Prophet (4396)(prophetes from próphemi = literally to tell beforehand in turn from pró = before, in front of, forth, on behalf of + phemí = speak, tell) is primarily a forth-teller or one who speaks out God's message, primarily to their own generation, usually always calling the people to God's truth for them at that moment, often using the phrase "Thus saith the Lord." The prophet is one who speaks before in the sense of proclaim, or the one who speaks for, i.e., in the Name of (God). "As distinct from the sacral figures of pagan antiquity the biblical prophet is not a magician. He does not force God. On the contrary, he is under divine constraint. It is God Who invites, summons, and impels him--e.g., Jer 20:7" (Lamorte and Hawthorne)
Although we commonly think of the prophet as predicting future events (foretelling) generally this was secondary to his work of forth-telling. When they functioned as predictors or prognosticators, the Biblical prophets foretold the future with 100 percent accuracy. And so if they were correct on the first coming of Messiah, they will be correct on His second coming and on the coming of the anti-christ. In sum, forth-telling dealt with current events and fore-telling with future events, but in both the goal is the same -- to call us to trust the Lord and submit to His will for our lives, living in conformity with His Word.
Lexham Bible - Prophetes is someone who is specially endowed or enabled to receive and deliver direct revelation of God's will.
Prophetes - Prophets and the prophetic gift acquire a unique function in the New Testament. To a certain extent the prophets of the New Testament and the prophetic function are modeled after the Old Testament prophets. They share many features as well as the same title. The prophets speak as inspired by the Spirit of God; likewise, revelation occurs through the same channel (1Corinthians 13:2). God's purpose to save Gentiles was preached by the Old Testament prophets even before the New Testament. In the New Testament this fact is revealed not only by the apostles but by the prophets as well (Ephesians 3:5). (The Complete Biblical Library Old and New Testament)
Eerdman's Dictionary - A religious intermediary (Heb. nabi; Gk. prophetes) whose function is to carry messages back and forth between human beings and a deity. The OT refers to a number of figures as prophets. Fifteen of these are associated with written collections that bear their names - the books from Isaiah through Malachi, excluding Daniel. References to others appear in the prophetic and Deuteronomistic history books. These include Nathan (2Sa 7, 12; 1Kgs. 1), Gad (1 Sam. 22:5; 11" class="scriptRef">2 Sam. 24:11), Ahijah (1Kgs. 11:29; 14:2, 18), Elijah (1Kgs. 17-2 Kgs. 2), Elisha (2Kgs. 2-9), Micah (1Kgs. 22), Jonah (2 Kgs. 14:25), Huldah (22:14), and Hanani (Jer. 28). These books also refer generically to prophets whom they do not name (1 Sam. 28:6; 1 Kgs. 13; 2 Kgs. 17:13, 23; 21:10; 23:2; 24:2; Amos 2:11-12; Mic. 3:5-6, 11; Jer. 14:13-16; 23:9-22), and sometimes these operate in groups (1Sam. 10:5, 10-12; in 1 Kgs. 22 there are 400). The story of Elijah's contest with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of Anat indicates that prophets of other deities than Yahweh could be found in Israel (1 Kgs. 18).
Webster's 1828 - 1. One that foretells future events; a predicter; a foreteller.
2. In Scripture, a person illuminated, inspired or instructed by God to announce future events; as Moses, Elijah, David, Isaiah, &c.
3. An interpreter; one that explains or communicates sentiments. Ex. 7.
4 One who pretends to foretell; an imposter; as a false prophet. Acts 13.
School of the prophets, among the Israelites, a school or college in which young men were educated and qualified for public teachers. These students were called sons of the prophets.
Simply put, prophetes in Scripture is one who speaks for God, as His mouthpiece so to speak (referring of course to true not false prophetes) to men, communicating His truth to them.
MacArthur - Prophetes is "one who speaks out." We think of a prophet as somebody who says "In three weeks the sky is going to fall." It actually wasn't until medieval times that the word prophet became connected with the idea of prediction in the English language. It was always connected with the idea of speaking forth. The prophet was someone who gave God a voice in the world.
