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 false prophets, who, indeed, come to you in sheep's clothing, but within are ravening 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 why did ye go out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.
And they were finding in Him occasion to stumble. And Jesus said to them "a prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house."
And, wishing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they were holding 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 hold John as a prophet."
and many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray;
for there will arise false Christs and false prophets; and they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
"If we say, 'From Heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did ye not believe him!' But, should we say, 'From men,'"??hey feared the people; for all held John to be a prophet indeed.
And Zacharias, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied, saying,
And fear seized on all; and they were glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet was raised up among us," and "God did visit His people."
But what went ye forth to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.
But yet I must go on My way to-day, and to-morrow, and the following day; because it is not possible that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem!'
and 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 concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet, mighty in deed and word, before God and all the people:
The men, therefore, seeing the sign that He did, said, "This, truly, is the Prophet Who cometh into the world."
But I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away; for, if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but, if I go, I will send Him to you,
But, when He, the Spirit of truth, shall come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak from Himself; but whatsoever He heareth He will speak; and He will declare to you things to come.
but this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Moses, indeed, said, 'A prophet will the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as He did me; to Him shall ye hearken in all things, whatsoever He shall say to you.
but we will devote ourselves steadfastly 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 for you of your brethren, as He did me.
And in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch; and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius.
Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was there, prophets and teachers; both Barnabas and Symeon who is called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was there, prophets and teachers; both Barnabas and Symeon who is called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was there, prophets and teachers; both Barnabas and Symeon who is called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And Judas and Silas, themselves also being prophets, exhorted the brethren in many words, and confirmed them.
So the assemblies were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
And, having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days; who, indeed, said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied. And, as we tarried there several days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, Agabus by name.
And, as we tarried there several days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, Agabus by name.
And, as we tarried there several days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, Agabus by name.
And He said to me, 'Depart, because I will send you far hence to the gentiles.'
But he that is spiritual judges all things; but he himself is judged by no one.
For the body also is not one member, but many.
And God, indeed, set some in the assembly: first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; after that, miracles; then, gifts of healings, helps, governments, various kinds of tongues.
And God, indeed, set some in the assembly: first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; after that, miracles; then, gifts of healings, helps, governments, various kinds of tongues.
But he that prophesies speaks to men to edification and exhortation and comfort. He that speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the assembly.
Therefore, the tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophecy is a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, reporting that, in reality, God is among you.
And let the prophets, two or three, speak, and the others judge.
And let the prophets, two or three, speak, and the others judge. But, if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence; read more. for ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all be exhorted.
but, on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the Gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter was with that of the circumcision; (for He Who wrought for Peter with regard to an apostleship of the circumcision, wrought for me also with regard to the gentiles).
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner-stone;
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; that the gentiles are fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partners with us of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel;
Wherefore, He saith, "Having ascended on high, He led captivity captive, 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 even when, on account of the time, ye ought to be teachers, ye again have need that some one teach you the first elements of the oracles of God, and have become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food;
Remember those who are your leaders, who spake to you the word of God; and, considering the issue of whose manner of life, imitate their faith.
Happy is he that reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein; for the time is near.
And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he says to me, "See that you do it not: I am a fellow-servant of you and of your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
And, behold, I come quickly! Happy is he that keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
And he says, "See that you do it not. I am a fellow-servant with you and with your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book: worship God." And he says to me, "Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.
and, if anyone 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, even from the things written in this book."