Another Look at Prophets

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

ANOTHER LOOK AT PROPHETS

1 Cor 12:27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

NIV

Let’s talk again about this office of prophet or prophets. It is difficult to determine if this Greek word is plural, but it does mean to foretell. The Greek word is a compound word of two Greek words, pro, which means before or prior, and phemi which is to show or make one's thoughts known, or to speak or say. So then we get this idea of telling one’s thoughts beforehand, or before they happen, to foretell events. This is much different than the gift of prophecy as in corporate worship, when someone declares what God says. This is an actual office, a position in the church, a person selected by God, gifted by God, inspired by the Spirit to tell what is going to happen. Certainly, we have the record of these prophets of old, who were used mightily by God, who foretold of the coming of the Messiah, as well as told Israel many warnings. But why is Paul telling these Corinthians about this office of prophets? Are there still prophets? Paul lumps them into the same category with teachers, workers of miracles, healings and, helping others and, with the gift of administration, a new one, and speaking on tongues and interpreting tongues. All gifts are supposed to be present in the New Testament Church. However, the point is still the same. It is the Spirit, who determines how, when, and through whom He manifests Himself or His gifts. It is also evident we are not all the same, but each is used in a different way. But we are going to be introduced to the greater gifts, and the most excellent way. It is almost like all these gifts mentioned are just a precursor to the most excellent way and the greater gifts. We know, 1 Corinthians 13 so well, as it has been read so often at weddings and we know Paul is getting to the introduction of this most excellent way. Still, it benefits us to take another look at these mentioned gifts, because there are some new ones that were not included before. The question is still before us. Are there prophets in the church today? As we have thought before that it may well be that a preacher, during a message, may say something prophetic. But that person is the gift to the church as the pastor/teacher, not the prophet. So then could we conclude there might be some people or someone who is simply a prophet, a foretelling of what is to come, in the church today? Because Paul includes them in this letter which is a New Testament letter, in fact, a letter written after the ascension of Jesus, that the office of prophet is still at work in the New Testament, thus we should be aware that we might have contact with such a gift of the Spirit.