Analytical Lexicon - (1) generally one who speaks for God, proclaiming what God wants to make known; used of Old Testament prophetic personalities (Mt 2.23), of John the Baptist (Mt 14.5), of Jesus (Mt 21.11), of believers endowed with the gift of prophecy (Acts 15.32; Eph 4.11), and once of a pagan prophet (Titus 1.12); (2) the pro- prefix may indicate either a sense of place (before, in front of, publicly) or time (previously, in advance), and the context must be used to determine the presence of either or both elements; (a) with the prefix primarily of place, the prophet is one who declares God's message publicly as a forth teller, as teacher, admonisher, preacher (1Cor 14.29); (b) with the prefix denoting time, the prophet is a foreteller with special knowledge of the future (Mt 24.15); (c) the Christian prophet is one with a special gift and calling to proclaim the divine message, interpret the times, and urge people to believe in Christ for salvation (Eph 3.5); (3) plural "the prophets" collectively, as a group the prophets (Mt 5.12); by metonymy, for their writings the prophetic books, the prophets, what the prophets wrote (Acts 24.14); idiomatically, of all the sacred writings of the Old Testament, literally the law and the prophets, i.e. the Scriptures (Mt 7.12)
TDNT on Secular Prophets - prophets in the Greek world are people who declare things imparted by the gods in direct inspiration or through signs, their task being one of interpretation. Oracle prophets proclaim the will or counsel of the gods in answer to direct questions that cover the whole range of private, political, and cultic life. Human criteria control the selection of oracle prophets, who usually come from higher social classes, and even their inspiration tends to be induced by human initiative. Oracle prophets enjoy high esteem and have official positions, so that they may often be asked to lead delegations etc. In some cases the verb propheteúo may include stating and presenting the question.
Vincent on prophetes - The popular conception of a prophet is limited to his foretelling future events. This is indeed included in the term, but does not cover its meaning entirely. The word is from phemi, to speak, and pro, before, in front of. This meaning of the preposition may have reference to time, viz., before, beforehand; or to place, viz., in front of, and so, publicly; and this latter meaning, in turn, easily runs into that of in behalf of; for. The prophet is, therefore, primarily, one who speaks standing before another, and thus forming a medium between him and the hearer. This sense runs naturally into that of instead of. Hence it is the technical term for the interpreter of a divine message. So Plato: "For this reason it is customary to appoint diviners or interpreters to be judges of the true inspiration. Some persons call them diviners, seers (???????); they do not know that they are only repeaters of dark sayings and visions, and are not to be called diviners at all, but interpreters (????????) of things divine" ("Timaeus," 72). Similarly of an advocate to speak for, or instead of one. The central idea of the word is, one to whom God reveals himself and through whom he speaks. The revelation may or may not relate to the future. The prophet is a forth-teller, not necessarily a foreteller. The essence of the prophetic character is immediate intercourse with God. One of the Hebrew names for "prophet," and, as some maintain, the earlier name, signified a shewer or seer. See 1 Sam. 9:10; and in 1 Cor. 14:26-30, Paul shows that revelation stands in necessary connection with prophesying. (From Luke 7 - Vincent's Word Studies)
Barclay - Prophet means both a fore-teller and a forth-teller. They foretold the future; but even more they forth told the will of God. They had no settled sphere; they were not attached to any one church. They were held in the highest honour. The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles which dates to about A. D. 100, contains the first service order book of the Church. The order for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is laid down, but then it is said that the prophets are to be allowed to conduct the service as they will. Men knew that they had special gifts. But they had special dangers too. The career of prophet was one which a man might undertake not from the highest but from the lowest of motives. The false prophet existed, the man who simply battened on the charity of the Church. The same Teaching of the Twelve Apostles warns against the prophet who in a vision asks for money or for a meal; it instructs that prophets should always be given hospitality for one night but says that if they desire to stay longer without working they are false prophets. (Note on Acts 11:27)....Prophets and teachers had different functions. The prophets were wandering preachers who had given their whole lives to listening for the word of God then taking that word to their fellow men. The teachers were the men in the local churches whose duty it was to instruct converts in the faith. A prophet points out to a man or a nation what is wrong; but he does so not to push them into despair but to point the way to cure and to amendment and to rightness of life (Note on Acts 13:4)....