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Apostles did not preach as prophets； for they did not go to particular
places； as the prophets did； by the command of God。 （26） We read in
the Old Testament that Jonah went to Nineveh to preach； and at the
same time that he was expressly sent there； and told that he most preach。
（27） So also it is related； at great length； of Moses that he went to Egypt
as the messenger of God； and was told at the same time what he should say to
the children of Israel and to king Pharaoh； and what wonders he should work
before them to give credit to his words。 （28） Isaiah； Jeremiah； and
Ezekiel were expressly commanded to preach to the Israelites。 Lastly； the
prophets only preached what we are assured by Scripture they had received
from God； whereas this is hardly ever said of the Apostles in the New
Testament； when they went about to preach。 （29） On the contrary； we find
passages expressly implying that the Apostles chose the places where they
should preach on their own responsibility； for there was a difference
amounting to a quarrel between Paul and Barnabas on the subject （Acts xv：37；
38）。 （30） Often they wished to go to a place； but were prevented； as Paul
writes； Rom。 i：13； 〃Oftentimes I purposed to come to you； but was let
hitherto；〃 and in I Cor。 xvi：12； 〃As touching our brother Apollos； I greatly
desired him to come unto you with the brethren； but his will was not at all
to come at this time： but he will come when he shall have convenient time。〃
（31） From these expressions and differences of opinion among the Apostles；
and also from the fact that Scripture nowhere testifies of them； as of the
ancient prophets； that they went by the command of God； one might conclude
that they preached as well as wrote in their capacity of teachers； and not
as prophets： but the question is easily solved if we observe the difference
between the mission of an Apostle and that of an Old Testament prophet。 （32）
The latter were not called to preach and prophesy to all nations； but to
certain specified ones； and therefore an express and peculiar mandate was
required for each of them； the Apostles； on the other hand； were called to
preach to all men absolutely； and to turn all men to religion。 （33）
Therefore； whithersoever they went； they were fulfilling Christ's
commandment； there was no need to reveal to them beforehand what they should
preach； for they were the disciples of Christ to whom their Master Himself
said （Matt。 X：19； 20）： 〃But； when they deliver you up； take no thought
how or what ye shall speak； for it shall be given you in that same
hour what ye shall speak。〃 （34） We therefore conclude that the Apostles
were only indebted to special revelation in what they orally preached and
confirmed by signs （see the beginning of Chap。 11。）； that which they taught
in speaking or writing without any confirmatory signs and wonders
they taught from their natural knowledge。 （See I Cor。 xiv：6。） （35） We need
not be deterred by the fact that all the Epistles begin by citing the
imprimatur of the Apostleship； for the Apostles； as I will shortly show；
were granted； not only the faculty of prophecy； but also the authority to
teach。 （36） We may therefore admit that they wrote their Epistles as
Apostles； and for this cause every one of them began by citing the Apostolic
imprimatur； possibly with a view to the attention of the reader by asserting
that they were the persons who had made such mark among the faithful by
their preaching； and had shown bv many marvelous works that they were
teaching true religion and the way of salvation。 （37） I observe that what is
said in the Epistles with regard to the Apostolic vocation and the Holy
Spirit of God which inspired them； has reference to their former preaching；
except in those passages where the expressions of the Spirit of God and the
Holy Spirit are used to signify a mind pure； upright； and devoted to
God。 （38） For instance； in 1 Cor。 vii：40； Paul says： But she is happier if
she so abide； after my judgment； and I think also that I have the Spirit of
God。〃 （39） By the Spirit of God the Apostle here refers to his mind； as
we may see from the context： his meaning is as follows： 〃I account blessed
a widow who does not wish to marry a second husband； such is my opinion； for
I have settled to live unmarried； and I think that I am blessed。〃 （40） There
are other similar passages which I need not now quote。
（41） As we have seen that the Apostles wrote their Epistles solely by the
light of natural reason； we must inquire how they were enabled to teach by
natural knowledge matters outside its scope。 （42） However； if we bear in
mind what we said in Chap。 VII。 of this treatise our difficulty will vanish：
for although the contents of the Bible entirely surpass our understanding；
we may safely discourse of them； provided we assume nothing not told
us in Scripture： by the same method the Apostles； from what they saw
and heard； and from what was revealed to them； were enabled to form and
elicit many conclusions which they would have been able to teach to men had
it been permissible。
（43） Further； although religion； as preached by the Apostles； does not come
within the sphere of reason； in so far as it consists in the narration of
the life of Christ； yet its essence； which is chiefly moral； like the whole
of Christ's doctrine； can readily； be apprehended by the natural
faculties of all。
（44） Lastly； the Apostles had no lack of supernatural illumination for the
purpose of adapting the religion they had attested by signs to the
understanding of everyone so that it might be readily received； nor for
exhortations on the subject： in fact； the object of the Epistles is to teach
and exhort men to lead that manner of life which each of the Apostles judged
best for confirming them in religion。 （45） We may here repeat our former
remark； that the Apostles had received not only the faculty of preaching the
history； of Christ as prophets； and confirming it with signs； but also
authority for teaching and exhorting according as each thought best。 （46）
Paul （2 Tim。 i：11）； 〃Whereunto I am appointed a preacher； and an apostle；
and a teacher of the Gentiles；〃 and again （I Tim。 ii：7）； 〃Whereunto I am
ordained a preacher and an apostle （I speak the truth in Christ and lie
not）； a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity。〃 （47） These passages； I
say； show clearly the stamp both of the apostleship and the teachership：
the authority for admonishing whomsoever and wheresoever he pleased is
asserted by Paul in the Epistle to Philemon； v：8： 〃Wherefore； though I might
be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient； yet；〃 &c。；
where we may remark that if Paul had received from God as a prophet
what he wished to enjoin Philemon； and had been bound to speak in his
prophetic capacity； he would not have been able to change the command of God
into entreaties。 （48） We must therefore understand him to refer to the
permission to admonish which he had received as a teacher； and not as a
prophet。 （49） We have not yet made it quite clear that the Apostles might
each choose his own way of teaching； but only that by virtue of their
Apostleship they were teachers as well as prophets； however； if we
call reason to our aid we shall clearly see that an authority to teach
implies authority to choose the method。 （50） It will nevertheless be；
perhaps； more satisfactory to draw all our proofs from Scripture； we are
there plainly told that each Apostle chose his particular method （Rom。 xv：
20）： 〃Yea； so have I strived to preach the gospel； not where Christ was
named； lest I should build upon another man's foundation。〃 （51） If
all the Apostles had adopted the same method of teaching； and had all built
up the Christian religion on the same foundation； Paul would have had no
reason to call the work of a fellow…Apostle 〃another man's foundation；〃
inasmuch as it would have been identical with his own： his calling it
another man's proved that each Apostle built up his religious instruction on
different foundations； thus resembling other teachers who have each their
own method； and prefer instructing quite ignorant people who have never
learnt under another master； whether the subject be science； languages； or
even the indisputable truths of mathematics。 （52） Furthermore； if we go
through the Epistles at all attentively； we shall see that the Apostles；
while agreeing about religion itself； are at variance as to the foundations
it rests on。 （53） Paul； in order to strengthen men's religion； and show them
that salvation depends solely on the grace of God； teaches that no one can
boast of works； but only of faith； and that no one can be justified by works
（Rom。 iii：27；28）； in f