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 beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are rapacious wolves.
The one receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive the reward of a prophet; and the one receiving a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive the reward of a righteous man.
But what went you out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet:
And they were offended in Him. And Jesus said to them; A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.
And wishing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they esteemed him as a prophet.
And the multitudes continued to say, He is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth of Galilee.
But if we may say, From men: we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.
And many false prophets will arise and deceive many.
for false Christs and false prophets will rise up, and give great signs and wonders; so as to deceive even the elect, if possible.
But if we may say, From men; they feared the people: for all held John that he was a prophet.
And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied saying;
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and the same man was righteous and godly, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him;
And Anna was a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, herself being advanced in many days, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity;
And fear seized them all: and they continued to glorify God, saying that, A great prophet has arisen among us: and, God has looked upon His people.
But what went you out to see? a prophet? Yea, and I say unto you even more than a prophet.
Moreover it behooves Me to travel to-day and to-morrow and the day following: because it does not behoove a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.
And if we may say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.
And He said to them, What? And they said to Him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet-man mighty in work and word before God and all the people.
Then the people, seeing the miracle which Jesus did, were saying, that, This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.
But now I tell you the truth; it is profitable to you that I may go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I may go, I will send Him to you.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, may come, He will guide you in all truth: for He will not speak from Himself; but so many things as He hears, He will speak: and will proclaim to you the things which are coming.
Moses indeed said; The Lord our God will raise up to you from your brethren a prophet like unto me; Him you will hear concerning all things so many as he may speak to you.
and we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.
This Moses is the one having said to the sons of Israel, A prophet will God raise up to you of your brethren, like unto me.
And during those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
And during those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas, and Symeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manahem, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas, and Symeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manahem, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas, and Symeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manahem, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Both Judas and Silas, themselves also being prophets, exhorted the brethren with elaborate speech, and strengthened them;
Then the churches were indeed strengthened in faith, and abounded in number daily.
And He said to me, Go: because I will send thee far away to the Gentiles.
But the spiritual man discerns all things, and is himself discerned by no one.
but the one prophesying speaks to men edification, exhortation, and comfort. The one speaking with a tongue edifies himself; but the one prophesying edifies the church.
So tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelievers: and prophecy is not for the unbelievers, but for the believers.
the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and thus falling upon his face he will worship God, proclaiming that God is truly in you.
But let two or three prophets speak, and let the others give audience;
But let two or three prophets speak, and let the others give audience; but if something may be revealed to another sitting down, let the first be silent. read more. For you are all able to prophesy one by one, in order that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
but on the contrary, seeing that I am intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, like Peter of the circumcision, for the one having wrought with Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision also wrought with me unto the Gentiles:
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone,
Therefore he says, Having ascended upon high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to the people.
And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For indeed you, who ought to be teachers so far as time is concerned, have need that some one again teach you what are the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God; and you have need of milk, not solid food.
Remember your leaders, who spoke to you the word of God: the outgoing of whose deportment seeing, imitate their faith.
Blessed is the one reading, and those hearing the word of the prophecy, and keeping the things which have been written in it: for the time is at hand.
And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he says to me; See that you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and one of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Behold, I indeed am coming quickly. Blessed is the one keeping the words of the prophecy of this book.
And he says to me, See that you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and one of your brethren the prophets, and of those keeping the words of this book: worship God. And he says to me; Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the season is nigh.
and if any one may take from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take his part from the tree of life, and from the holy city, from the things which are written in this book.