Amos 3:8 The lion has roared–who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken–who will not prophesy?
I’m listening to this. You’ll probably have to read it if possible. LMK if it sparks anything.
So, we need to have a discussion about the word “prophet” b/c I’m getting whiffs that the way we use it now is not what Jezebel or Elijah would have understood the term. My first tip off was that group of 400 Elijah assembled to smite. And then came the references to the kings of Aram and Moab having bunches of their own prophets. And then, just the other day I ran into a statement that “prophet” as used in those times was more of a job description. I’m getting the sense that a “prophet” in those times was somewhat more a Billy Sunday and less of a Charlton Heston. I can’t prove this yet, but I think the sense of the word in those days would have been synonymous with “seer” or “Sybil”, or just plain ‘advisor’. Can’t prove it yet, but will mention it to you if and when I can.
What Does Scripture Teach About the Office of Prophet and Gift of Prophecy?
It’s very hard to reconcile that passage in James with this…
The divine inspiration and authority of the OT prophetic voice is nowhere more clearly affirmed than in 2 Peter 1:20–21: “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
… which is the concept of the prophet we grew up with. For this to be true all those prophets who served other kings have to be something else, don’t they. Or else the Holy Spirit is capable of divine inspiration working thru whatever gods it chooses. Dealer’s choice?
The difference drawn between the OT prophet and the NT one sparked something I haven’t thought about in decades.
Some have mistakenly equated NT prophecy with preaching, but Paul declares that all prophecy is based on a revelation (1 Cor. 14:30; cf. 1 Cor. 13:2). The NT’s use of the noun “revelation” or the verb “to reveal” actually reflects a wide range of meaning and need not be taken as referring to the sort of authoritative revelation that would undermine the finality of the canon. Rather, the apostle likely has in view the sort of divine disclosure or unveiling in which the Spirit makes known something previously hidden
