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 asked him, "Are you jealous on my account? If only all the Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord would place His Spirit on them."
This is what you requested from the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, 'Let us not continue to hear the voice of the Lord our God or see this great fire any longer, so that we will not die!'
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua,
After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua,
After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.
"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he's righteous will receive a righteous person's reward.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household."
Though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, since they regarded him as a prophet.
And the crowds kept saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!"
But if we say, 'From men,' we're afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet."
Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
But if we say, 'From men' "-they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was a genuine prophet.
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited His people."
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
Yet I must travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."
"What things?" He asked them. So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people,
When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, "This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!"
Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.
On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry."
"This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers.
In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius. 41-54; there was a famine a.d. 47-48.
In the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
In the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
In the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and were increased in number daily.
So we found some disciples and stayed there seven days. They said to Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.
This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. While we were staying there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
While we were staying there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
While we were staying there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
"Then He said to me, 'Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.
And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.
But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. The person who speaks in [another] language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.
It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall down on his face and worship God, proclaiming, "God is really among you."
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. read more. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised. For He who was at work with Peter in the apostleship to the circumcised was also at work with me among the Gentiles.
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.
And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
And He personally 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 basic principles of God's revelation. You need milk, not solid food.
Remember your leaders who have spoken God's word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.
Blessed is the one who reads and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near!
Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
"Look, I am coming quickly! Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic words of this book."
But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow slave with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." He also said to me, "Don't seal the prophetic words of this book, because the time is near.
And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.