Prophecy, Prophesy, Prophesying - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Prophecy, Prophesy, Prophesying

[ A-1,Noun,G4394, propheteia ]
signifies the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God" (pro, "forth," phemi, "to speak:" See PROPHET); in the NT it is used
(a) of the gift, e.g., Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 13:2;
(b) either of the exercise of the gift or of that which is "prophesied," e.g., Matthew 13:14; 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 14:6, 1 Corinthians 14:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:20, "prophesying
(s);" 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 11:6; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:10, Revelation 22:18-Revelation 22:19.

"Though much of OT prophecy was purely predictive, See Micah 5:2, e.g., and cp. John 11:51, prophecy is not necessarily, nor even primarily, fore-telling. It is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means, Matthew 26:68, it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future, See Genesis 20:7; Deuteronomy 18:18; Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:3.

"In such passages as 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20, the 'prophets' are placed after the 'Apostles,' since not the prophets of Israel are intended, but the 'gifts' of the ascended Lord, Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:11; cp. Acts 13:1; the purpose of their ministry was to edify, to comfort, and to encourage the believers, 1 Corinthians 14:3, while its effect upon unbelievers was to show that the secrets of a man's heart are known to God, to convict of sin, and to constrain to worship, 1 Corinthians 14:24-25.

"With the completion of the canon of Scripture prophecy apparently passed away, 1 Corinthians 13:8-9. In his measure the teacher has taken the place of the prophet, cp. the significant change in 2 Peter 2:1. The difference is that, whereas the message of the prophet was a direct revelation of the mind of God for the occasion, the message of the teacher is gathered from the completed revelation contained in the Scriptures." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians by Hogg and Vine, pp. 196,197.]

[ B-1,Adjective,G4397, prophetikos ]
"of or relating to prophecy," or "proceeding from a prophet, prophetic," is used of the OT Scriptures, Romans 16:26, "of the prophets," lit., "(by) prophetic (Scriptures);" 2 Peter 1:19, "the word of prophecy (made more sure)," i.e., confirmed by the person and work of Christ (AV, "a more sure, etc."), lit., "the prophetic word."

[ C-1,Verb,G4395, propheteuo ]
"to be a prophet, to prophesy," is used
(a) with the primary meaning of telling forth the Divine counsels, e.g., Matthew 7:22; Matthew 26:68; 1 Corinthians 11:4-5; 1 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 1 Corinthians 14:24, 1 Corinthians 14:31, 1 Corinthians 14:39; Revelation 11:3;
(b) of foretelling the future, e.g., Matthew 15:7; John 11:51; 1 Peter 1:10; Jude 14. Jude 1:14

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words