New Testament Prophecy

[b488]

What is it and how is it, if at all, significantly different from OT prophecy? Let's assume for the moment that this gift is 'for today' (I have to assume that there are 'prophetic cessationists' out there somewhere) How would they fit in to the church body in terms of leadership. Would this gift necessarily confer some sort of status to the person who has it? For any people who are a part of churches who have prophets: do you think that the gift of prophecy should be an identifier for a 'leader' in an assembly?

I am prompted to ask these questions from a thread that I started regarding five fold ministry churches, but anyone (of course) is welcome to weigh in on this. :smile:


Ciao!:thumb:

[Bill the Cat]

Old testament prophecy was used to tell of future events of doom, prosperity, or the coming Messiah. Today's prophecy is for exortation of the Body. We need not worry what tomorrow brings because we are in Christ. The Messiah has come and will come again, so prophecies of this nature are also unnecessary.

[John Reece]

Today @ 02:16 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=119236#post119236)
b488:

For any people who are a part of churches who have prophets: do you think that the gift of prophecy should be an identifier for a 'leader' in an assembly?

No, not at all.

There are a number of biblical criteria for leadership in the church. The pneumatikon of prophecy is not one of them.

[Gavin]

Dear b488,

First, I would recommend Wayne Grudem's book The Gift of Prophecy in I Corinthians or the more popular version The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today.

In brief my position is that the gift of prophecy such as is view in I Corinthians 14 is a revelatory phenomenon designed for the edification of the church. I agree with John that the gift does not carry authority or leadership in the church. I believe this gift is for today.

I would urge you to study I Corinthians 14 and perhaps get Grudem's book.

Blessings,
Gavin

[Robyn Banks]

b488:
What is it and how is it, if at all, significantly different from OT prophecy?
There is a great deal of continuity between NT and OT prophecy. The one significant difference is the spiritual discernment available from the Holy Spirit which has been poured out on the people.

This can be illustrated with respect to the example of Jeremiah. Although an inspired prophet, Jeremiah was unable to immediately discern whether Hananiah’s prophecy was true, before receiving a new word from the Lord. The New Testament Church has a radically new way of discerning true prophecy: spiritual discernment available in the Spirit. All Christians have been “anointed by the Holy One,” and have spiritual knowledge of who is a true prophet, being able to detect the spirit of truth from the spirit of error in people (1 John 2:20). Yet this new discernment is still not an absolute, as we are still liable to sin (1 John 1:8), and open to the possibility of deceit (1 John 2:26; 3:7; 4:6; 5:20).

Paul presents the ability to discern spirits as a gift of the Spirit for certain people (1 Cor 12:8-10); a gift which is linked to the discernment of whether a prophetic utterance is inspired by the Holy Spirit or by an evil spirit (1 Cor 12:1-3. In 1 Cor 14:37-38). Paul assumes that prophets and other charismatically endowed persons have the appropriate insight to recognise that his commands are prophetic utterances spoken with the authority of the Lord himself. This new gift is not dependent on receiving a new word from the Lord, but depends on the general spiritual gifting of the Christian. In fact, if it this discernment is not exercised, Paul warns that the Holy Spirit is thereby thwarted or quenched. The inference is that if they fail to acknowledge Paul, they are not truly prophets or people with powers of spiritual discernment (Aune, David E Prophecy in Early Christianity and the Ancient Mediterranean World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983), p221).

The Deuteronomic test of ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is echoed by Jesus, in his prophesying about the end times. Jesus warns of false prophets claiming that the Messiah has returned (Matt 24:4-5, 23-24). Paul likewise warns of false prophets saying that the day of the Lord had already arrived (2 Thess 2:1-2). But as Hal Lindsay and many others have ably demonstrated, the limitations of the ‘fulfilment test’ are greatly accentuated when prophecy is eschatological in character.

Just like in the Old Testament, deeds of power often accompany the activity of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, including prophesying, and thereby witness to prophecy’s truth (Acts 4:8, 7:55-56, 13:9-11). However, as in the Old Testament these feats are also carried out by false prophets (Matt 7:22, 24:24).




b488:
Would this gift necessarily confer some sort of status to the person who has it?
Not leadership status, no.

Robyn Banks

[darcutm]

For the most part I really agree with everything I'm reading :smile: .
I would just recommend a book that has a large section devoted to this subject. "He Gave Gifts Unto Men" by Kenneth E Hagin, is about the Prophet's, Apostle's, and Pastor's ministry...You can find it at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0892765178/ref=lib_rd_btb/102-1122516-5279358?v=glance&s=books

IN HIM

[darcutm]

Also think it necessary to point out that you mentioned the ministry gifts and the thread is called NT prophecy, but remember there is a difference between the office of a prophet and the simple gift of prophecy