Prophesyings, within the context of the Bible, refer to the act of delivering messages from God, often concerning future events or divine will. This spiritual gift is prominently featured in both the Old and New Testaments, serving as a means through which God communicates with His people.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, prophesying was primarily associated with prophets, individuals chosen by God to convey His messages. These messages often included calls to repentance, warnings of impending judgment, and promises of future restoration. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were instrumental in delivering God's word to the Israelites. The book of Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of heeding true prophets, stating, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him" (Deuteronomy 18:15).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, prophesying continues to play a significant role within the early Christian church. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently addresses the gift of prophecy. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul encourages believers to "Pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" . This highlights the value placed on prophesying as a means of edification, exhortation, and comfort for the church community.

Paul further elaborates on the purpose of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14:3-4: "But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church" . Here, prophesying is distinguished from speaking in tongues, emphasizing its role in building up the church body.

Guidelines and Discernment

The New Testament also provides guidelines for the practice of prophesying within the church. In 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, Paul advises, "Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test all things. Hold fast to what is good" . This instruction underscores the need for discernment, ensuring that prophecies align with biblical truth and the character of God.

Additionally, 1 Corinthians 14:29-32 outlines the orderly conduct of prophesying in the church: "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should hold his peace. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets" . This passage emphasizes the importance of order and mutual submission among those exercising the gift of prophecy.

Role in the Church

Prophesyings serve as a vital component of the church's spiritual life, providing guidance, correction, and encouragement. Ephesians 4:11-12 lists prophets among the gifts Christ gave to the church "to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ" . This underscores the role of prophecy in fostering spiritual growth and unity within the Christian community.

Throughout the Bible, prophesyings are portrayed as a divine means of communication, revealing God's will and purpose to His people. Whether through the foretelling of future events or the forthtelling of God's truth, prophesying remains a significant and valued gift within the Christian faith.PROPHESYINGS, FALSE

prof'-e-si-ingz: The distinction between the true and the false prophecy and prophets is very difficult to state. Broadly speaking, the false prophesying related itself to the national ideal independently of any spiritual quality, while the true prophesying ever kept uppermost the spiritual conception of the national life. Among those given to false prophesying were the ones who spoke after "the deceit of their own heart" (Jeremiah 14:13, 14); those who without real prophetic gift borrowed a message and assumed the speech of prophecy (Jeremiah 23:28, 31); and those who sought the prophet's role in order to gain the material gifts which came from the people to their prophets (Micah 3:5). These, when discovered, were counted worthy of punishment and even death. There were, however, false prophesyings from men who honestly believed themselves to have a message from Yahweh. These prophecies from self-deceived prophets often led the people astray. The dream of national greatness was substituted for the voice of Yahweh. It was against such prophesying that the true prophets had to contend. The only test here was the spiritual character of the utterance, and this test demanded a certain moral or spiritual sense which the people did not always possess. Consequently, in times of moral darkness the false prophets, predicting smooth things for the nation, independent of repentance, consecration and the pursuit of spiritual ideals, were honored above the true prophets who emphasized the moral greatness of Yahweh and the necessity of righteousness for the nation. In New Testament times false prophesying did much injury in the church.

See PROPHECY.

C. E. Schenk

The First Epistle to the Thessalonians the Shorter Epistles ...
... What "spirit" does he forbid us to "quench," and what "prophesyings" to "despise?"
[5911] Not the Creator's spirit, nor the Creator's prophesyings, Marcion of ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xv the first epistle to.htm

Exhortation to the Heathen
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/exhortation to the heathen/title page.htm

The Instructor. (P??dagogus.)
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the instructor paedagogus/title page.htm

A Plea for the Christians
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/athenagoras/a plea for the christians/title page.htm

Theophilus to Autolycus
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/title page.htm

Tatian's Address to the Greeks
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tatian/tatians address to the greeks/title page.htm

The Pastor: Books First, Second, Third
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/title page.htm

The Treatise on the Resurrection of the Dead
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
/.../athenagoras/the treatise on the resurrection of the dead/title page.htm

Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
/.../clement/who is the rich man that shall be saved/title page.htm

The Stromata, or Miscellanies
... Montanism is not named; but it is opposed by a reminder of better "prophesyings,"
and by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/title page.htm

Prophesyings (1 Occurrence)
...PROPHESYINGS, FALSE. ... There were, however, false prophesyings from men who
honestly believed themselves to have a message from Yahweh. ...
/p/prophesyings.htm - 8k

False.
... James Orr. FALSE PROPHETS. See PROPHESYINGS, FALSE. FALSE SWEARING; FALSE WITNESS. ...
FALSE, CHRISTS. fols. See CHRISTS, FALSE. PROPHESYINGS, FALSE. ...
/f/false..htm - 16k

Prophesying (58 Occurrences)
... examined by all, (WEY NIV). 1 Thessalonians 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
(Root in KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV). Revelation 11:6 These have ...
/p/prophesying.htm - 25k

Mad (22 Occurrences)
... ecstatic mood which alternated with his depression, he conducted himself like a
lunatic (1 Samuel 19:23 f), his mutterings are called "prophesyings." The use ...
/m/mad.htm - 19k

Madness (13 Occurrences)
... ecstatic mood which alternated with his depression, he conducted himself like a
lunatic (1 Samuel 19:23 f), his mutterings are called "prophesyings." The use ...
/m/madness.htm - 17k

Prophetic (9 Occurrences)
... have not love, I am nothing; (See RSV). 1 Thessalonians 5:20 prophesyings
despise not; (See NAS). 1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit ...
/p/prophetic.htm - 9k

Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... And while prophesyings were never to be despised, the utterances of the prophets
were to be "proved" (1 Thessalonians 5:20 f), and that in them which came from ...
/g/gifts.htm - 61k

Spiritual (42 Occurrences)
... And while prophesyings were never to be despised, the utterances of the prophets
were to be "proved" (1 Thessalonians 5:20 f), and that in them which came from ...
/s/spiritual.htm - 51k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... should possess the "gift" and cultivate it (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 39); he exhorted
the brethren at Thessalonica to `cherish prophesyings' (1 Thessalonians 5:20 ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Prophet (315 Occurrences)

/p/prophet.htm - 49k

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