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NASB | Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied up until John. |
Subject: Is prophecy dead? |
Bible Note: I think one of the confusing things in this entire discourse (I just read through your communication with RCSCROLL) is definition of terms. Prophesies (1 Cor 14:3) translates - to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspiration; to predict. To break forth under sudden impulse in lofty discourse or in praise of the divine counsels - or under the like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others. (Thayers 4395) If one is to "speak forth under devine inspiration; to predict" I would hold that the two tests I put forth do in fact hold and do not only hold if predicting the future. To be 100 percent correct 100 percent of the time would be an absolute requirement if one was in fact speaking forth by divine inspiration. How would one know if the "prophet" was correct? I would say the best test would be scripture. You also assume that I am assuming that you are only referring to "all the 'wackos' out there are what I mean when I ask about present-day prophets.". While I agree that there are in fact numerous wackos out there I was not in any sense only referring to them. Again these two test are absolutley correct. My first test is just applying the definition of prophet. Someone claiming to be a prophet either is a true prophet or is a false prophet. A true prophet speaks on divine inspiration thereby their prophesy should be 100 percent correct 100 percent of the time. Second we are told to test all things by scripture. A person is a prophet if and only if they meet the full definition of a prophet. Be careful not to apply a part of the definition to make the whole. Just because someone speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation does not make them a prophet. A prophet does these things under divine inspiration. A good study here is 2 Cor. 11. As to apostleship, In a broader sense the name is transferred to other eminent Christian teachers; as Barnabas, Acts 14:14, and perhaps also Tmothy and Silvanus, 1 Th. 2:7 Ro. 16:7. But in other cases is to be taken in the narrower sense of the 12. (Thayers 652) Let us be careful with our terms and definitons. There is much difference in perception from person to person in many of the terms we are using. My final thought for now. You mentioned in one of your earlier posts that all things you mention you have experienced. I make the following note out of love. Be careful in using experience as a judge. Our ability to discern truth from experience is very poor. For instance I find the idea of being slain in the Spirit to have no scriptural foundation. The few attempts I have heard to justify this by scripture are a huge stretch. Never base a positon on abscure passages of scripture. Likewise never base them on experience. The ONLY truth we have is that laid out in scripture. I know from what I have read of your comments you agree with this. Let us continue to strive, with God's help, to constantly become more grounded in it. God Bless. I enjoy these conversations very much. Iron sharpens iron. |