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
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."
And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
So the crowds said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet."
And many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
But if we say, 'From men'"they feared the people, for all held that John was a real prophet.
Now his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us;" and "God has visited his people."
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Nevertheless I must journey today and tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
When the people saw the sign that Jesus did, they said, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come.
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; you shall listen to everything he tells you.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.'
Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged the brethren with many words and strengthened them.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in numbers daily.
And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
And he said to me, 'Go; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
But the spiritual man judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
For the body is not made up of one member but of many.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then those having gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and those speaking in various kinds of tongues.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then those having gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and those speaking in various kinds of tongues.
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their edification and encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; but prophecy is for believers, not for unbelievers.
the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, he will fall on his face, and worship God, declaring that God is really among you.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. But if a revelation is made to another who is sitting, the first one must keep silent. read more. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged;
but on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs and members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food;
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.
Blessed is he who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.
Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
"And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
But he said to me, "Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are described in this book.