Gift of prophecy in the new testament
The gift of prophecy in the New Testament refers to the ability to receive and communicate divine revelation or inspiration from God. In the New Testament, prophecy is one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Romans 12:6-8, and Ephesians 4:11.
In the New Testament, prophecy is often associated with the apostles and other early Christian leaders, who were said to have received revelation from God to guide the early church. For example, Peter's speech at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36) and Stephen's speech before his martyrdom (Acts 7:2-53) are examples of prophetic utterances.
However, the gift of prophecy was not limited to the apostles and other leaders. The New Testament also mentions that ordinary believers could receive and exercise the gift of prophecy. For example, in 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul writes that "to another is given the gift of tongues, and to another the gift of prophecy."
In the New Testament, prophecy is characterized by several key features:
- Inspiration: Prophecy is inspired by God, and the prophet is seen as a vessel or instrument through which God speaks.
- Revelation: Prophecy involves the revelation of divine truth or insight that is not known to the prophet through natural means.
- Communication: Prophecy is often communicated through spoken words, but can also be expressed through writing or other forms of communication.
- Authority: Prophecy is seen as authoritative, and is often accompanied by a sense of conviction or persuasion.
- Edification: The primary purpose of prophecy is to edify or build up the church, rather than to entertain or impress.
Some examples of prophecy in the New Testament include:
- The prophecy of Agabus in Acts 11:27-28, who predicted a famine that would affect the entire Roman world.
- The prophecy of the prophetess Philip's daughters in Acts 21:8-9, who prophesied about the future.
- The prophecy of the apostle John in Revelation 1:1-3, who received a vision of Jesus Christ and wrote the book of Revelation.
In the New Testament, prophecy is seen as an important means of communicating God's will and guidance to the church. It is also seen as a way of building up and edifying the church, and of providing encouragement and comfort to believers.
However, the New Testament also warns against false prophecy and the abuse of the gift of prophecy. For example, in 1 Corinthians 12:3, Paul writes that "no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus is accursed!' and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit." This passage emphasizes the importance of testing prophecy and ensuring that it is in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Overall, the gift of prophecy in the New Testament is seen as a powerful means of communicating God's will and guidance to the church, and is an important part of the spiritual life of believers.