Prophecy, Prophesy, Prophesying
Prophecy, Prophesy, Prophesying
signifies “the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God” (pro, “forth,” phemi, “to speak:” see PROPHET); in the NT it is used (a) of the gift, e.g., Rom 12:6; 1Co 12:10; 1Co 13:2; (b) either of the exercise of the gift or of that which is “prophesied,” e.g., Mat 13:14; 1Co 13:8; 1Co 14:6, 1Co 14:22; 1Th 5:20, “prophesying (s);” 1Ti 1:18; 1Ti 4:14; 2Pe 1:20-21; Rev 1:3; Rev 11:6; Rev 19:10; Rev 22:7, Rev 22:10, Rev 22:18-19.
“Though much of OT prophecy was purely predictive, see Mic 5:2, e.g., and cp. Joh 11:51, prophecy is not necessarily, nor even primarily, fore-telling. It is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means, Mat 26:68, it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future, see Gen 20:7; Deu 18:18; Rev 10:11; Rev 11:3.
“In such passages as 1Co 12:28; Eph 2:20, the ‘prophets’ are placed after the ‘Apostles,’ since not the prophets of Israel are intended, but the ‘gifts’ of the ascended Lord, Eph 4:8, Eph 4:11; cp. Act 13:1; the purpose of their ministry was to edify, to comfort, and to encourage the believers, 1Co 14:3, while its effect upon unbelievers was to show that the secrets of a man’s heart are known to God, to convict of sin, and to constrain to worship, 1Co 14:24-25.
“With the completion of the canon of Scripture prophecy apparently passed away, 1Co 13:8-9. In his measure the teacher has taken the place of the prophet, cp. the significant change in 2Pe 2:1. The difference is that, whereas the message of the prophet was a direct revelation of the mind of God for the occasion, the message of the teacher is gathered from the completed revelation contained in the Scriptures.” * [* From Notes on Thessalonians by Hogg and Vine, pp. 196,197.]
“of or relating to prophecy,” or “proceeding from a prophet, prophetic,” is used of the OT Scriptures, Rom 16:26, “of the prophets,” lit., “(by) prophetic (Scriptures);” 2Pe 1:19, “the word of prophecy (made more sure),” i.e., confirmed by the person and work of Christ (AV, “a more sure, etc.”), lit., “the prophetic word.”
“to be a prophet, to prophesy,” is used (a) with the primary meaning of telling forth the Divine counsels, e.g., Mat 7:22; Mat 26:68; 1Co 11:4-5; 1Co 13:9; 1Co 14:1, 1Co 14:3-5, 1Co 14:24, 1Co 14:31, 1Co 14:39; Rev 11:3; (b) of foretelling the future, e.g., Mat 15:7; Joh 11:51; 1Pe 1:10; Jude 14.