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
But Moses said unto him, Art, thou, jealous for, me? Oh would that, all the people of Yahweh, were prophets! Yea let Yahweh put his spirit upon them!
according to all which thou didst ask of Yahweh thy God, in Horeb, in the day of the convocation saying, - Let me no further hearken unto the voice of Yahweh my God, and this great fire, let me not see any more lest I die.
A prophet, will I raise up unto them, out of the midst of their brethren, like unto thee, - and I will put my words in his mouth, so shall he speak unto them whatsoever I shall command him.
And it came to pass, when all the nation had made an end of passing over the Jordan, that Yahweh slake unto Joshua, saying:
And it came to pass, when all the nation had made an end of passing over the Jordan, that Yahweh slake unto Joshua, saying:
And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters, shall prophesy, - your old men, shall dream, dreams, your young men, shall see, visions;
Beware of false prophets, who come unto you in clothing of sheep, - while, within, they are ravening wolves.
He that giveth welcome unto a prophet, in the name of a prophet, the reward of a prophet, shall receive; and, he that giveth welcome unto a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, the reward of a righteous man, shall receive; -
But why went ye forth? A prophet, to see? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
And they began to find cause of stumbling in him. But, Jesus, said unto them - A prophet is not without honour, save in his city, and in his house.
And desiring, to kill, him, he feared the multitude, because, as a prophet, they held him.
And, the multitudes, were saying - This, is the prophet Jesus, - He from Nazareth of Galilee.
But, if we say, Of men, we fear the multitude, for, all, as a prophet, are holding John.
And, many false prophets, will arise, and deceive, many;
For there will arise, false Christs, and false prophets, - and they will show great signs and wonders, so that, if possible, even the chosen, should be deceived: -
But, should we say, Of men -- , they were in fear of the multitude, for, one and all, were holding John, in very deed, that he was, a prophet.
And, Zachariah his father, was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: -
And lo! there was, a man, in Jerusalem, whose name, was Symeon; and, this man, was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and Holy Spirit was upon him;
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; - the same, advanced in many days; having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
And fear seized them, all, and they began to glorify God, saying - A great prophet, hath been raised up amongst us! and - God hath visited his people!
But what went ye forth to see? A prophet? Yea! I say unto you, - and abundantly more than a prophet.
and, on the third, I am to be made perfect. Nevertheless, I must needs, to-day, and tomorrow, and the following, be journeying on, because it is impossible that a prophet perish, outside Jerusalem.
But, if we say, Of men, the people, one and all, will stone us, for, persuaded, they are, that, John, was, a prophet.
And he said unto them - What things? And, they, said unto him - The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who became a prophet, mighty in work and word, before God and all the people:
The people, therefore, seeing what signs he wrought, began to say - This, is, of a truth, the prophet who was to come into the world.
But, I, the truth, am telling you - It is profitable for you, that, I, depart; for, if I should not depart, The Advocate, would in nowise come unto you, but, if I go, I will send him unto you.
Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come - The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you.
But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel -
Moses, indeed, said - A prophet, unto you, shall the Lord God raise up among your brethren, like unto me: unto him, shall ye hearken respecting all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.
But, we, unto prayer and unto the ministry of the word, will give constant attention.
The same, is the Moses that said unto the sons of Israel - A prophet, unto you, will God raise up, from among your brethren, like unto me:
Now, in these days, there came down from Jerusalem, prophets, unto Antioch.
Now, in these days, there came down from Jerusalem, prophets, unto Antioch. And one from among them, by name Agabus, rising up, gave a sign, through means of the Spirit, that, a great famine, was coming over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, came to pass under Claudius.
Now there were in Antioch, distributed through the existing assembly, - prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul.
Now there were in Antioch, distributed through the existing assembly, - prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul.
Now there were in Antioch, distributed through the existing assembly, - prophets and teachers: both Barnabas and Symeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul.
And, both Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, with much discourse, consoled and confirmed the brethren.
The assemblies, therefore, were being confirmed in the faith, and increasing in number, every day.
And, finding up the disciples, we remained there seven days, and they, unto Paul, began to say, through the Spirit, that he would gain no footing in Jerusalem.
Now - this man, had four virgin daughters, who used to prophesy. And, as we stayed on many days, there came down a certain man from Judaea, a prophet, by name Agabus;
And, as we stayed on many days, there came down a certain man from Judaea, a prophet, by name Agabus;
And, as we stayed on many days, there came down a certain man from Judaea, a prophet, by name Agabus;
And he said unto me - -Be taking thy journey; because, I, unto nations afar off, will send thee.
But, the man of the spirit, on the one hand, examineth all things, but, on the other, he himself, by no one, is examined.
For, the body also, is not one member, but many:
And God hath, indeed, set, certain, in the assembly, - first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that mighty works, then gifts of healings, helps, guidings, kinds of tongues.
And God hath, indeed, set, certain, in the assembly, - first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that mighty works, then gifts of healings, helps, guidings, kinds of tongues.
But, be that prophesieth, unto men, doth speak - edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh with a tongue, buildeth up, himself, whereas, he that prophesieth, buildeth up, an assembly.
So that, the tongues, are for a sign - not unto them that believe, but, unto them that believe not; whereas, prophesying, is not for them that believe not, but, for them that believe.
And, so, falling down upon his face, he will do homage unto God, reporting that, in reality, God is, among you.
Prophets, moreover, let two or three speak, and let, the others, judge.
Prophets, moreover, let two or three speak, and let, the others, judge. If, however, unto another, a revelation be made, as he is sitting, let the first be silent; read more. For, one by one, ye can, all, be prophesying, - that, all, may learn, and, all, be encouraged.
But, on the contrary, - when they saw that I had been entrusted with the glad-message to the uncircumcision, even as, Peter, with that to the circumcision, For, he that energised in Peter, into an apostleship to the circumcision, energised also in me, for the nations, -
Having been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, there being, for chief corner stone, Jesus Christ himself, -
Which, in other generations, had not been made known unto the sons of men, as it hath, now, been revealed by his holy apostles and prophets, in Spirit; - That they who are of the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through means of the glad-message, -
Wherefore he saith - Ascending on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -
And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -
For, even when ye ought to be teachers, by reason of the time, again, have ye, need, that one be teaching, you, what are the first principles of the oracles of God, and have become such as have, need, of milk, not, of strong food;
Be mindful of them who are guiding you, who, indeed, have spoken unto you, the word of God: the outgoing of whose behaviour, reviewing, be imitating, their faith.
Happy! he that readeth, and they who hear, the words of the prophecy, and keep the things, therein, written; for, the season, is, near.
And I fell down at his feet, to do him homage; and he saith unto me - See! thou do it not! A fellow-servant, am I, of thee and of thy brethren who have the witness of Jesus: unto God, do homage! For, the witness of Jesus, is the spirit of the prophecy.
And - Lo! I come speedily! Happy, is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this scroll.
and he saith unto me - See thou do it not! A fellow-servant, am I, of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the words of this scroll: unto God, do homage. And he saith unto me - Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for, the season, is, near:
And, if anyone shall take away from the words of this prophetic scroll, God, will take away his part, - from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, - from the things written in this scroll.