Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 1/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: what is the difference between an apostolic gift and office.

ANSWER: Kyle,

Please forgive me for the tardy reply. If I am understanding your question about apostolic gifts and offices, please consider this.

The term "apostolic gifts" are synonymous terms with the "gifts of the Spirit" found in 1 Cor 12, 13, and 14. These gifts of the Spirit are given for the edification of the saints and the up building of the church of Jesus Christ. These gifts are listed as: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, dividing to every man severally as He will. These gifts should be coveted earnestly by all spiritual believers and exercised in the spirit of love.

The apostolic "office" is different than the "apostolic" gift. The word apostle in the Greek is apostles or "one sent forth" as an ambassador of the Gospel. An apostle is a minister sent directly by God to do a specific work. There are certain things that identify an apostle. Here are a few...

1. An Apostle is identified by his spiritual authority.
2. An apostle is called by God, not men.
3. They are taught by God.
4. They minister in the power of God, not the wisdom of men.
5. They exhort, comfort, and chasten as necessary.

Kyle, please let me know if this helps or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you very, very much you are helpful, now what is an apostolic anointing and prophetic anionting and what is the differnce between the apostolic gift and the apostolic office.

Answer
Kyle,

Once again thank you for the opportunity to help.

The terms "apostolic anointing" and "prophetic anointing" are not clearly defined in Scripture and are very subjective. By that I mean that you may ask this same question to 5 diffent people and get 5 different answers. Perhaps it would be better to look at how the Scriptures define the "anointing". Consider this...

The origin of anointing was from a practice of shepherds. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of sheep, and when they got near the sheep's head, they could burrow into the sheep's ears and kill the sheep. So, ancient shepherds poured oil on the sheep's head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the sheep's ears because they would just slide off. From this, anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.

The New Testament Greek words for “anoint” are chrio, which means “to smear or rub with oil, and by implication to consecrate for office or religious service”; and aleipho, which means “to anoint.” In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or call on that person’s life (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Ecclesiastes 9:8; James 5:14). A person was anointed for a special purpose—to be a king, to be a prophet, to be an builder, etc. There is nothing wrong with anointing a person with oil today. We just have to make sure that the purpose of anointing is in agreement with Scripture. Anointing should not be viewed as a "magic potion." The oil itself does not have any power. It is only God that can anoint a person for a specific purpose. If we use oil, it is only a symbol of what God is doing.(gotquestions.org)

So we could say that an "apostolic anointing" would be the empowerment of a Christian who has special calling to be an apostle to do the works of an apostle (the same being true of the "prophetic anointing").

And as to the apostolic "gift" and "office", the gift would be the ability to perform the works of an apostle, and the office is the position or administration of an apostle. I have listed in my previous answer a few of the things an apostle will be empowered to do. The Bible teaches us that there are five ministry gifts (administrations) given by God for the perfecting (maturing) of the Church.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Let me know if this helps Kyle,

Elder Greg Madden