Why did the previously highly esteemed and numerous Christian prophets disappear in the 3rd century? Scholarship has given many answers. Origen’s answer (3rd c.) is: prophecy did not cease, it changed. A prophet sees and knows more than the rest – a biblical scholar does the same. He is the true successor of the prophets. God will continue sending such a teacher to the Church, but htose teachers are not necessary bishops or priests, could be laymen as Origen originally was.