The prophets mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12-14, did not have the authority of the apostles, who also were prophets, and were even under the authority of the Apostle Paul, who was also a prophet aswill be discussed in a later section.
PROPHECY AS A PROCLAMATION
"Propheleia" is the Greek word for prophecy, and is taken from theGreek verb "propheteuo". The basic word comes from "pro" meaning"before",and "phemi" meaning "to speak". The correct meaning is "to speak before". It does not mean "to speak before" in terms of time, but "to speak before" in terms of an audience, or "to speak inpublic, to publicly proclaim". It would be the closest definition of the present gift of prophecy.
It is not necessarily revelation direct from God, nor proclaiming something God already revealed in the past. It primarily is acommunication gift. The idea of predicting the future was only an English addition to the word from the middle ages.
A Greek or a Hebrew knew that prophecy simply meant "to speak publicly". Therefore, the gift of prophecy is the ability given by the Spirit of God to a person to proclaim God's truth to others.
Paul records in 1 Corinthians 14:3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men..." That describes the gift in simple terms. He speaks unto men Gods word, or is the gift of proclaiming or speaking before men.
So the gift of prophecy is a "speaking gift", and not a "fortunetelling" gift. Naturally, many are debating today whether the gift still exists. Some claim it passed away, based on 1 Corinthians 13:8, and say that prophecy has been done away because the perfect thing has come (i.e.the Bible). When the Bible was completed, prophecy, tongues, and knowledge passed away.
However, that view does not stand up, because historically, there has never been a time when God was dealing with men that someone has not had this gift, because God has always had someone speaking His word!
The most important job the Old Testament prophet had to do was to proclaim God's word, with some, being future proclamation and some of it, present proclamation, with the remaining being the reiteration of past proclamation. The prophets would speak about what God had done, was doing, and would do!
Prophecy was the most important gift in the Old Testament and carried the most authority with the office, as the entire Old Testament is a proclamation of God!
In the New Testament, God continued to reveal Himself through prophecy by disclosing all of the mysteries (Ephesians 1:9), and revealing His will to the apostles, (Colossians 1:9). The Holy Spirit brought to their rememberance all that Jesus told them so they could record it (John 14:26).
So, when the New Testament wascomplete, it was also a proclamation from God. John recorded inRevelations 1:3, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear thewords of this prophecy...". so this simply meant the proclaimingof Gods truth. This proclamation of God's truth was vital in both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the most important thing Christians can do in the present or past New Testament age? It still is the same primary function. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 14:1, "Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy."
So when assembling together in as a congregation, the most vital thing is to desire prophecy to be the gift that is used. The Corinthians were making the error of assembling, and speaking in the gift of languages instead of proclaiming God's word clearly. Tongues had a purpose, but they focus their attention and desire on prophecy. Paul exhorted them, "wherefore, brethren, covet to prophecy, and forbidnot to speak in tongues.''
So, prophecy was the most vital gift,because it is a proclamation of God's truth. A prophet ministers to unbelievers! "But if all prophecy and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convicted ofall, he is judged of all. And thus are the secrets of his heart mademanifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)
Paul said that if all they did was speak with tongues, any unbeliever who wandered in would think they were crazy! On the other hand, if they were instead prophesying, the unbeliever would fall on his face, repent and believe! So prophesy was the gift to use! A prophet also ministers tobelievers! Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 14:3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification."
PROPHECY AS A PRESENTATION
When a prophet spoke, he not only proclaimed God's word inrevelation, but sometimes he reiterated something already revealed. When they preached the gospel, they could not preach it as direct revelation because it had already been given. So prophecy can be preached by either revelation or reiteration.
A revelation discloses something new, or says something which has not been said before. Sometimes a prophet opened his mouth and spoke something new given that instant by God which had never been spoken before. Those revelations became Holy Scripture! They also could have spoken practical words from God which are not recorded inscripture.Some examples of how prophecy operated in the Old Testament might beas follows: Jeremiah said, "...But His word was in mine heart like aburning fire shut up in my bones..." (Jeremiah 20:9b). Ezekiel said, "Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying" (Ezekiel 7:1).
There were other times when a prophet preached a message God had already given him. Also, at other times, the prophets simply reiterated something that was common knowledge.The New Testament prophet, or apostle, sometimes received divine revelation and exercised the gift of prophecy by speaking somethingfor the first time; other times he might repeat something which had said before. So, prophecy was sometimes practical, sometimes doctrinal.
When Timothy was ordained to the ministry, it is likely a prophecy was given by one of the ordaining elders regarding his future ministry. Paul said in (1 Timothy 1:18; 4:14) "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands. As a result of direct revelation, there were several prophecies given, regarding his life. (1 Timothy 1:18).So, there were times during the age when the new Testament was being written that God spoke His word directly through the prophet, andthese were new revelations which had never been spoken before.
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