(The blind man who received sight) He went on to call Jesus a prophet. When asked his opinion of Jesus in view of the fact that he had given him his sight, his answer was: "?He is a prophet?" (verse ?17?). Now a prophet is a man who brings God's message to men. "?Surely the Lord God does nothing,?" said Amos, "?without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets?" (?Amos 3:7?). A prophet is a man who lives close to God and has penetrated into his inner councils. When we read the wisdom of the words of Jesus, we are bound to say: "?This is a prophet!?" Whatever else may be in doubt, this is true-if men, followed the teachings of Jesus, all personal, all social, all national, all international problems would be solved. If ever any man had the right to be called a prophet, Jesus has. ...They brought the man and examined him. When he was asked his opinion of Jesus, he gave it without hesitation. He said that Jesus was a prophet. In the Old Testament a prophet was often tested by the signs he could produce. Moses guaranteed to Pharaoh that he really was God's messenger by the signs and wonders which he performed (?Exodus 4:1-17?). Elijah proved that he was the prophet of the real God by doing things the prophets of Baal could not do (?1 Kings 18?). No doubt the man's thoughts were running on these things when he said that in his opinion Jesus was a prophet. (Note on John 9)
Wuest - The prophetes (prophet) is the outspeaker; he who speaks out the counsel of God with the clearness, energy and authority which spring from the consciousness of speaking in God's name, and having received a direct message from Him to deliver. Of course all this appears in weaker and indistincter form in classical Greek, the word never coming to its full rights until used of the prophets of the true God.. From signifying . the interpreter of the gods, or of God, the word abated a little of the dignity of its meaning, and prophetes (prophet) was no more than as interpreter in a more general sense; but still of the good and true.. But it needs not to follow further the history of the word, as it moves outside the circle of Revelation. Neither indeed does it fare otherwise within this circle. Of the prophetes (prophet) alike of the Old Testament and of the New we may with the same confidence affirm that he is not primarily, but only accidentally, one who foretells things future; being rather one who, having been taught of God, speaks out his will (Deut. 18:18; Isa. 1; Jer. 1; Ezek. 2; 1Cor. 14:3)....Even within the sphere of heathenism itself, the superior dignity of the prophetes (prophet) to the mantis (one who divines, a seer, a presager, a foreboder) was recognized; and recognized on these very grounds. Thus there is a well-known passage in the Timaeus of Plato . , where exactly for this reason, that the mantis (one who divines, a seer) is one in whom all discourse of reason is suspended, who, as the word itself implies, more or less rages, the line is drawn broadly and distinctly between him and the prophetes (prophet), the former being subordinated to the latter, and his utterances only allowed to pass after they have received the seal and approbation of the other.. The truth which the best heathen philosophy had a glimpse of here, was permanently embodied by the Christian Church in the fact that, while it assumed the propheteuo (to prophecy) to itself, it relegated the manteuomai (to divine) to that heathenism which it was about to displace and overthrow." (Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament)
Schenck - One significant aspect of prophecy is to warn of what will happen if sin does not stop. A prophet might also serve to reveal new directions in which God wants His people to go.
Many but not all of the NT uses of prophetes refer to a person in the OT who spoke under divine influence and inspiration, foretelling future events or exhorting, reproving, and threatening individuals or nations as the ambassador of God and the interpreter of His will to men. Hence the prophet spoke not his own thoughts but what he received from God, retaining, however, his own consciousness and self-possession (Ex 7:1; 2Pe 1:20, 21; esp 1Co 14:32).
The prophets in Eph 2:20; 3:5 refer to those prophetes in the NT whose teaching (along with the apostles) served as the foundation of the NT church. This group of prophetes is also mentioned in Ep 4:11 and 1Co12:28 as those who God's Spirit uses to edify the Church. Zodhiates adds that "NT prophets were for the Christian church what OT prophets were for Israel. They maintained intact the immediate connection between the church and the God of their salvation. They were messengers or communicators. Such prophets were not ordained in local churches nor do they have successors."
In a general sense prophetes referred to any friend of God to whom He makes known His will, such as Abraham (Ge 20:7) and the patriarchs ( Ps 105:15).
Thayer - In the NT "one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence, his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially future events, and in p*articular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation.
