10) Prophesy

Definition: Supernatural, Holy Spirit given utterance in a known tongue (language) for edification, exhortation, or comfort of a person(s) for the future. Preaching is not the same as prophesying.

1 Corinthians 14:3-4 (KJV) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Something All Christians Should Seek to Do

1 Corinthians 14:1 (KJV) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:31 (KJV) For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

1 Corinthians 14:39 (KJV) Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Greek Word Study: G4395 — propheteuo

Thayer Definition:

  1. to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspiration, to predict
    • 1a) to prophesy
    • 1b) with the idea of foretelling future events pertaining especially to the kingdom of God
    • 1c) to utter forth, declare, a thing which can only be known by divine revelation
    • 1d) to break forth under sudden impulse in lofty discourse or praise of the divine counsels
      • 1d1) under like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others
    • 1e) to act as a prophet, discharge the prophetic office

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4396

Citing in TDNT: 6:781, 952

Robertson’s Word Pictures (RWP) Commentary

1 Corinthians 14:3:

  • Edification (oikodomen) — Building up.
  • Comfort (paraklesin) — Encouragement, calling to one’s side.
  • Consolation (paramuthian) — Old word (from para, muthos, paramutheomai; 1 Thessalonians 2:12), nowhere else in the N.T., but paramuthion in Philippians 2:1 with paraklesis as here. Edification, cheer, and incentive are found in these words.

Scriptures on Prophecy in the Old and New Covenants

Old Covenant

Numbers 11:27 (KJV) And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

1 Samuel 10:6 (KJV) And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

New Covenant

Acts 2:17 (KJV) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Acts 19:6 (KJV) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Acts 21:10 (KJV) And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

1 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kind of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 13:9 (KJV) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (KJV) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:3-5 (KJV) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (KJV) But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1 Corinthians 14:39 (KJV) Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak with tongues.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (KJV) Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Expanded Passages

Eldad and Medad Prophesied in the Camp

Numbers 11:25-29 (KJV) And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake 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. But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Saul Prophesied

1 Samuel 10:9-13 (KJV) And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same places answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

John the Baptist’s Disciples Prophesied

Acts 19:4-7 (KJV) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.

Philip the Evangelist’s Daughters Did Prophesy

Acts 21:8-9 (KJV) And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

End of Lesson

Students, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what gifts you have, and then allow them to operate in your life so you can bless others. God bless you each one.

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Thank you and God bless you,

Sister Phyllis