The gift of prophecy was the ability to receive and speak forth revelation from God. The gift of prophecy was to be used to edify, exhort, and console. This gift was critical during the Apostolic Era as the Scripture was yet to be completed. Agabus and the daughters of Philip were graced with the gift of prophecy (Acts 21:8-11).
The gift of prophecy was a sign to believers that the person with the prophecy was sent from God (1 Corinthians 14:22).
As in the Old Testament, prophecy was tested to determine if it was from God (1 Corinthians 14:29).
Connected to the gift of prophecy was the gift of distinguishing of spirits. The term distinguishing (diákrisis) means to discern, judge, or appraise. The gift enabled the users to identify the source of a prophecy and to determine if the prophecy is genuine or false. As well, the gift enabled the user to detect if someone was a false prophet. This gift was necessary before the completion of Scripture to protect the integrity of God’s revelation and to protect the early church from being led astray by false teachers and false prophets.
- On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. - Acts 21:8-10
The gift of prophecy was a sign to believers that the person with the prophecy was sent from God (1 Corinthians 14:22).
- prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. - 1 Corinthians 14:22
As in the Old Testament, prophecy was tested to determine if it was from God (1 Corinthians 14:29).
- Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. - 1 Corinthians 14:29
Connected to the gift of prophecy was the gift of distinguishing of spirits. The term distinguishing (diákrisis) means to discern, judge, or appraise. The gift enabled the users to identify the source of a prophecy and to determine if the prophecy is genuine or false. As well, the gift enabled the user to detect if someone was a false prophet. This gift was necessary before the completion of Scripture to protect the integrity of God’s revelation and to protect the early church from being led astray by false teachers and false prophets.
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