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 the false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
He that receiveth a prophet because he is a prophet, will receive a prophets reward, and he that receiveth a righteous man because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous mans reward.
But why did ye go out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.
And wishing to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet.
And the multitudes said, This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
But if we say, From men, we fear the multitude; for all regard John as a prophet.
And many false prophets will arise, and will deceive many.
For there will rise up false Christs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders, so that, if possible, even the chosen will be deceived.
But shall we say, From men? They feared the people; for all regarded John as truly a prophet.
And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
And lo! there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and he was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him;
And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel: of the tribe of Asher; she was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
And fear seized on all, and they gave glory to God, saying, A great prophet hath risen up among us; and, God hath visited his people.
But what have ye gone out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
But today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish out 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 relating to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people;
The men therefore seeing the sign which he wrought, said, This is truly the prophet that was to come into the world.
But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not depart, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come.
but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel,
Moses indeed said, "A prophet will the Lord your God raise up to you from among your brethren, as be raised up me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatever he shall speak to you.
but we will give ourselves closely to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, "A prophet will God raise up to you from among your brethren, as he raised up me."
And in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
And in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up, and signified by the Spirit, that there was about to be a great famine over the whole world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius.
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers; Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenaean, and Manaen, the fosterbrother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers; Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenaean, and Manaen, the fosterbrother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers; Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenaean, and Manaen, the fosterbrother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and confirmed them.
The churches therefore were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
And having found out the disciples, we remained there seven days; and they told Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem.
And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied. And while we were staying some days longer, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus;
And while we were staying some days longer, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus;
And while we were staying some days longer, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus;
And he said to me, Depart; for I will send thee far hence to the gentiles.
But he that is spiritual judgeth of all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.
For the body also is not one member, but many.
God appointed some in the church to be, in the first place, apostles, in the second place, prophets, in the third place, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, those of helping and of governing, divers kinds of tongues. Are all apostles?
God appointed some in the church to be, in the first place, apostles, in the second place, prophets, in the third place, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, those of helping and of governing, divers kinds of tongues. Are all apostles?
but he that prophesieth speaketh to men edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord." Wherefore the tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers, but for believers.
the secrets of his heart become manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is indeed within you.
And of the prophets let two or three speak, and let the others judge;
And of the prophets let two or three speak, and let the others judge; if anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first speaker be silent. read more. For one by one ye can all prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
But on the contrary, when they saw that I was intrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, as Peter was with that to the circumcised, (for he who wrought for Peter in behalf of the apostleship to the circumcised, wrought also for me in behalf of the gentiles,)
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the gentiles are fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers with us of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel;
Wherefore he saith: "When he ascended on high, he led captive a train of captives, and gave gifts to men."
And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For while on account of the length of time ye ought to be teachers, ye again have need that some one should teach you the first elements of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.
Remember your leaders, who spoke to you the word of God; and considering well the end of their manner of life, imitate their faith.
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein; for the time is at hand.
And I fell at his feet to worship him; and he saith to me, See thou do it not; I am a fellowservant of thee, and of thy brethren who maintain the testimony to Jesus; worship God. For the testimony to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.
And he saith to me, See thou do it not; I am a fellowservant of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book; worship God. And he saith to me, Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book; the time is at hand.
and if any one shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written of in this book.