The difference between ‘A Prophet’ and ‘prophecy’

It’s hard to find common ground and consistent connections between Old Testament Prophets. However a good place to start is this:

A Prophet in the Old Testament always did three things:

- They reminded of and reinterpreted the past

- They spoke into and clarified the pressent

- They predicited and proclaimed the future

This could have been about judgment, promise, blessing, comings, goings, wars, peactimes, crop growths, etc. They could be given to whole nations, individuals, kings, commoners, other prophets, the prophet themselves, or the whole world.

Its generally understood that the last OT prophet was John the Baptist, however the last OT style prophecy given was probably at Pentecost. Peter pointed back to the past – specifically to Jesus. He spoke into the present explaining what was happening with the Apostles speaking in tongues etc. He finally predicted the future speaking about Jesus’ second coming.
A prophet was an official office that once their words had been spoken they could be taken as canonical, that is could be included in scripture.  We don’t have the same office anymore, thus cannot add to the Bible.

Now prophecy is used in many different ways throughout the Bible and in culture today.

In the New Testament prophecy is just as often refereed to as preaching/teaching as it is as passing on God’s message through personal inspiration.

What is worth pointing out though is its public nature. Prophecy is most often (if not exclusively) used to bring a public encouragement, or rebuke, or clarity. Its not a one-on-one type thing generally. This doesn’t exclude personal prophecies, but they should have a knock-on encouragement to build up the body.

Prophecy is therefore a church building and supporting thing. It’s given at specific times, to those whom God chooses (not necessarily those with ‘the gift of prophecy’). It isn’t the same as the authoritative words of the OT Prophets, and doesn’t hold the same water as the Bible.

It can be broad or specific, noetic or natural, deliberate or passive (i.e. through teaching), public or personal. It should always be checked against scripture by the body and should always be taken carefully.

Prophecy can be massively powerful and very helpful for a church. Paul tells us that we should eagerly desire it. But lets know what we’re asking for. We’re looking for more communication and confirmation from God in various ways which moves us on and builds us up as individual Christ followers and Church.

i.e. lets not make something too prescriptive or office based, when the Bible is deliberately organic about it! :-)