the church:
Prophets can better be what God wants them to be if they agree to become hitched to apostles for the long haul.
I am going to try to describe the process that led a number of nationally recognized prophets to take two steps: first, to form a unique association; second, to look to me as the apostle providing leadership for the group. I believe it has the potential to raise the integrity of the prophetic movement. (1622)
We cannot have the best possible foundation for the Church of the future unless we have genuine apostles and genuine prophets. But the gifts and the offices are not enough. It is only when apostles and prophets are properly harnessed and pulling together that the kingdom of God will advance throughout the world as God desires it to advance in our generation. (1887-1895)
In this chapter, Wagner also included a list of good books on guidelines for the gift of prophecy, the prophetic office, and movement.
October 9, 2017
Really enjoyed many, many aspects of this.
March 19, 2025
This book has some great thoughts on the 5 fold ministry, however not all viewpoints are backed by scripture. I took some things from it but threw a lot of concepts out.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews