Review of what we have found so far: Prophecy is a given for the service of the church

1. Review of what we have found so far: • Prophecy is a given for the service of the church • There was an Old Testament Prophet who spoke God’s Words, to be believed, revered, in some cases written down (scripture) and obeyed. • Apostles in the New Testament have the same authority to speak God’s Word as OT Prophets. • Prophets in the NT or in the local churches, did not have divine authoritative words, that would have entailed “thus saith the Lord” motif, In the NT we find the command to “test” prophecy, that would not have been an OT command. Note the fruit of OT prophecy true or untrue, but not test the validity if the content.

2. Prophesy • 4through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. This apparently indicates some prophecies given by the Christians at Tyre. But what these disciples told Paul was wrong, because the narrative clearly shows that Paul was being guided by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem (see 19:21; 20:22–24; 21:14). Interpreters differ over how much of what these disciples told Paul was actually part of their prophesying (or speaking “through the Spirit”): (1) Some hold that this incident shows that there are two potential kinds of problems with early Christian prophecies: first that there could be mistakes in the prophecies themselves, and second that there could be mistakes in the prophet's own interpretation. This then would be an example of why Paul commands that prophecies must be tested, that is, to guard against both (a) possible mistakes in the prophecy itself, and (b) possible mistakes in the interpretation of the prophecy (see notes on 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20–21). (2) Other interpreters hold that, although such prophecies themselves are completely accurate (because they come “through the Spirit”), there still could be mistakes in the interpretation of the prophecy. Thus, even though the prophecy is accurate, such prophecies still need to be tested. In the first case, both the prophecy and the interpretation may be wrong; in the second case only the interpretation may be wrong. In either case, all prophecies would need to be tested, as Paul commands.

3. Prophesy • Lastly, we saw two things. The Book of Revelations is an authoritative prophecy because it is by an apostle, it is prophetic as OT largely was. • Apostolic authority trumped prophets in NT i.e. 1 Corinthians 14:37-38

4. Prophesy • Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: • A philosopher is called “a prophet of immortal nature” (Dio Chrysostom, a.d. 40–120) • A teacher (Diogenes) wants to be “a prophet of truth and candor” (Lucian of Samosata, a.d. 120–180) • Those who advocate Epicurean philosophy are called “prophets of Epicurus” (Plutarch, a.d. 50–120) • Written history is called “the prophetess of truth” (DiodorusSiculus, wrote c. 60–30 b.c.) • A “specialist” in botany is called a “prophet” (Dioscurides of Cilicia, first century a.d.) • A “quack” in medicine is called a “prophet” (Galen of Pergamum, a.d. 129–199)

5. Prophesy and Authority

6. Prophesy • As The Law also says? 1 Corinthians 14:34 • Probably the Creation of Adam before Eve in Genesis. • Cp. 1 Timothy 2:13 1 Corinthians 11:2, 8-9 • Note of importance here is that prophesy is not preaching or teaching……authoritatively.

7. Mini Biblical Theology on Prophesy ““ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; ” (Acts 2:17, ESV) “He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. ” (Acts 21:9, ESV) “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. ” (1 Corinthians 12:10, ESV)

8. Mini Biblical Theology on Prophesy “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ” (1 Corinthians 13:8, ESV) “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ” (1 Corinthians 13:9, ESV) “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ” (1 Corinthians 14:1, ESV) “On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. ” (1 Corinthians 14:3, ESV)

9. Mini Biblical Theology on Prophesy • “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ” (1 Corinthians 14:4, ESV) • “Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ” (1 Corinthians 14:6, ESV) • “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, ” (1 Corinthians 14:24, ESV) • “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, ” (1 Corinthians 14:31, ESV) • “So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ” (1 Corinthians 14:39, ESV) • “Do not despise prophecies, ” (1 Thessalonians 5:20, ESV)

10. Authoritative Prophesy • “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ” (1 Timothy 1:18, ESV) • “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. ” (1 Timothy 4:14, ESV) • “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ” (1 Peter 1:10, ESV) • “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ” (2 Peter 1:20, ESV) • “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. ” (2 Peter 1:21, ESV)