Wayne Detzler - In ancient Greek the word "prophet" referred to a public proclamation. So anyone who made a public proclamation was acting as a "prophet." Later the word was connected to a religious declaration, such as the interpretation of the oracle at Delphi. Those who spoke on behalf of the oracle were called prophets. There were four characteristics of these people. First, they were not responsible for the content, which they passed on unchanged. Second, they gave advice only when asked. Third, they were relevant to the needs of the petitioner. Fourth, the prophet was called by the institution of the oracle, not by any specific pagan god. The Septuagint Greek Old Testament had two kinds of prophets. There were speaking prophets (as Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha) and writing prophets (as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Amos). Two criteria were set down to prove the truth of a prophet. First, he had to speak the truth (Deut. 18:22). Second, he must not mislead the people away from Jehovah God (13:1-5). BIBLE USAGE - The words pertaining to prophecy occur no fewer than 200 times in the New Testament. There are 5 specific cases in which these words are used. First, they refer to Old Testament prophets. Jesus spoke often of the persecution which was poured out on Old Testament prophets (Matt. 23:31; 24" class="scriptRef">Luke 4:24). Matthew likewise quoted the prophets frequently with regard to the birth and ministry of Jesus (Matt. 1:22; 2:17). The apostles also saw Christ as the fulfillment of messianic prophecies (Acts 3:18, 21). Likewise, Christ was the epitome of revelation, which began in the time of the prophets (Heb. 1:1-2; 11" class="scriptRef">1 Peter 1:10-11). Second, John the Baptist was seen as a prophet. Christ called him the greatest prophet, the "super prophet" (Matt. 11:8, 11). Likewise the disciples classified John the Baptist as one of the prophets (16:14; 17:9-13; Mark 8:28). John the Baptist was expected as an indicator of the incarnation of Messiah (Luke 7:20). Third, Jesus was called the Prophet. He was compared with the great prophets of the Old Testament (Mark 6:15). He was the prophet who was compared in significance with Moses, though in reality He far outshone Moses (Acts 3:22; 7:37). The Jews believed that the messianic age would be ushered in by a great prophet, and Christ filled that role completely. Fourth, on some occasions believers were especially enabled to prophesy. This occurred during the time of Christ. For instance, when Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth prophesied (Luke 1:41-55). At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zacharias also prophesied (1:67-79). When Jesus was presented in the temple, Simeon prophesied that Maly would suffer anguish (2:25-33). There were special occasions when the Holy Spirit came upon believers. Fifth, by the same token, some in the early church had the gift of prophecy. For instance, Agabus prophesied the persecution against Paul (Acts 21:10-14). At the same place Paul met the four prophetess daughters of Philip the evangelist (21:9). To the Corinthians Paul declared that certain Christians had the gift of 322 prophecy (1 Cor. 14:3-5, 24). Actually Paul preferred this gift over the ecstatic gift of tongues. The church was built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, all of whom presented God's message (Eph. 2:20). In short, the gift of prophecy existed during New Testament times. A prophet sometimes foretold coming events. If he was a true prophet, his predictions came to pass. A prophet sometimes also forcefully declared the message of God. If he was a true prophet, he led people toward God, not away from Him. ILLUSTRATIONS - A prophet is preeminently a man of God. Concerning this remarkable class of people, Benjamin N. Cardozo claimed: "The prophet and the martyr do not see the hooting throng. Their eyes are fixed on the eternities." In fact, because their heads are in heaven, their feet sometimes float above the ground. Nevertheless their message is essential to survival in time and eternity. Writing on the same subject, Raphael H. Levine referred to the Old Testament prophets as men of vision, when he said: "The Hebrew prophets were .. . primarily exhorters, interpreters of the will of God ... men impelled by their vision of God as a God of justice, holiness, love, and the one and only God in a polytheistic world." Famous archeologist William Foxwell Albright (1891-1971) underlined the biblical requirements of a prophet: "Fulfillment of prophecies was only one important element in the validation of a `true' prophet. More important still was the moral and religious content of a prophet's message." No prophet of God would or could convey an ungodly message. Prophets were reliable not because of their intelligence. Neither was it their communication skills which made them prophets. They spoke by direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. About this aspect the famed Dutch theologian and statesman, Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), said: "Inspiration is the name of that all-comprehensive operation of the Holy Spirit whereby He has bestowed on the church a complete and infallible Scripture." In our day there has been much emphasis on the need for prophetic preaching, which speaks specifically and authoritatively to the needs of our times. Once Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) of Westminster Chapel in London was addressing a group of ministers, of which I was a part. In all seriousness he said: "Gentlemen, the day of the pastor is gone. The church today does not need mere pastors, but rather prophets who confidently can say: `Thus saith the Lord.' " Along the same lines David Watson wrote concerning prophetic preaching: "One of the most urgent needs of the church is to know what the Spirit of God is saying to His people today. There is therefore a 'particularity' about prophecy. It is a particular word inspired by God, given to a particular person or group of persons, at a particular moment, for a particular purpose" (David Watson, I Believe in the Church [London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1982], p. 258).(New Testament words in today's language)
Zodhiates - The office of a prophet should not be confused with prophecy or the gift of prophecy which pertains to all believers (1Co 13:8; 14:3; 1Ti 1:18; 4:14; Rev 11:6). Hence, the significant admonition in 1Th 5:20, "do not despise (a command) prophetic utterances." One thing must be remembered, namely, that he who prophesies is not necessarily a prophet in the OT or NT sense of a restricted office.
