What is a prophet in the Bible?

Answer

In a general sense, a prophet is a person who speaks God’s truth to others. The English word “prophet” comes from the Greek word “prophetes,” which can mean “one who speaks forth” or “advocate.” Prophets are also referred to as “seers” due to their spiritual insight or their ability to foresee the future.

In the Bible, prophets often had both a teaching and revelatory role, proclaiming God’s truth on contemporary issues while also disclosing details about the future. For instance, Isaiah’s ministry addressed both the present and the future. He boldly preached against the corruption of his time “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.”, (Isaiah 1:4) and conveyed grand visions of Israel’s future “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”, (Isaiah 25:8).

Prophets had the responsibility of faithfully conveying God’s Word to the people. They played a crucial role in guiding the nation of Israel and establishing the church. God’s household is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” “and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;”, (Ephesians 2:20).

The Bible mentions more than 133 named prophets, including 16 women. Additionally, numerous others prophesied, such as the 70 elders of Israel.

«And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spoke unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. », (Numbers 11:25) and the 100 prophets rescued by Obadiah «for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) », (1 Kings 18:4). The first named prophet in the Bible is Abraham. In Genesis 20:7 God spoke to Abimelech in a dream, saying, “Now then, return [Abraham’s] wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you will live.” God had revealed Himself to Abraham on numerous occasions.

Jacob and Joseph, descendants of Abraham, both had dreams regarding the future that could be categorized as prophetic. Moses was called a “man of God” and was considered a great prophet «And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, », (Deuteronomy 34:10). Joshua and many of the judges served as prophets, with the last judge, Samuel, hearing the voice of God as a young boy «that the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. », (1 Samuel 3:4). He would later anoint David, who served as both king and prophet in Israel.

The time of Elijah and Elisha was marked by a high level of prophetic activity. In fact, a school for prophets thrived during their lifetimes «And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbor in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. », See 1 Kings 20:35. Both Elijah and Elisha performed many miracles as well.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist foretold the Messiah, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,” (Matthew 3:1). Jesus Himself came as a prophet, priest, king, and Messiah, fulfilling many of the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.

The early church also included prophets. For example, Ananias was given a prophecy about the apostle Paul’s future (Acts 9:10-18). Acts 21:9 mentions four daughters of Philip who could prophesy. Prophecy is listed as a spiritual gift in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. In the end times, two “witnesses” will prophesy from Jerusalem (Revelation 11).

Usually, the prophets God sends are despised, and their message goes unheeded. Isaiah described his nation as a “rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions’” (Isaiah 30:9-10). Jesus lamented that Jerusalem had killed the prophets God sent to them, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”, (Luke 13:34).

Of course, not everyone who “speaks forth” a message is actually a prophet of God. The Bible warns against false prophets who claim to speak for God but who actually deceive the people they purport to inform. King Ahab kept 400 such false prophets in his

Employ to tell him what he wanted to hear (2 Chronicles 18:4; cf: 2 Timothy 4:3). In the New Testament, we have many warnings against false prophets. Jesus taught, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” «Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.», (Matthew 7:15). He later noted that, in the end times, “false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” «For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.», (Matthew 24:24). Revelation speaks of a false prophet who will arise in the Tribulation and deceive people around the world (Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10). To avoid being led astray, we must always “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” «Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.», (1 John 4:1).

A true prophet of God will be committed to speaking God’s truth. He or she will never contradict God’s revealed Word. A true prophet will say, with the prophet Micaiah just before his fateful confrontation with Ahab, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says” «And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.», (2 Chronicles 18:13).