Featured I Cor 14:3

To me..., in my humble opinion..., which I'll probably be shot down for and told I'm wrong..., but who cares?

It would appear to me it's all about being able to understand. To edify; to explain; to show; to bring glory to God; etc.

No?

 

The text was written to first century Corinthians.

So IMO the answer is yes; it is fortelling the future or repeating the Word.

Rob

 

In the context of the passage, look at verse 4: "he that prophesieth edifieth the whole church."

The word for prophecy in these two verses has two possible meanings: foretelling the future, or to declare something that can only be known by divine revelation; and to do so to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, and/or comfort others.

So is verse 4 talking about telling the future? Or, as Hamel stated, is it talking about teaching that which is revealed by divine revelation--specifically, the Word?

Further, look at verse 6. The dictionaries I have access to indicate this use of "prophesy" specifically means talking about the purposes of God, or the accomplishments of those works/events related to the kingdom of Christ.

If it's talking about foretelling the future, it's in relation to the coming of the Kingdom. In my be-it-ever-so-humble opinion.

 

"propheteuo" is the Greek word and it specifically means to foretell future events.

This does not mean that a prophet did not rehearse what was the current or past history related to the audience just as any preacher of the common day might. However, what separates the prophet and the preacher is the special communication God granted the prophet of specifically stating what will happen in the future.

This ability was one of many that faded as the Scriptures became complete. Prophecy, tongues... became tools that are no longer given to the assembly for the assembly has the direct word of God in written form(s).

 

Could this also mean preaching the Word through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? I have always leaned towards this myself.

 

As the resident 'baptistacostalist"...

My understanding o fthe scriptures is that at the time of the writing, the Lord was still establish doctrines within the local churches per say, so there were those who were given words from the HS same way as prophets were in OT, and those words used to encourage /exhort/edify the local assemblies, but were always to be judged by basis of the OT they had, as well as the Apostles...

Now, while there are the rare time the HS may still chosse to grant unto one words to a particular situation directly, and to be judged by the assembly, would say that the MAIN idea of this gift would be the Lord gives them insite/understanding of just how to apply the prophetic word in the Bible to specific situations/current events/society/culture!

example would be one who takes the biblical passages of the OT prophets and apply it into current events/culture, like say a Francis Schaffer was able to do!

 

No, it is not the same and should not be used as meaning the same.

"propheteuo" is the Greek word and it specifically means to foretell future events. It is NOT the same as "euaggelizo" nor "kerusso."

The word is not the same for preach, "euaggelizo"- preach the gospel and "kerusso" - to herald divine truth. Paul in the same book the very next chapter repeatedly uses these two words in such verses as, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached (euaggelizo) unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;..." and in the other verses such as, "Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach (kerusso), and so ye believed."

Preaching and prophesying are two completely different gifts.

One is still given (preaching) the other (prophecy) has been done away.

 

Paul was VERY specific in his use of prophecy, versus preaching or preach in 1 Corinthians.

Had he meant the edification, exhort, edify, and other such terms as he did use in the next chapter (15), he would have used a different word - which he did use - two of them.

Paul wrote, in chapter 14, specifically about the ONLY gift that distinguished the preacher from prophet. In doing so, he used a word that can ONLY mean to speak specifically of an unknown future event(s) just as OT prophets did.

Of COURSE the prophets could also preach (if they were men), but no preachers were prophets unless given the specific gift of a sign and declaring the future under the command of God. There is a case to be made for women prophets which would further separate the two definitions by who was qualified - for no woman was to be a preacher (except in the home ).

 

The sign gift to be able to proclaim future events, to have that enabling though was not needed after the canon of scripture, so the "prophetic" function was temp basis, and that after the scriptures completed, would be more as in the insight to understand and apply the prophetic word already established!

 

There is no room for such an application.

The Holy Spirit is given to every believer. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to bring insight, understanding, and appropriate application and guidance to each believer.

There is no "prophetic" function nor application of prophecy to the church.

Part of the deception of the last days is the rise of false prophets. Remember that it is a false prophet that aids the dragon (Satan).

If one were to accept that prophecy were still in use - even in some form, the deception would make easier in roads into the believers. BUT, believers who understand there is NO prophet will not be deceived.

 

As a former pentacostalist , would say that they would see a diiference between office of a prophet and gift to prophecy...


prophet would be one gifted to actually give forth revelation, word of the Lord to the church...

Ungoing speaking by God to his people today, giving further insight/direction from God to the Church...

I deny that, as roles of both Apostle/prophet ended at end of Apostolic Age!

Also do see the HS at times though able to give one gifted in such to give forth something to edify/encourage/ give understanding....

last week at end of service, as part of pastoral prayer team...

man in our church came forward for prayer, and afterwards , he was asking for prayers to be healed, as he had found out now has stomach turmor...

We were just talking with him, and the Lord brought verses to my attention, and told him that the Lord can heal him, but that the Lord will always do what is for his glory and our best! that he wants him to use that illness as witness to others...

he than said our pastor said exact same thing to him, same verses, and that he wanted to say that he had been praying with others on Facebook. he has had over 1200 persons join his group since being ill, and said that just fd out last sat her breast cancer had gone away from latest testing!

Might be terminology, as many times its the HS giving us specific verses to apply to specific situations, and with some of His insight/wisdom to give with it!

mainly though, that gift for today will be gifting one to expound and apply the prophetic element of the word of God!

 

Thanks Aged, This clarifies and explains it well.[/QUOTE]

except that there is NO verse that states spiritual gifts fully ceased ...

Think changed from giving forth revelation from lord to more of an edification/guiding/exhorting etc mode!

 

About 98% of prophecy throughout the Bible is preaching. About 2% is foretelling.

 

Do you mean as found in Romans 10:14-15, "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!"

 

didn't the OT prophets themselves have both asopect to taking and applying word of the Lord to their immediate situation, and to opredict future events?

Why not the first still in play?

 

Yes at times, but not always.

 

It's what Philip's daughters did (Acts 21:9)

 

Before we had the written Word, we had Prophets who spoke God's word to us. Many times their words were authenticated by miracles, signs and wonders. But in the first century the bible, as we accept it now was completed. No Prophets exist because they could write and add to the Inspired Word. So what do the prophets of 1 Corinthians 14:3 do? They teach God's word in truth. They do not introduce destructive heresies. They build up the Church.

Since anyone can read and offer their view of what a passage actually means, a prophet would offer a view that would be close enough to the truth to build up as opposed to tear down those who accept the view.

In summary, 1 Cor. 14:3 is telling us of those who speak the truth of God's word. This has absolutely nothing to do with divine inspiration to relate to men God's new declarations of the end from the beginning.

Baptists believe in scripture alone as our authority, so guys who claim they are giving us new revelation are not Baptists.