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 sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
He that entertaineth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward: and he that entertaineth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward.
But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
And they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they accounted him a prophet.
And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet, from Nazareth of Galilee.
But if we say, Of men: we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.
For false Christs and false prophets shall arise and shew great signs and wonders, so that they would deceive (if it were possible) even the elect.
But if we say, of men: they feared the people; for all accounted John, that he was indeed a prophet.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;
And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and religious, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity.
And fear seized all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen up among us; and, God hath visited his people.
But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.
But I must go on to day, and to morrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
But if we say of men, all the people will stone us;
And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, Those concerning Jesus of Nazareth (who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
Then those men, having seen the miracle which Jesus did, said, Of a truth this is the prophet that was to come into the world.
But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go: for if I go not, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, 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 of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, he will speak; and he will shew you things to come.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,
For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God shall raise you up a prophet of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say to you.
But we will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, The Lord your God will raise you up, out of your brethren, a prophet like me: him shall ye hear.
In those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them,
In those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them, named Agabus stood up, and signified by the Spirit, that there would be a great famine through all the world; which also came to pass under Claudius Cesar.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted and confirmed the brethren with many words.
And the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days, who told Paul by the Spirit, Not to go up to Jerusalem.
And he had four daughters, virgins, who were prophetesses. And as we tarried many days, a certain prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.
And as we tarried many days, a certain prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.
And as we tarried many days, a certain prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.
But he said to me, Depart: for I will send thee far off to the Gentiles.
But the spiritual man discerneth all things, while he himself is discerned by no man.
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say,
And God hath set in the church, first, apostles, secondly, prophets, thirdly, teachers: afterward miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, different kinds of tongues.
And God hath set in the church, first, apostles, secondly, prophets, thirdly, teachers: afterward miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, different kinds of tongues.
Whereas he that prophesieth, speaketh to men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
So that tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers.
The secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and declare that God is among you of a truth.
Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the rest judge. But if any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by,
Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the rest judge. But if any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first be silent. read more. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
But on the contrary, when they saw that I was intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter with that of the circumcision: (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought likewise effectually in me toward the Gentiles:
Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, On whom all the building fitly framed together,
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, That the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and joint-partakers of his promise by Christ through the gospel,
Wherefore he saith, Having ascended on high, he led 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 when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which are the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat.
Remember them that had the rule over you, who spake to you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Happy is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the time is near.
And I fell before his feet to worship him: but he saith to me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Behold, I come quickly: happy is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.
But he saith to me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the sayings of this book; worship God. And he saith to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: the time is nigh.
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part of the tree of life, and the holy city, which are written in this book.