The Role of a New Testament Prophet

[Godsdrummer]

11/12/2010

The ministry of Prophet


I have had much debate in my mind about the ministry and just how much authority they should wield, and if they have any authority at all.

Right now the subject of a prophet is the center of my mind, in discussions in the recent past I have found that the idea that a prophet is one that tells of future events and only tells future events has become a pill that I refuse to swallow.

Some one ask me a few days ago why could I now accept bible examples to broaden my knowledge? The question came as I quoted Paul's definition of a prophet, given in Corithians.

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Let me look at the Hebrew and Greek definitions. I am just going to use Strongs at this time. G4396
προφήτης
prophētēs
prof-ay'-tace
From a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet: - prophet.

H5030
נביא
nâbı̂y'
naw-bee'
From H5012; a prophet or (generally) inspired man: - prophecy, that prophesy, prophet.

Why we can't get away from the Websters definition I can only imagine. I think it is we are so worked up about future events as at least half the church world believes in a catalistic end of the world.

Not helping the situation has been the doctrine of "end time teaching" in the last 200 years. More commonly known as dispensationalist, or futurist.

The fact is the primary bible definition of the word prophet is a inspired speaker. All this simply means is that God inspires the words he speaks. Maybe the examples we have in OT times are of the man of God comming with warnings of comming judgment.

Funny thing is we have many that fulfill the actions and examples of a prophet today, we just don't call them prophets, we call them preachers. There is only one true prophecy in OT given by men, those are the prophecys concerning the comming of Christ, the Messiah. All the rest of the messages to the people are just that. Messages of comming punishment for disobedience. These in my mind cannot be prophecys by our definition for the simple reason that God already told the people that he would bring these exact judgments on the people if they disobeyed his law. Further the warnings came in plenty of time for them to repent and by example and God's word lets us know had they repented God would have stayed the judgment.

Now in my understanding prophecy of future events cannot and will not be changed. Or else they would not be prophecy.

The question then is what is prophecy today? Or ever has been. We attend a church that calls many by the title prophet, they are simply those that speak to edification, exhortation, and comfort, when the spirit moves there may be several that speak a word to the congregation, on occasion there may be a word to an individual. This happened to me on two occasions, on the first occasion, there was a change in my life that came that I have never experience in all my years of being in church.

The only thing I can say is experience along with study of God's word has confirmed to me the change in the way I see scripture. I know this goes against the teachings and traditions I have always preached and taught, but I have to go with the truth of the word over traditions and teachings of man. Am I wrong? I have been before and I will be again, I just ask before one dismisses these ideas as false doctrine on principle, to honestly ask the hard questions I have ask myself in the last ten years. Just because a teaching has been accepted and been around for a generation or two does not make it true.