The concern was never our faith but trying to make the bible look stupid.
But if that's not your intention as you seemingly claim, not sure though since you mentioned our faith, ... the way to tell a true prophet is to see if they direct you to genuinely serve God, and not themselves by the way, while succeeding in foretelling the future.
This is the third time I have read this post, and it still gets me. What I mean is how people carry around a term and pass it on to others and it sticks with out anyone really checking the term or meaning out.
The term prophet should be understood by the vast examples of a prophet in the OT, yet it seems we cannot get beyond thinking of a prophet as a fortune teller.
Paul best defines a prophet in Corinthians 14.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. All future foretelling of OT prophecy that were not conditional were those foretelling of Messiah. All the rest were conditional, that these things would come upon them if they refused to repent.
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Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail
As with Mikes quoting of Deut. 13, prophecy it not about the foretelling of future events as much as exhortation to serve God in truth. I think we put too much emphasis on the word Prophet and not enough on the meaning to, "speak a word from God". That edifies, exhorts, and comforts.
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Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail
This is the third time I have read this post, and it still gets me. What I mean is how people carry around a term and pass it on to others and it sticks with out anyone really checking the term or meaning out.
The term prophet should be understood by the vast examples of a prophet in the OT, yet it seems we cannot get beyond thinking of a prophet as a fortune teller.
Paul best defines a prophet in Corinthians 14.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. All future foretelling of OT prophecy that were not conditional were those foretelling of Messiah. All the rest were conditional, that these things would come upon them if they refused to repent.
You are not reading everything. I already acknowledged it is simply being a prophet when you speak what God wants spoken. But the issue of THIS thread has been foretelling.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
As with Mikes quoting of Deut. 13, prophecy it not about the foretelling of future events as much as exhortation to serve God in truth. I think we put too much emphasis on the word Prophet and not enough on the meaning to, "speak a word from God". That edifies, exhorts, and comforts.
Good to see you, Loren.
Would you agree with a definition of "prophet" as one who hears from God, in some form or another, and passes the message along to others, and that such a message from God may or may not include predictions of future events?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Would you agree with a definition of "prophet" as one who hears from God, in some form or another, and passes the message along to others, and that such a message from God may or may not include predictions of future events?
I'd like to contrast this from a broader definition that my include things that don't literally originate from God for that moment, but rather are from the speaker's own mind but consistent with the Bible, and are encouragement, drawing people to God, perhaps a correction, etc. There is a place for that, I'm sure, but is it really only prophets that can do such things?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
As with Mikes quoting of Deut. 13, prophecy it not about the foretelling of future events as much as exhortation to serve God in truth. I think we put too much emphasis on the word Prophet and not enough on the meaning to, "speak a word from God". That edifies, exhorts, and comforts.
Again this thread is about prophets after making a prophetic announcement foretelling the future. Do you see that now? Actually prophecy is saying anything God directed one to say.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Again this thread is about prophets after making a prophetic announcement foretelling the future. Do you see that now? Actually prophecy is saying anything God directed one to say.
Amen, like false prophets weren't false because they always dropped the watermelon. They were false because they were putting words into god's mouth. They claimed to speak for God, but spoke their own mind.
__________________ “Burn the Boats!!!” — Hernan Cortes
Amen, like false prophets weren't false because they always dropped the watermelon. They were false because they were putting words into god's mouth. They claimed to speak for God, but spoke their own mind.
Exactly
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Would you agree with a definition of "prophet" as one who hears from God, in some form or another, and passes the message along to others, and that such a message from God may or may not include predictions of future events?
I don't believe it includes predictions of future events, period. Read the OT prophets, they did not predict future events with the exception of those events that concerned the coming of Christ. To foretell a future event the future event must come to pass as originally foretold. It is not conditional. Prophecy edifies, builds up, exhorts, and comforts.
While many OT prophesies did come to pass, it was because when warned the people did not repent, thus the conditions were not kept.
Just my thoughts.
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Study the word with and open heart For if you do, Truth Will Prevail