Prophetes in the NT was used of those who under divine influence served as ambassadors of God, especially as teachers sent from God - Mt 10:41; 13:57; Mk 6:4; 24" class="scriptRef">Luke 4:24; 13:33; Jn 7:52; Rev 11:10; 16:6; 18:20, 24. Prophetes is used to describe John the Baptist (Mt 11:9; 14:5; Mk 11:32; Luke 1:76; 20:6). Prophetes is used in the Lxx of Deut 18:15 as a prophecy of Messiah (Christ, the Prophet - Torrey's Topic) and alluded to in Jn 1:21, 25; 6:14, Jn 7:40; Acts 3:22, 23; 7:37. Jesus is referred to as prophetes in the Gospels (Mt 21:11, 46; Luke 7:16; 24:19; Jn 9:17)
OT prophets mentioned in the NT are...
Isaiah (Mt 1:22; 3:3; Luke 3:4; Jn 1:23)
Jeremiah (Mt 2:17; 27:9)
Joel (Acts 2:16)
Micah (Mt 2:5);
Jonah (Mt 12:39; Luke 11:29);
Zechariah (Mt 21:4);
Daniel (Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14);
Samuel (Acts 13:20);
David (Acts 2:30);
Elisha (Luke 4:27);
Asaph (Mt 13:35);
Balaam (2Pe 2:16 [Nu 22:1ff]).
Vine - "one who speaks forth or openly", "a proclaimer of a divine message," denoted among the Greeks an interpreter of the oracles of the gods. In the Sept. it is the translation of the word roeh, "a seer;" 1Samuel 9:9 , indicating that the "prophet" was one who had immediate intercourse with God. It also translates the word nabhi, meaning "either one in whom the message from God springs forth" or "one to whom anything is secretly communicated." Hence, in general, "the prophet" was one upon whom the Spirit of God rested, Numbers 11:17-29 , one, to whom and through whom God speaks, Numbers 12:2; Amos 3:7,8 . In the case of the OT prophets their messages were very largely the proclamation of the Divine purposes of salvation and glory to be accomplished in the future; the "prophesying" of the NT "prophets" was both a preaching of the Divine counsels of grace already accomplished and the foretelling of the purposes of God in the future. In the NT the word is used (a) of "the OT prophets," e.g., Matthew 5:12; Mark 6:15; Luke 4:27; John 8:52; Romans 11:3; (b) of "prophets in general," e.g., Matthew 10:41; 21:46; Mark 6:4; (c) of "John the Baptist," Matthew 21:26; Luke 1:76; (d) of "prophets in the churches," e.g., Acts 13:1; 32" class="scriptRef">15:32; 21:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28,29; 14:29,32,37; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:11; (e) of "Christ, as the aforepromised Prophet," e.g., John 1:21; 6:14; 7:40; Acts 3:22; 7:37 , or, without the article, and, without reference to the Old Testament, Mark 6:15 , Luke 7:16; in Luke 24:19 it is used with aner, "a man;" John 4:19; 9:17; (f) of "two witnesses" yet to be raised up for special purposes, Revelation 11:10,18; (g) of "the Cretan poet Epimenides," Titus 1:12; (h) by metonymy, of "the writings of prophets," e.g., Luke 24:27; Acts 8:28 . (Prophet - Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words)
Trench discusses the synonyms propheteuo (4395 - prophesy) and manteuomai (3132-Tell Fortunes) writing that "Although propheteuo is used frequently in the New Testament, manteuomai is used only in Acts 16:16, where a girl possessed with a "spirit of divination" or "spirit of Apollo" is said to have "brought her masters much profit by for-tune-telling [manteuomene]. "The absence of manteuomai elsewhere in the New Testament and its use here are noteworthy. (See full discussion on Trench's Synonyms of the New Testament)
NT Occurrences of Prophetes - 144x in 138v - Usage: prophet (63), prophets (81).
