Westminster Larger Catechism # 43-44
Commentary by Dr. Chuck Baynard
Q 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
Answer: Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church in all
ages, by his Spirit and word, in divers ways of administration the whole will of God, in
all things concerning their edification and salvation.
Q44. How doth Christ execute the office of priest?
Answer: Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering of himself a
sacrifice without spot to God, to be reconciliation for the sins of his people, and in
making continual intercession for them.
References: John 1:8; 1Pet. 1:10-12; Heb. 1:1-2; John 15:15; Acts 20:23; Eph. 4:11-13;
John 20:31; Heb. 9:14,28; Heb. 2:17; Heb 7:25
I note that the Westminster Divines rendered both the question and answer in the
present tense (how does). The gift of some as prophets is a part of the fivefold gift of
the Spirit to the church. I am not of the cessationist school and affirm the gifts of the
Spirit as valid today. However like Calvin, I don’t expect to meet any apostles or
prophets on my morning walk; though I would never dare to limit God and say He could not
call another to either of these offices. Thus, I have not considered the office of prophet
in the present tense, even when reading this statement by the Westminster Divines
previously. The first question for me then, does Christ continue to execute the office of
prophet?
The Westminster Divines qualify this statement with "by his Spirit and word."
I believe the last true prophet passed from this temporal world by the end of the first
century. While I wouldn’t plant my feet in concrete, I don’t think the office of
prophet as we can understand it as men, nor point to it in biblical history is being
presently exercised by Christ. We see him fill this office perfectly in His earthly
ministry as the God-man, Jesus Christ.
The question concerning the office of the priesthood of Christ is a little different in
that while the element concerning sacrifice is past; once for all, it is true that He
continues to offer intercession for us, though we would be more apt to call His office
that of Mediator. Intercession can rightly belong to both offices. We then are left with
the question of the present tense in Christ as prophet. I choose to think His role as
prophet has ended. In John 14:26 Christ says the Holy Ghost shall teach us all things.
Thus the Westminster Divines are correct in the qualifying statement "by his Spirit
and word." But is this not then, the work of the Holy Spirit Himself and one of the
purposes for which He came, rather than the continuing office of Christ? His word, being
the Holy Scriptures, we indeed have in the present tense. Nonetheless, none can understand
these apart from the illumination of the Holy Spirit, and my thoughts return to the
beginning. In the true sense of the word prophet in Scripture, none exist today, to
include Jesus Christ.
The other view of this is that the calling of God is without shadow or turning and
Jesus Christ being a prophet, and still living is a prophet. We recognize this in the
churches today whereby ordination is for life, not a term of office. Thus it is a true
saying that Christ is our high priest, and prophet today. All in all then I find no real
points in this statement to argue without appearing to merely be about disputing the
Westminster Divines, and can accept the statement as written.
I think we need to pay close attention to the wisdom shown by the Westminster Divines
in making Christ our present prophet though. If Christ, the perfection of God in the flesh
still operates as a prophet, what need can we have for lesser prophets among men? I also
note that the Westminster Divines were careful to state that the revelation is to the
church. That is collective for God’s people, not an individual. Peter reminds us of
the same principle when he says "no word of the Scripture is of any private
interpretation" (1 Pet. 2:20-21). The church then has solid ground upon which to
declare the canon closed, and no need for the appearance of further prophets to
"speak" God’s word, the same having been reduced to written form for almost
two millennium now. Nonetheless, we do have need for Christ by His Spirit to continue to
reveal the will of God to the church continually.
This should stand as an extra caution for those who like myself, do not see the gifts
of the Spirit to man and the church as having ceased with the apostolic age. This is an
error of the Pentecostal faith and so called "charismatic movement" where the
gifts and especially prophecy are high on the list of priorities within the church.
The continuum for this position is rather long, and not on subject for the present
work. However, while embracing a non-cessationist position personally, caution is the
watch word of the day less we also enter this error. I will simply state that I believe to
demand a total cessation of the gifts is to limit God and I find myself in good company
from Calvin forward in the reformed faith to dare not assume the prerogatives of God. The
manifestation and application of such gifts is another topic altogether.
From Scripture then, we like the Westminster Divines can declare Jesus Christ; prophet
and priest, yesterday, today, forever.
Dr. Chuck Baynard - 246 Rainbow Circle, Clover, SC 29710
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