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 within they are rapacious wolves.
He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
And they were offended with him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his native country, and in his own house;
And he wished to kill him; but feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.
And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet who is 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 shall be raised up and deceive many,
For false Christs and false prophets shall be raised up, and shall show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
But if we say from men, they feared the people, for all considered John as a prophet indeed.
And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
And behold, there was a man at Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
And there was Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was far advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
And fear seized all; and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is raised up among us; and, God has visited his people.
But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
But I must go on to-day and to-morrow, and the day following; for it is not possible for a prophet to be destroyed out of Jerusalem.
But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us; for they are persuaded that John is a prophet.
And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, The things relating to Jesus the Nazoraean, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people;
Then the men, seeing what a miracle Jesus had performed, said, This is truly the prophet who was to come into the world.
But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I should go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you.
but when he, the Spirit of truth has come, he will lead you in all the truth; for he will not speak of himself, but he will speak whatever he shall hear, and tell you things to come.
Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you, of your brothers, like me; him shall you hear in all things which he shall speak to you;
but we will attend continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word.
This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up for you, of your brothers, like 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, by the name of Agabus, standing up signified by the spirit that a great famine was about to come on all the world; which also came under Claudius Caesar.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas and Simeon called Niger [the black], and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas and Simeon called Niger [the black], and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas and Simeon called Niger [the black], and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.
And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them.
Then the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
And finding the disciples we continued there seven days; and they told Paul, by the Spirit, not to go on to Jerusalem.
This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. And having continued there many days, there came down a certain prophet from Judea by the name of Agabus,
And having continued there many days, there came down a certain prophet from Judea by the name of Agabus,
And having continued there many days, there came down a certain prophet from Judea by the name of Agabus,
And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.
But the spiritual man discerns all things, and is himself perceived by no one.
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then powers, then gifts of performing cures, aids, governments, different tongues.
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then powers, then gifts of performing cures, aids, governments, different tongues.
but he that prophesies speaks to men to edification and exhortation and consolation. He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies an assembly.
Tongues therefore are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, but prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
and the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so falling down on his face he worships God, declaring that God is really among you.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the rest judge;
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the rest judge; but if any thing is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent. read more. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all be comforted.
but on the contrary seeing that I was intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter was of the circumcision,??8 for he that operated in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision, operated also in me for the gentiles,??9 and knowing the grace given me, James and Cephas and John, who were manifest pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcision;
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone,
that the gentiles are co-heirs and of the same body and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
Wherefore he says, When he ascended on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
For you who ought on account of the time to be teachers, have need that one should teach you again what are the first rudiments of the oracles of God, and have need of milk and not solid food.
Remember your guides who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the end of their life follow the faith.
Blessed is he that reads, and those that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written in it; for the time is at hand.
And I fell before his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See [that you do it] not; I am your fellow-servant and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
And he said to me, See [that you do it] not; for I am your fellow servant and of your brothers the prophets and of those that keep the words of this book; worship God. And he said to me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; the time is at hand.
and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and the holy city, described in this book.