In the biblical narrative, prophets hold a significant role as the mouthpieces of God, delivering His messages to His people. The term "prophet" (Hebrew: נָבִיא, nabi) is used to describe individuals chosen by God to convey His divine will, guidance, and sometimes foretell future events. Prophets are characterized by their unique calling to speak in the name of the Lord, often beginning their messages with phrases such as "Thus says the LORD" (e.g., Isaiah 7:7).

Old Testament Prophets

The Old Testament is replete with prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. These individuals were often called during times of national crisis or moral decline to remind Israel of their covenant with God and to call them back to righteousness. Notable prophets include:

· Moses: Regarded as the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to deliver the Law. In Deuteronomy 18:18, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, indicating the central role of prophetic ministry.

· Samuel: As the last judge and a prophet, Samuel anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. His life and ministry are recorded in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel.

· Elijah and Elisha: These prophets are known for their powerful miracles and confrontations with the idolatrous practices of their time. Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) is a notable example of speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

· Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel: These major prophets delivered messages of judgment and hope. Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah (Isaiah 9:6), Jeremiah warned of the impending Babylonian exile, and Ezekiel spoke of restoration and a new covenant.

· Minor Prophets: The twelve minor prophets, from Hosea to Malachi, addressed various issues such as social injustice, idolatry, and the promise of future redemption.

New Testament Prophets

In the New Testament, the prophetic office continues, though it takes on new dimensions with the coming of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of the prophetic tradition. Jesus is recognized as a prophet (Matthew 21:11) and more, as the Son of God who embodies the Word of God.

· John the Baptist: Often considered the last of the Old Testament-style prophets, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:1-3).

· Agabus: A New Testament prophet mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, Agabus predicted a severe famine and later warned Paul of his impending arrest (Acts 11:28; 21:10-11).

· The Gift of Prophecy: In the early church, the gift of prophecy was one of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). Prophets in the church were to edify, exhort, and comfort the believers (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Criteria for True Prophets

The Bible provides criteria to discern true prophets from false ones. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 warns against those who presume to speak in God's name without His command. A true prophet's words will align with God's revealed truth and come to pass. Additionally, their message will lead people toward God, not away from Him (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Role and Impact

Prophets were instrumental in guiding the spiritual and moral direction of Israel and the early church. They served as intermediaries between God and His people, often facing persecution and rejection for their messages. Despite this, their words have been preserved in Scripture, continuing to speak to believers today about God's character, His expectations, and His redemptive plan for humanity.2 Chronicles 33:18
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 3:11
And go, get you to them of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, Thus said the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

James 5:10
Take, my brothers, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Prophets and Prophets. (xxiii. 9-32, xxvii-xxix, Etc. )
... upon Jeremiah's life-long controversy with the other prophets. ... But both he and they
spoke in the name of the ... For Jeremiah's predictions in the Name of the Lord ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/2 prophets and prophets xxiii.htm

Picture of a Pauline Church
... The prophets spoke at wearisome length, and too many pressed ... the prophets were subject
to the prophets, and that ... Others took the name of Apollonians from Apollos ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter viii picture of a.htm

Of Jesus, God and Man; and the Testimonies of the Prophets ...
... and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord Almighty, Thou ... city which he called
from his own name, Jerusalem ... But the prophets spoke of Him who was then born ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiii of jesus god and.htm

Of the Priesthood of Jesus Foretold by the Prophets.
... it is evident that all the prophets declared concerning ... most plainly teaches, even
mentioning His name: [646] "And ... He spoke, therefore, of Jesus the Son of God ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiv of the priesthood of.htm

What Jeremiah and Zephaniah Have, by the Prophetic Spirit, Spoken ...
... Zephaniah, one of the minor prophets, is put along with ... shall dwell confidently:
and this is the name which they ... we now see fulfilled, he thus spoke: "O Lord ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 33 what jeremiah and zephaniah.htm

The Lord Coming to his Temple
... at divers times and in sundry manners by His prophets, spoke in the ... Wherever His
Gospel is preached, the Lord is come. ... two or three are met in His name, to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon iv the lord coming.htm

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... The priests and prophets on the one side and the princes on the other both
use the phrase, that Jeremiah spoke in the Name of the Lord. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

"Is the Spirit of the Lord Straitened?"
... BY THE COMMANDS OF MEN; for in a previous verse we find that the people said to
their prophets, "Prophesy ye not." When men spoke in the name of God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/is the spirit of the.htm

The God of the Law and the Prophets, and the Father of Our Lord ...
... He undoubtedly called Him His Father, to whose name Solomon had ... God who made heaven
and earth, and who spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, calling Him ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter iv the god of the.htm

Proof that God did not Appoint the Levitical Dispensation for his ...
... in the New Testament, concerning which Malachi, among the twelve prophets, thus
spoke beforehand: "I ... and a pure sacrifice; for great is My name among the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvii proof that god did.htm

What does the Bible say about false prophets? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets? | GotQuestions.org

What was the school of prophets? | GotQuestions.org

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