What is prophecy in the new testament

In the New Testament, prophecy refers to the gift of speaking God's words or messages to others, often in the form of predictions, warnings, or encouragement. In the context of the New Testament, prophecy is closely tied to the work of the Holy Spirit, who inspires and empowers believers to speak God's truth.

In the New Testament, prophecy is mentioned in several passages, including:

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:10 - "to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues."
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 - "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation."
  3. Ephesians 4:11-12 - "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
  4. Revelation 10:7-11 - "But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God, just as he declared to his servants the prophets, will be fulfilled."

In the New Testament, prophecy is seen as a means of:

  1. Declaring God's will and purposes
  2. Interpreting God's actions and plans
  3. Encouraging and building up believers
  4. Warning against sin and error
  5. Proclaiming the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ

Some examples of prophecy in the New Testament include:

  1. Jesus' predictions of his own death and resurrection (e.g., Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:17-19)
  2. Peter's prophecy about the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-17)
  3. Paul's prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-14)
  4. The prophecy of the coming of the Antichrist (1 John 2:18-22, 2 John 1:7)

In the New Testament, prophecy is not limited to predicting future events, but also includes speaking God's words and messages to others in the present. It is a vital part of the life and ministry of the church, and is seen as a means of building up and encouraging believers, as well as proclaiming the good news of salvation to the world.