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
"Look out for false prophets, who come to you under the guise of sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.
Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive the same reward as a prophet, and whoever welcomes an upright man as such will receive the same reward as the upright man.
And so they found a cause for stumbling over Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet never fails to be honored except in his native neighborhood and in his own home." And so
Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet.
And the crowds kept saying, "He is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth in Galilee."
But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the people, for they all consider John a prophet."
Many false prophets will appear and mislead many people;
for false Christs and false prophets will announce themselves, and they will show great signs and wonders to mislead, if possible, God's chosen people.
On the other hand, can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because everybody thought that John was really a prophet.
Now his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he uttered the following prophecy:
Now there was in Jerusalem a man named Symeon, an upright, devout man; he was expecting to see the consolation of Israel, and he was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
There was also a prophetess there, Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher.
So awe seized them all, and they began to praise God, saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"
If not, then what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is far more than a prophet.
But I must continue on my way, for it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem.'
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."
And He said to them, "What sort of things?" They answered Him, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who in the sight of God and of all the people became a prophet mighty in deed and word,
When the people, therefore, saw the wonder-works that He performed, they began to say, "This is surely the prophet who was to come into the world."
Yet it is nothing but the truth I now tell you, that it is better for you that I should go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come into close fellowship with you, but if I do go away, I will send Him to be in close fellowship with you.
But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into the whole truth, for He will not speak on His own authority but will tell what is told Him, and will announce to you the things that are to come.
Moses, indeed, said: 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, as He did me. You must attentively listen to everything that He tells you.
while we will go on devoting ourselves to prayer and the word of God."
It was this Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among you, 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, and one of them named Agabus got up and, through the Holy Spirit, foretold that there was going to be a great famine all over the world, which occurred in the reign of Claudius.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who is called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen who was an intimate friend of the governor, and Saul.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who is called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen who was an intimate friend of the governor, and Saul.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who is called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen who was an intimate friend of the governor, and Saul.
Now Judas and Silas, as they were prophets themselves, in a lengthy talk encouraged and strengthened the brothers.
So the churches through faith continued to grow in strength and to increase in numbers from day to day.
So we looked up the disciples there and stayed a week with them. Because of impressions made by the Spirit they kept on warning Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.
He had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses. While we were spending some days here, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
While we were spending some days here, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
While we were spending some days here, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am to send you out and far away among the heathen.'"
But the spiritual man appreciates everything, and yet he himself is not really appreciated by anybody.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as prophets, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then people with power to cure the sick, helpers, managers, ecstatic speakers.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as prophets, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then people with power to cure the sick, helpers, managers, ecstatic speakers.
But whoever prophesies is speaking to men for their upbuilding. encouragement, and comfort. Whoever speaks in ecstasy builds up himself alone, but whoever prophesies builds up the congregation too.
So speaking in ecstasy is meant as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers but for believers.
the secrets of his heart are laid bare, he falls upon his face and worships God, declaring, "God is really among you."
Let two or three prophets speak, and the rest consider carefully what is said;
Let two or three prophets speak, and the rest consider carefully what is said; and if anything is revealed to another who is seated, let the speaker stop. read more. For in this way you can all, one after another, speak your prophetic message, so that all may learn and be encouraged,
On the contrary, because they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news for the heathen, just as Peter had been entrusted with it for the Jews -- for He who had been at work in Peter for his apostleship to the Jews had been at work in me too for the apostleship to the heathen --
for you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself the cornerstone.
which in the earlier ages, so different from the present, was not made known to mankind as fully as now, but through the Spirit it has been revealed to His Holy apostles and prophets -- that the heathen through union with Christ Jesus are fellow-heirs with the Jews, are members with them of the same body, and sharers with them of the promise through the good news,
Concerning this the Scripture says: "He led a host of captives, when He went up on high, and granted gifts to men."
And He has given some men to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers,
And He has given some men to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers,
For although you ought to be teachers of others because you have been Christians so long, you actually need someone to teach you over and over again the very elements of the truths that God has given us, and you have gotten into such a state that you are in constant need of milk instead of solid food.
You must not forget your former leaders, for it was they who brought you the message of God. Consider how they closed their lives; imitate their faith.
Blessed be the man who reads them and the people who hear the messages of this prophecy read, and heed what is written in it, for the time is near.
Then I fell before his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must take care not to do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers who hold to the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony borne by Jesus is the inspiring spirit of prophecy."
See! I am coming soon! Blessed is he who practices the truths of prophecy contained in this book."
But he said to me: "You must be careful not to do that; I am only a fellow-slave of yours, of your brothers the prophets, and of the people who practice the truths contained in this book. Worship God." Then he said to me: "Do not seal up the words of prophecy contained in this book, for the time of their coming true is near.
and if anyone subtracts from it some of the words of this prophetic book, God will subtract from him his share in the tree of life and the holy city which are described in this book.