Matthew 1:22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet (speaking of Isaiah Mt 1:23)
Matthew 2:5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."
17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
Matthew 3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
Matthew 4:14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
Matthew 5:12 "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Matthew 7:12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."
Matthew 10:41 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Matthew 11:9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
Matthew 12:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;
Matthew 13:17 "For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."
57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household."
Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.
Matthew 16:14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
Matthew 21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."
26 "But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet."
46 When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet.
Matthew 22:40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 23:29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
30 and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
31 "So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
34 "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,
37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Matthew 26:56 "But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
Matthew 27:9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel;
Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
Mark 6:4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household."
15 But others were saying, "He is Elijah." And others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."
Mark 8:28 They told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets."
Mark 11:32 "But shall we say, 'From men '?"-- they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.
Luke 1:70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old--
76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
Luke 3:4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
Luke 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
24 And He said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.
27 "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."
Luke 6:23 "Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
Luke 7:16 Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"
26 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."
Luke 9:8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.
19 They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again."
Luke 10:24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."
Luke 11:47 "Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them.
49 "For this reason also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute,
50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,
Luke 13:28 "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.
33 "Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.
34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!
Luke 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'
31 "But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Luke 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
Luke 20:6 "But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."
Luke 24:19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
John 1:21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."
23 He said, "I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said."
25 They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
John 4:19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
45 "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
John 7:40 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet."
52 They answered him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee."
John 8:52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.'
53 "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?"
John 9:17 So they said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet."
John 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?"
Acts 2:16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
30 "And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE,
Acts 3:18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
22 "Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you.
23 'And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'
24 "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days.
25 "It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.'
Acts 7:37 "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, 'GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.'
42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?
48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
52 "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
Acts 8:28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"
Acts 10:43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
Acts 11:27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Acts 13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it."
20 "After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
27 "For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.
40 "Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
Acts 15:15 "With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.
Acts 21:10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Acts 24:14 "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;
Acts 26:22 "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;
27 "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do."
Acts 28:23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
Romans 1:2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,
COMMENT ON ROMANS 1:2: Prophets in the present context refers not just to prophets like Isaiah or Habakkuk but to all the human authors of the Old Testament. Key point: The Gospel is found in the Old Testament, which is a good thing because the OT Scriptures were what the apostles used to preach to the people (cp Acts 8:28-36). Listen to Peter's proclamation (recall Peter preached primarily to the Jews and Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles) "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, Whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. "Moses (a prophet) said, 'THE LORD GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET (Messiah) LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN. TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED (Dt 18:15) in everything He says to you. And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED (Ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah - Gal 3:16) ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.' For you first, God raised up His Servant (Jesus), and sent Him to bless you by turning (Ed: Yes, we are to repent, but ultimately God facilitates and enables the "turning"!) every one of you from your wicked ways." (Acts 3:18-26) Peter also said "Of Him (Messiah) all the prophets bear witness that through His Name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." (Acts 10:43) The term Law and the Prophets (Mat 5:17, Mat 7:12, Mat 11:13, Mat 22:40, Luke 16:16, Luke 24:44, John 1:45, Acts 13:15, Acts 24:14, Acts 28:23, Rom 3:21) is used elsewhere to refer to the entire Old Testament (Acts 24:14) and the Law (Pentateuch) in turn was written by Moses, whom Scripture also calls a prophet (Dt18:15). So here Paul's use of the term prophets is a reference to the all of the Old Testament. Compare " Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms" in Luke 24:44. Writing to the Galatians Paul explains the promise given beforehand teaching that "the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU" (Gal 3:8) which is a quotation from (Ge 12:3). The gospel, which originated with God, was not a divine afterthought, nor was it first taught in the New Testament. It does not reflect a late change in God's plan or a revision of His strategy. Clearly salvation in the Old Testament was identical with salvation in the New Testament for both teach a man is justified (declared righteous) by exercise of personal faith. It is surprising how many saints sitting even in Bible teaching churches are still "fuzzy" on how a man or woman was saved in the Old Testament. With the simple declaration that the Gospel of God was promised beforehand, Paul gives us the answer to this often confusing topic.
Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
Romans 11:3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
1 Corinthians 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.
32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.
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