A gift of the Spirit

The Gift of Prophecy

The nine gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 · 1 Corinthians 14:3

Prophecy is a Spirit given ability to speak God's truth into a present moment so that the church is built up, encouraged, and comforted. It heads Paul's lists in more than one place, and it is always to be tested by Scripture and never set above the written Word. Like every gift, it is given for the common good of the body, not the standing of the speaker.

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.1 Corinthians 14:3 (KJV)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;Romans 12:6 (KJV)

What the gift is

Prophecy in the New Testament is not primarily prediction but proclamation, a Spirit prompted word that makes God's mind and heart known to His people. Paul gives its purpose plainly: he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. It builds up, it stirs up, and it comforts. Sometimes it may include foretelling, as when Agabus foretold a famine, but its heart is calling God's people to hear and heed Him now.

Crucially, New Testament prophecy is always to be weighed. Paul tells the church to let the prophets speak and the others judge, and to prove all things, holding fast that which is good. It never stands over Scripture; it stands under it and is tested by it. The prophet who contradicts the revealed Word, or exalts himself, or spreads fear, is not speaking for God, whatever he claims.

How it appears in the New Testament

The New Testament church knew prophets. Agabus and others are named in Acts; Philip had daughters who prophesied; the church at Antioch had prophets and teachers. At Pentecost Peter declared that the last days had come, when God would pour out His Spirit and sons and daughters would prophesy. Paul devotes a whole chapter to ordering the gift in worship, prizing it above tongues in the assembly precisely because it is understood by all and so edifies everyone.

Yet the same Paul insists on order and testing, that all things be done decently and in order, and that what is spoken be judged. The gift is honored and welcomed, and it is also carefully weighed, never received uncritically. Its whole aim is that the church, and even the outsider who feels his heart laid bare, would fall down and worship God.

How it builds up the body of Christ

A true prophetic word serves the body by speaking what people need to hear from God and could not tell themselves: strengthening the discouraged, calling the wandering back, comforting the grieving, and gently confronting sin so the church walks in the light. Because it is spoken in plain understanding rather than mystery, Paul prized it in the assembly, so that all may learn and all may be comforted.

It is never for the prophet's reputation. A word that gathers a following around the speaker, or breeds fear, or drifts from Scripture, has lost its purpose. Genuine prophecy always leaves the church more in love with God and more sure of His Word, not more dependent on a human voice.

How to recognize and use it

Those with this gift often carry a burden to speak God's truth into the moment, to say what will build up and not tear down. If that is you, saturate yourself in the Scriptures, for the Spirit who inspired the Word never speaks against it. Offer what you sense humbly and openly, welcoming the church to weigh it, as Paul commands. Aim always at edification, exhortation, and comfort.

And receive prophecy the way Scripture teaches: neither despising it nor swallowing it whole, but proving all things and holding fast the good. The measure of every word is the written Word of God, and the goal of every true prophecy is a church more devoted to Christ.

Where Christians differ, held honestly. Because prophecy is a speaking gift that claims to convey a word from God, Christians discuss carefully how it continues. Here sincere, Bible loving Christians genuinely differ, and it is worth saying so plainly. Cessationists hold that the more visibly miraculous gifts were tied to the foundational age of the apostles and to confirming the gospel before the New Testament was complete, and that they have therefore ceased, or greatly quieted, now that we have the finished Scripture. Continuationists hold that the Spirit never withdrew any gift, that the same God still gives as He wills, and that we should earnestly desire the gifts while testing everything by the Word. Godly, careful believers stand on both sides. The Living Bread takes no side in this. What every faithful reading agrees on is the purpose: the gifts are given by one Spirit to build up the church, never to exalt the person who carries them, never to rival or add to God's revealed Word, and never to be pursued apart from love.

How this gift points to Christ

The testimony of Jesus, Scripture says, is the spirit of prophecy, and so all true prophecy centers on Him. Every Spirit prompted word that edifies, exhorts, and comforts does its work by pressing Christ upon the heart, calling the church back to the Lord it loves. The prophets of old spoke of His sufferings and the glory that should follow, and New Testament prophecy still lifts up the same Savior, never a human voice. Where a word makes the church more devoted to Jesus and more sure of His Word, it breathes the true spirit of prophecy; where it draws a following to a man, it has lost Him who is its whole theme.

The more excellent way

Whatever place the gift of Prophecy holds, Paul sets one thing above every gift. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, he says, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal; and though I have all knowledge, and all faith, and have not charity, I am nothing. The gifts will one day pass away, but now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; and the greatest of these is charity.

So this gift, like all the rest, is given by one Spirit for the common good, to build up the one body of Christ, and it is nothing at all apart from love. The gifts are not for our standing but for our serving, and they all belong to Him whose body the church is. Use whatever you have been given to love one another, and to point every eye to Jesus, from whom every good gift comes and to whom every gift returns its praise.

The Giver calls you

Every gift of the Spirit comes from the risen Christ and points back to Him. The same Lord who pours out gifts on His church calls you by name to know Him, to be filled with His Spirit, and to take your place in His body. Read the Word, pray, and gather with the family of God on The Living Bread. Free, with no ads, for all people.

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Questions people ask

Does prophecy mean predicting the future?

Not mainly. In the New Testament prophecy is chiefly proclamation, a Spirit prompted word that edifies, exhorts, and comforts the church (1 Corinthians 14:3). It may at times include foretelling, but its heart is calling God's people to hear and heed Him now.

Is prophecy equal to Scripture?

No. New Testament prophecy always stands under the written Word and is to be tested by it. Paul commands that prophets be weighed and that believers prove all things. Nothing is received as from God that contradicts or adds to His revealed Word.

Should I seek the gift of prophecy?

Paul says to desire spiritual gifts, and especially that we may prophesy, for it builds up the church. Yet he frames the whole discussion with love, without which even prophecy is nothing. Desire it to serve others, never to be seen.