Reference: Prophet
Hastings
1. The spirit of prophecy, as it meets us under the Old Dispensation, runs on into the New, and there are prophets in the NT who are properly to be described as OT prophets. Such as Anna the prophetess (Lu 2:36; cf. Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah in the OT); Zacharias, who is expressly said to have prophesied (Lu 1:67 ff.); Simeon, whose Nunc Dimittis is an utterance of an unmistakably prophetic nature (Lu 2:25 ff.) But above all there is John the Baptist, who was not only recognized by the nation as a great prophet (Mt 14:5; 21:26; Mr 11:32; Lu 20:6), but was declared by Jesus to be the greatest prophet of the former dispensation, while yet less than the least in the Kingdom of heaven (Mt 11:9 ff. = Lu 7:26 ff.)
2. Jesus Himself was a prophet. It was in this character that the Messiah had been promised (De 18:16,18; cf. Ac 3:22; 7:37), and had been looked for by many (Joh 6:14). During His public ministry it was as a prophet that He was known by the people (Mt 21:11; cf. Lu 7:16), and described by His own disciples (Lu 24:19), and even designated by Himself (Mt 13:57; Lu 13:33). And according to the teaching of the NT, the exalted Christ still continues to exercise His prophetic function, guiding His disciples into all the truth by the Spirit whom He sends (Joh 16:7,13), and 'building up the body' by bestowing upon it Apostles, prophets, and teachers (Eph 4:8 ff.).
3. From the prophetic office of her exalted Head there flowed the prophetic endowment of the Church. Joel had foretold a time when the gift of prophecy should be conferred upon all (Joe 2:28 f.), and at Pentecost we see that word fulfilled (Ac 2:16 ff.). Ideally, all the Lord's people should be prophets. For 'the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy' (Re 19:10), and in proportion as Christians are filled with the Pentecostal Spirit they will desire, like the members of the newborn Church, to bear testimony to their Master (cf. Nu 11:29; 1Co 14:5).
4. But even in the Spirit-filled Church diversities of gifts quickly emerged, and a special power of prophetic utterance was bestowed upon certain individuals. A prophetic ministry arose, a ministry of Divine inspiration, which has to be distinguished from the official ministry of human appointment (see art. Ministry). In a more general sense, all those who 'spoke the word of God' (Heb 13:7) were prophets. The ministry of the word (Ac 6:4) was a prophetic ministry, and so we find St. Paul himself described as a prophet long after he had become an Apostle (Ac 13:1).
5. But in a more precise use of the term we find the specific NT prophet distinguished from others who 'speak the word of God,' and in particular from the Apostle and the teacher (1Co 12:28 f., cf. Eph 4:11). The distinction seems to be that while the Apostle was a missionary to the unbelieving (Ga 2:7-8), the prophet was a messenger to the Church (1Co 14:4,22); and while the teacher explained or enforced truth that was already possessed (Heb 5:12), the prophet was recognized by the spiritual discernment of his hearers (1Co 2:15; 14:29; 1Jo 4:1) as the Divine medium of fresh revelations (1Co 14:25,30-31; Eph 3:6; cf. Did. iv. 1).
Three main types of prophesying may be distinguished in the NT
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"Are you jealous on account of me?" Moses asked in reply. "I wish all of the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"
because this is what you asked from the LORD your God at Horeb when you were assembled together: "Don't let us hear the voice of the LORD our God again, or even see this great fire otherwise, we will die.'
I will raise up a prophet like you from among their relatives, and I will place my words in his mouth so that he may expound everything that I have commanded to them.
As soon as the entire nation had completed its crossing of the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua. He said,
As soon as the entire nation had completed its crossing of the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua. He said,
"Then it will come about at a later time that I will pour out my Spirit on every person. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your elderly people will dream dreams, and your young people will see visions.
"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are savage wolves.
The one who receives a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.
Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!
Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John as a prophet.
The crowds kept saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, the man from Nazareth in Galilee."
They began discussing this among themselves: "If we say, "From heaven,' he will ask us, "Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, "From humans,' we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet."
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people,
because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and display great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
But if we say, "From humans'"?" They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone really thought John was a prophet.
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,
Fear gripped everyone, and they began to praise God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said, and "God has helped his people."
Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!
But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it's not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'
But if we say, "From humans,' all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."
He asked them, "What things?"
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they kept saying, "Truly this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!"
However, I'm telling you the truth. It's for your advantage that I'm going away, because if I don't go away, the Helper won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he'll guide you into all truth. He won't speak on his own accord, but he'll speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come.
In fact, Moses said,
Then we'll devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
It was this Moses who told the Israelis, "God will raise up a prophet for you from among your own brothers, just as he did me.'
At that time some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch.
At that time some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch. One of them named Agabus got up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world. This happened during the reign of Claudius.
Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch.
Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch.
Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch.
Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
So the churches continued to be strengthened in the faith and to increase in numbers every day.
So we located some disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem,
He had four unmarried daughters who could prophesy. After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea.
After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea.
After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea.
"Then he told me, "Go, because I'll send you far away to the gentiles.'"
The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else's evaluation.
God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speak various kinds of languages.
God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speak various kinds of languages.
But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church.
Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers.
His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is truly among you!"
Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said.
Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. read more. For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged.
In fact, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised. For the one who worked through Peter by making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me by sending me to the gentiles.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret: The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel.
That is why God says, "When he went up to the highest place, he led captives into captivity and gave gifts to people."
And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers,
And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers,
In fact, though by now you should be teachers, you still need someone to teach you the basic truths of God's word. You have become people who need milk instead of solid food.
Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith.
How blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and obey what is written in it, for the time is near!
I bowed down at his feet to worship him, but he told me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who rely on what Jesus is saying. Worship God, because what Jesus is saying is the spirit of prophecy!"
"See! I am coming soon! How blessed is the person who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book!"
But he told me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words in this book. Worship God!" Then he told me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
If anyone takes away any words from the book of this prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.