Prophets (New Testament)

Prophets tell forth God's words to an individual, church or situation, giving God's perspective which is not plainly visible without God's illumination. The purpose of prophecy is to edify the Church. Prediction of the future is not the essence of prophecy. Many great preachers were likely prophets, though not recognized as such. This function is still important to the Body, and therefore still present in it.

Prophets are included in the lists of people given as gifts to the Church in both Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12:27-29. Paul includes prophecy in both his list of “motivational” gifts in Romans 12 and his list of gifts manifested in the Church in 1 Corinthians 12, and makes provision for expression of this gift during organized church meetings in 1 Corinthians 14:29-33. Indeed, in Romans 12:6, Paul instructs us that, if a person’s gift is prophesying, he should use that gift in proportion to his faith, and, in 1 Corinthians 14:1-4, Paul urges the Corinthians to pray that they may prophesy, because “one who prophesies edifies the church.” Paul also instructs that, in formal church meetings, two or three prophets are to be allowed to speak, with the rest of the congregation judging what they say.¹

Numerous individuals in the New Testament are identified as “prophets.” These included, notably, Agabus, the only named member of a group of “prophets” who traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch and who only made a single recorded prophecy (Acts 11:27–30). These identified “prophets” also included Saul (Paul), Barnabas and a list of other men in Antioch, who acted together in setting Paul and Barnabas apart for their mission to the Gentiles (Acts 13:1-3). Judas and Silas, who were sent from Jerusalem to Antioch with the determination of the Jersualem church about Gentile believers and the Law of Moses, were also identified as “prophets” and were said to have “said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.” (Acts 15:32). The four daughters (thugateres) of Phillip the Evangelist also “prophesied” (NIV) or “were prophetesses” (NASB)–the Greek construction, a present participle used as a noun, implies this was a continuing function rather than a one-time manifestation–although the content of their prophecies is not recorded. Acts 21:8-9. (Thus it appears women may be given to the Church with this function).

            Prophecy (prophetia) is speaking (phemi) forth (pro-), and, according to Vine, a “prophet” is “one who speaks forth or openly, a proclaimer of the divine message.” In the New Testament, the primary function of the prophet is what the Greek word itself implies—a prophet tells forth God’s words. Often, the prophet’s words are words of correction directed at problems not visible without God’s illumination, as is demonstrated by much of the work of the Old Testament prophets. Sometimes, the prophet’s words are words of direction or of warning, applying God’s perspective (including, but certainly not limited to, His knowledge of the future) to church decisions or to our life path. Examples of this are found in Acts 11:27-29, 13:1-3, 16:4-5 and 21:7-14. Prophets may also sometimes speak words of exhortation and encouragement. Acts 15:32. To be sure, God did say, in a different context, “surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.  And Jesus did promise his Disciples that, when the Holy Spirit came, he “he will tell you what is yet to come.”  John 16:13. This aspect of prophecy cannot be ignored.  But it was never, and is not now, the central purpose of prophecy.  When God allows a prophet access to a part of his future plans, his purpose is not to satisfy human curiosity, but to turn people back to himself.  Jeremiah 23:21-22; John 16:9-11; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25.  In a broader sense, the purpose of prophecy is to bring glory to God and his Son, not to the prophet, because, in speaking “only what he hears,” the Spirit of truth purposes only to bring glory to Christ. John 16:13-15. So, prediction of the future is not the essence of prophecy. However, a prophet’s words will always agree with the written Word of God. A New Testament prophet does not add to the Scriptures, which are complete, but merely sees God’s perspective on situations and applies the Scriptures based on that perspective.

            Therefore, in instructing the church in Corinth, Paul wrote that they were to covet spiritual gifts, but especially that they might prophesy.² Indeed, he later indicated that believers (at least in ancient Corinth) should “earnestly desire to prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:39. His explanation of this was that prophets speak to men for their edification.³ Further, prophets reveal to their listeners the secrets of their hearts, bringing conviction, moving them to fall down on their faces and worship God.⁴ It is likely that many of the great preachers of the past, who were able to move great crowds to repentance, were in fact prophets, even though the theological positions of their denominations did not permit them to be called that. It is also likely that prophets are still active in the Church today, and that most of them are ordinary church members, who tell forth God’s word to a small circle rather than to crowded meetings. This work is equally important to the Body. This function of telling forth God’s words as they apply to us certainly still is needed in the Church today.

For my own personal, somewhat strange experience in this area, see the series that starts with the post “My Strangest Prayer and My Personal Experience with Prophecy.”

NEXT: Evangelists.