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
And Moses said unto him, "Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the LORD's people could prophesy, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them."
according to all that thou desiredest of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day when the people were gathered, saying, 'Let me hear the voice of my LORD God no more, nor see this great fire any more, that I die not.'
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and will put my words into his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
And as soon as the people were all gone over Jordan, the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
And as soon as the people were all gone over Jordan, the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
After this, will I pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive the reward of a righteous man.
But what went ye out for to see? Went ye out to see a prophet? Yea I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
And they were offended by him. Then Jesus said unto them, "A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and among his own kin."
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the people, because they counted him as a prophet.
And the people said, "This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth, a city of Galilee."
But and if we shall say of men; then fear we the people. For all men held John as a prophet."
And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many.
for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall do great miracles and wonders. Insomuch that if it were possible, even the very elect should be deceived.
But if we shall say, 'Of men,' then fear we the people. For all men counted John, that he was a very prophet."
And his father Zacharias 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 just and feared God, and longed for the consolation of Israel, and the holy ghost was in him.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher: which was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.
And there came a fear on them all. And they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet is risen among us, and God hath visited his people."
But what went ye forth to see? A prophet? Yea I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow, and the day following: For it cannot be, that a prophet perish any other where, save at Jerusalem.
But and if we shall say, 'Of men,' all the people will stone us. For they surely be persuaded that John is a prophet."
To whom he said, "What things?" And they said unto him, "Of Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet, mighty in deed and word, before God and all the people.
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, "This is of a truth the same prophet that should come into the world."
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, that comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Howbeit, when he is once come - I mean the spirit of truth - he will lead you into all truth. He shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come.
but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,
For Moses said unto the fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministration of the word."
This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel, 'A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear.'
In those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the Emperor Claudius' days.
There were at Antioch, in the congregation, certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas and Symeon called Niger; And Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's nurse-fellow, and Saul.
There were at Antioch, in the congregation, certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas and Symeon called Niger; And Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's nurse-fellow, and Saul.
There were at Antioch, in the congregation, certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas and Symeon called Niger; And Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's nurse-fellow, and Saul.
And Judas and Silas being prophets, exhorted the brethren with much preaching, and strengthened them.
And so were the congregations established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
And when we had found brethren, we tarried there seven days. And they told Paul through the spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
The same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from Jewry, named Agabus.
And as we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from Jewry, named Agabus.
And as we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from Jewry, named Agabus.
And he said unto me, 'Depart for I will send thee afar hence unto the gentiles.'"
But he that is spiritual discusseth all things: yet he himself is judged of no man.
And God hath also ordained in the congregation, first the apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles; after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diversity of tongues.
And God hath also ordained in the congregation, first the apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles; after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diversity of tongues.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men, to edifying, to exhortation, and to comfort. He that speaketh with tongues, profiteth himself: he that prophesieth, edifieth the congregation.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe: but to them that believe not. Contrariwise, prophesying serveth not for them that believe not: but for them which believe.
and so are the secrets of his heart opened: and so falleth he down on his face, and worshippeth God, and saith that God is with you indeed.
Let the prophets speak two at once, or three at once, and let others judge.
Let the prophets speak two at once, or three at once, and let others judge. If any revelation be made to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. read more. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may have comfort.
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel over the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel over circumcision was unto Peter - For he that was mighty in Peter in the apostleship over the circumcision, the same was mighty in me among the gentiles -
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone -
which mystery in times past was not opened unto the sons of men as it is now declared unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit: That the gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise that is in Christ, by the means of the gospel,
Wherefore he saith, "He is gone up on high, and hath led captivity captive, and hath given gifts unto men."
And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:
And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:
For when as concerning the time, ye ought to be teachers, yet have ye need again that we teach you the first principles of the word of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat:
Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God: consider the conversation of their living, the end of whose conversation see that ye look upon, and follow their faith.
Happy is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein. For the time is at hand.
And I fell at his feet, to worship him. And he said unto me, "See thou do it not. For I am thy fellow servant, and one of thy brethren, and of them that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Behold, I come shortly." Happy is he that keepeth the saying of the prophecy of this book.
And he said unto me, "See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant and the fellow servant of thy brethren the prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book. But worship God." And he said unto me, "Seal not the sayings of prophesy of this book. For the time is at hand.
And if any man shall minish of the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from those things which are written in this book.