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The New Apostolic Reformation and the Sufficiency of Scripture
Author: Dave Jenkins
Show: Contending for the Word Q&A
Episode Summary
The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a growing movement that claims God is restoring modern-day apostles and prophets who receive new revelation, direct church movements, and help bring God’s kingdom to earth. While it often sounds spiritual and uses familiar Christian language, its teachings undermine the sufficiency and final authority of the Word of God. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains what the NAR is, how it developed, and why its claims contradict Scripture.
Key Question
Q: What is the New Apostolic Reformation and why does it contradict the sufficiency of the Word of God?
Listen / Watch
Key Scriptures
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient for every good work.
- Ephesians 2:19–20 – The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
- John 18:36 – Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Test everything; hold fast what is good.
Episode Highlights
- The NAR claims restored apostles and prophets. Modern leaders are said to govern the church, receive revelation, and direct movements with authority that rivals or eclipses Scripture.
- Prophecy is elevated toward Scripture-level authority. “Fresh words,” dreams, visions, and decrees are treated as binding for the church rather than being tested by God’s written Word.
- Dominion and “heaven on earth” theology. The NAR promotes taking control of cultural “mountains” (government, education, media, etc.) as the way to bring God’s kingdom to earth.
- Christ’s headship and the sufficiency of Scripture are challenged. When human leaders claim new revelation and governing authority over the church, they undermine the finality of God’s Word and the unique foundation laid by Christ and His apostles.
- True revival is rooted in the Word of God. God does not call us to seek new apostles or new revelation, but to obey the once-for-all Word He has already given.
Full Article
You may have heard of the NAR—or the New Apostolic Reformation. It presents itself as a fresh move of the Spirit, restoring power, signs and wonders, and apostolic authority to the church. It speaks often of revival, breakthrough, and cultural transformation. Yet beneath the language of renewal lies a serious departure from biblical teaching about authority, revelation, and the mission of the church.
The New Testament apostles and prophets were unique, unrepeatable witnesses of the risen Christ. They were commissioned directly by Him and inspired by the Holy Spirit to lay the foundation of the church through their preaching and writing. When the canon of Scripture was completed, that apostolic foundation was laid once for all. No one today holds that same authority.
The NAR, however, redefines apostleship. Its leaders claim that God is raising up new apostles and prophets who are appointed to govern the global church, receive ongoing revelation, and oversee pastors and ministries. In practice, this places their words and directives alongside—or even above—the written Word of God. When human leaders claim equal authority to Scripture, they erode Christ’s headship over His church.
Many NAR teachers also claim “fresh words from God” for the church—dreams, visions, prophetic decrees, and strategies that are treated as binding direction for believers. Yet 2 Timothy 3:16–17 teaches that Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient for every good work. The Bible does not need supplementation; it needs faithful exposition and obedient application. The Holy Spirit never reveals something that contradicts, corrects, or adds to the Word He inspired.
A third emphasis of the NAR is dominion and “heaven on earth” theology. Believers are taught to take control of seven cultural “mountains”—government, education, business, media, arts, religion, and family—in order to establish God’s kingdom on earth. But Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). The Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations, not to build earthly empires. The gospel transforms hearts, not merely systems, and final victory comes with Christ’s return, not through human dominion.
This is why the issue truly matters for the church today. We are commanded to test everything by the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Spiritual language, enthusiastic gatherings, and impressive personalities do not prove truth; Scripture alone is the standard. Christians must guard against personality-driven faith, where loyalty to leaders replaces loyalty to Christ and His Word.
You do not need new revelation. You need the eternal Word of God, faithfully preached, believed, and obeyed. True revival does not flow from new apostles or prophets, but from renewed repentance and renewed obedience to the Word the Lord has already given. The NAR is not a new work of the Holy Spirit—it is an old deception repackaged in modern language.
Our calling today is not to seek new apostles, but to follow the one true Lord Jesus Christ and to stand firmly on His sufficient, unchanging Word.
Takeaways & Reflection Questions
- Where have you seen NAR-style teaching, language, or practices in churches, conferences, or online ministries?
- How does 2 Timothy 3:16–17 shape your view of Scripture’s sufficiency for life and ministry?
- Are there areas where you have been tempted to seek “fresh revelation” instead of faithfully studying and obeying God’s Word?
- How can you lovingly help other believers test movements, teachings, and leaders by Scripture?
Call to Action
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