Prophecy, Prophesy, Prophesying

Cross-references:

• Also found in Nave's Topical Bible
• Also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary

Prophecy, Prophesy, Prophesying

1. propheteia

1. prophetikos

1. propheteuo

propheteia signifies "the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God" (pro, "forth," phemi, "to speak:" see PROPHET); in the NT it is used
(a) of the gift, e.g., Rom_12:6; 1_Cor_12:10; 1_Cor_13:2;
(b) either of the exercise of the gift or of that which is "prophesied," e.g., Matt_13:14; 1_Cor_13:8; 1_Cor_14:6,22; 1_Thess_5:20, "prophesying(s);" 1_Tim_1:18; 1_Tim_4:14; 2_Pet_1:20,21; Rev_1:3; Rev_11:6; Rev_19:10; Rev_22:7,10,18,19.

"Though much of OT prophecy was purely predictive, see Mic_5:2, e.g., and cp. John_11:51, prophecy is not necessarily, nor even primarily, fore-telling. It is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means, Matt_26:68, it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future, see Gen_20:7; Deut_18:18; Rev_10:11; Rev_11:3. ...

"In such passages as 1_Cor_12:28; Eph_2:20, the 'prophets' are placed after the 'Apostles,' since not the prophets of Israel are intended, but the 'gifts' of the ascended Lord, Eph_4:8,11; cp. Acts_13:1; ...; the purpose of their ministry was to edify, to comfort, and to encourage the believers, 1_Cor_14:3, while its effect upon unbelievers was to show that the secrets of a man's heart are known to God, to convict of sin, and to constrain to worship, 1_Cor_14:24,25.

"With the completion of the canon of Scripture prophecy apparently passed away, 1_Cor_13:8,9. In his measure the teacher has taken the place of the prophet, cp. the significant change in 2_Pet_2:1. The difference is that, whereas the message of the prophet was a direct revelation of the mind of God for the occasion, the message of the teacher is gathered from the completed revelation contained in the Scriptures." [ From Notes on Thessalonians by Hogg and Vine, pp. 196,197.]

prophetikos "of or relating to prophecy," or "proceeding from a prophet, prophetic," is used of the OT Scriptures, Rom_16:26, "of the prophets," lit., "(by) prophetic (Scriptures);" 2_Pet_1:19, "the word of prophecy (made more sure)," i.e., confirmed by the person and work of Christ (AV, "a more sure, etc."), lit., "the prophetic word."

propheteuo "to be a prophet, to prophesy," is used
(a) with the primary meaning of telling forth the Divine counsels, e.g., Matt_7:22; Matt_26:68; 1_Cor_11:4,5; 1_Cor_13:9; 1_Cor_14:1,3-5,24,31,39; Rev_11:3;
(b) of foretelling the future, e.g., Matt_15:7; John_11:51; 1_Pet_1:10; Jude 14.