DOES THE CHURCH STILL HAVE PROPHETS LIKE THOSE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?

 

 

The New Testament often mentions that the gift of prophecy has been given to the Church (Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:27-29; 13:1-3, 8; 14:6; Ephesians 4:11). However, there are many indications that the NT prophets were different. The OT prophets often spoke in terms of, “Thus saith the Lord.” Therefore, whatever they spoke was God’s infallible Words. Consequently, they were always expected to be correct, as the Lord had warned Israel:

 

·       “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:20–22 (ESV)

 

Whatever the prophet had prophesied had to come to pass 100% percent of the time. Just one error would prove that he hadn’t spoken God’s Word. Falsely speaking God’s Word was so serious that the death of the prophet was required. However, we do not see this applying to NT prophets. Instead, the Scriptures seem to inform us that they had a different calling from the prophets of the OT:

 

·       Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1–2)

 

It also seems that the role of the NT prophet was different:

 

·       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. (1 Corinthians 14:1–3)

 

While the OT prophets highlighted the failures of the Israelites to be faithful to the Covenant of God, the NT prophets would speak for the churches’ “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.”

 

It is noteworthy that even though the office the Apostle had been designated as the first office (Ephesians 4:11), nowhere are Christians instructed to “earnestly desire” to be Apostles. Seemingly, there this office would not be available to any others after Paul. This door had been closed in the First century. Likewise, it seems that the office of the OT prophet had also been fulfilled. The prophetic calling of the NT would be a different calling. Consequently, there is no indication that NT prophets would be held to the same high standard of infallibility, and they would not be put to death when they fell short.

 

Instead, it seems that the NT prophets’ words required the approval of the Body of Christ before it could be accepted:

 

·       Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged. (1 Corinthians 14:29–31)

 

The Word that came from the proven OT prophets did not require Israel’s approval. Instead, it was to judge Israel. In contrast, the prophets of the NT spoke words for teaching and encouragement. Even when they prophesied about future event, the Church was required to test it (1 John 4:1)!

 

·       Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21; 1 Corinthians 14:29)

 

This would have also applied to Agabus who had correctly prophesied, by the Spirit, the coming famine:

·       And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). (Acts 11:28)

 

How did they know that Agabus had prophesied “by the Spirit?” At Antioch, there were also other prophets (Acts 13:1). Presumably, they would have agreed with the prophecy of Agabus as they later done regarding the choosing of Paul and Barnabas:

·       While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2–3)

Do we have this degree of spiritual discernment in the Church today??? Agabus had also prophesied Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10). How was the Church able to discern the truth of this prophecy? Perhaps because others had also been prophesying the same thing (Acts 20:23).

 

While many things remain unclear, it is clear that the Church must not be gullible but insist on evidence. Even Jesus taught that He should not be believed without supporting evidences (John 10:37-38):

 

·       If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. (John 5:31–32)

 

Jesus proceeded to cite the supporting evidence – The testimony of the Father, John the Baptist, Scripture, and His miracles. We must insist on no less!