What Is a Prophet?
Session 1
Text: Deuteronomy 18:15–22
I. The Need to Define “Prophet”
- In modern church language, prophet has become a slippery term—used for preachers, fortune tellers, mystics, or anyone with strong opinions.
- Scripture, however, is far more precise. Before studying thirty prophets, we must know what a prophet is and is not.
- Deuteronomy 18:15-22 gives one of the clearest definitions, while passages throughout the OT and NT fill in the picture.
II. What a Prophet Is
1. A Prophet Is One Who Speaks the Words of God
- Deut. 18:18 — “I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”
- The prophet’s defining characteristic is not personal insight or holiness, but verbal communication from God.
- Prophets were mouthpieces of God—whether through spoken oracle, written message, or enacted sign.
Key terms:
- Hebrew נָבִיא (nābîʼ) — “one who is called/spokesman.”
- Greek προφήτης (prophētēs) — “one who speaks forth,” not merely “predicts.”
2. A Prophet Is an Authorized Messenger
- Jeremiah 1:7–9 — God sends Jeremiah and puts His words in Jeremiah’s mouth.
- Prophets were commissioned, not self-appointed.
- Their authority rested on God’s call, not popular recognition or personal gifting.
3. A Prophet Is Sometimes, But Not Always, a Predictor
- Prediction is part of prophecy but not its essence.
- Moses, Samuel, and John the Baptist gave relatively little predictive content compared to their role as spokesmen for God’s will. They reveal the Word from God, whether it be present or future.
- When they did predict, accuracy was absolute (Deut. 18:22).
4. A Prophet Is Distinct from Other Roles
- Not the same as priest (who represents the people before God).
- Not the same as king (who rules with delegated authority).
- The prophet delivers God’s word into time, often confronting kings and priests alike (e.g., Nathan before David, Elijah before Ahab).
III. What a Prophet Is Not
1. A Prophet Is Not a Mere Preacher
- While preaching may apply God’s Word, the prophet receives direct revelation.
- Many modern evangelicals use “prophet” loosely for bold preachers. That’s not biblical usage.
- Example: Amos was “no prophet, neither a prophet’s son” (Amos 7:14), yet when God called, he delivered new revelation—not simply exposition.
2. A Prophet Is Not a Fortune Teller or Mystic
- Biblical prophets didn’t gaze into crystal balls, study patterns, or deliver vague “words.”
- Their authority came from God’s direct speech, not subjective impressions or riddles.
- Balaam illustrates that even a pagan seer can utter true prophecy only when God puts words in his mouth (Num. 23:5).
3. A Prophet Is Not Infallible in Character
- Their message was inspired; their lives were not perfect.
- Jonah ran away. Balaam was greedy. Samuel misjudged Eliab.
- The test of a prophet is not moral perfection but faithfulness to deliver God’s Word accurately.
4. A Prophet Is Not a Permanent Office for Today
- Ephesians 2:20 — the church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.”
- Prophets were part of God’s revelatory foundation, not an ongoing pipeline of new revelation.
- Modern “prophetic movements” often confuse spiritual insight with prophetic office.
IV. Tests of a True Prophet (Deut. 18:20–22)
1. Source Test – Is the message from the LORD or from another source?
2. Accuracy Test – Does the prediction come to pass? If not, the prophet spoke presumptuously.
3. Doctrinal Test – Deut. 13:1–5: Even accurate predictions are rejected if they lead people to other gods or false worship.
V. Why This Definition Matters for the Series
- If we don’t define the term carefully, we’ll read modern notions back into ancient texts.
- The 30 prophets we’ll study function within this biblical framework—not as mere teachers or moral voices, but as instruments of revelation in specific times and places.
- Their roles, messages, and contexts will make more sense once “prophet” is clearly defined.
- Hebrews 1:1–2
> “God… spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets…”
>
###