Topical Encyclopedia
ProphecyProphecy in the Bible is a divine communication from God to humans, often delivered through prophets. It serves multiple purposes, including revealing God's will, providing guidance, warning of future events, and offering hope and encouragement. Prophecy is a significant theme throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
In the Old Testament, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were chosen by God to deliver His messages to the people of Israel. These messages often included calls to repentance, warnings of impending judgment, and promises of future restoration. For example,
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the birth of the Messiah: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel."
In the New Testament, prophecy continues to play a vital role. John the Baptist is recognized as a prophet who prepares the way for Jesus Christ (
Matthew 3:3). Jesus Himself is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and He also prophesies about future events, including His own death and resurrection (
Mark 8:31) and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (
Mark 13:2).
The Apostle Paul discusses the gift of prophecy in the context of spiritual gifts given to the Church. In
1 Corinthians 12:10, he lists prophecy as one of the gifts of the Spirit. Paul emphasizes the importance of prophecy for the edification of the Church, stating in
1 Corinthians 14:3, "But the one who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort."
TonguesThe gift of tongues, or glossolalia, is another spiritual gift mentioned in the New Testament. It involves speaking in languages unknown to the speaker, which can be either human languages or heavenly languages. This gift is first prominently displayed on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in
Acts 2:4: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
The purpose of tongues, as described in the New Testament, includes serving as a sign for unbelievers and edifying the individual believer. In
1 Corinthians 14:22, Paul states, "Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers."
Paul provides guidelines for the use of tongues in the church to ensure order and understanding. He advises that if anyone speaks in a tongue, there should be an interpreter present so that the church may be edified (
1 Corinthians 14:27-28). Without interpretation, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to themselves and to God.
The relationship between prophecy and tongues is addressed by Paul in
1 Corinthians 14. He encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, because it builds up the church. In
1 Corinthians 14:5, he writes, "I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified."
In summary, both prophecy and tongues are gifts of the Holy Spirit intended for the edification of the Church. While prophecy is primarily directed towards the community for their encouragement and instruction, tongues serve as a sign and a means of personal edification, provided they are used in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Scripture.