This is part 3 of a 4 part study on the gifts of the Spirit.

The other sections are…

• Part 1: Concerning Spiritual Gifts
• Part 2: The Revealing Gifts of the Spirit
• Part 3: The Spoken Gifts of the Spirit
• Part 4: The Action Gifts of the Spirit

The three speaking gifts are grouped together because by them the Holy Spirit delivers a divine message through the recipient.

Unlike the revealing gifts which deliver a divine message to a passive recipient, the recipient of a spoken gift must be willing to speak the message in order for it to be delivered.

Prophecy

Greek: prophÄ“teia (pro-fā-tā’-ä) – a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events.

Defined: The gift of prophecy is a supernatural utterance in a known language given by the Spirit of God which provides strengthening, encouragement, and comfort to believers and/or foretells future events pertaining especially to the kingdom of God.

Important facts to know:

• Like all of the nine spiritual gifts, the gift of prophecy is given to an individual as God sees fit. This is often based on how willing a person wants to be used by God in this way.
• The gift of prophecy is the “greater” of the three speaking gifts because it takes both tongues and its interpretation to equal prophecy.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:5 I would like every one of you to 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.
• The gift of prophecy is a gift that we should eagerly desire.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
• It’s important to know that prophecy is always in the known/understood language of the people to whom the message was given.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:2-3 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
• Prophecy is meant for believers as opposed to unbelievers.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
• A message of prophecy will always edify (lift up, help, encourage, make better, improve, and be of comfort to) the collective group of believers to whom it was spoken.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
• Prophets can be both male and female.
  • Luke 2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

An example of Jesus prophesying about His death and resurrection.

Matthew 20:17-19
17Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18″We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

A NT example of prophecy in use.

Acts 11:25-30
25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Another NT example of prophecy.

Luke 1:62-79
62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68″Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people.
69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
72to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

About half of Zechariah’s prophecy was a retelling of Israel’s past mixed with praise and thanksgiving, which meets the criteria of being “strengthening, encouraging, and comforting.” The last half of his prophecy was a foretelling regarding his son, John.

So this begs the question, “What about ‘personal prophecies’?”

Prophecies given for an individual are rare in the NT. Aside from Zechariah’s prophecy over his son, John, the only other example that I know of is recorded in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:18-20
18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

We don’t know what the prophecies over Timothy were, nor do we know who gave the prophecies. All we see here is Paul encouraging him, giving him instruction, in accordance with those prophecies.

So from these scriptures we can gather that personal prophecy is biblical. However, we need to remember the safeguards that the disciples and apostles gave us.

Personal Prophecy Safeguard #1
Test the spirit (the source) of the message.

1 John 4:1-3
1“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

The prophet must acknowledge through word and deed that Jesus is the Son of God and became a man. If they do not then do not accept their prophecy.

Personal Prophecy Safeguard #2
The prophecy must line up with the Word of God.

Romans 16:17-19
17I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

If any part of the prophecy is contrary to the teachings of the Bible, then throw the whole thing out.

Personal Prophecy Safeguard #3
If the prophecy contains any foretelling then it must come to pass otherwise the prophet was not from the Lord. (See Deuteronomy 18:21-22 later in this article.) Since the foretelling part of a personal prophecy can’t be proved out until a later time, the best thing to do is write it down (providing it passes the first two safeguards) and then file it away. If it was from the Lord you will know when it takes happens, and then you can give God the glory for prophecy He spoke over your life.

What about the office or calling of the prophet? Is the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet the same thing? Let’s take a closer look at a familiar passage in Ephesians chapter four and I think we’ll have our answer.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The word prophets from verse 11 is defined the following way in the Greek.

1. in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things
2. one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation
   1. the OT prophets, having foretold the kingdom, deeds and death, of Jesus the Messiah
   2. of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah
   3. the Messiah
   4. of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God’s authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men
   5. of prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among Christians
      1. they are associated with the apostles
      2. they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events. (Acts 11:25-30)
      3. in the religious assemblies of the Christians, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate, their hearers
3. a poet (because poets were believed to sing under divine inspiration)
   1. of Epimenides (Titus 1:12)

As you can see there is not really any difference between the office of a prophet and the gift of prophecy. So how do we distinguish between the two if at all? The distinguishing factor is in one word.

The word “gave” in verse 11 has two aspects to its meaning in the Greek; 1) “to give something to someone” and 2) “to grant, permit, or commission” someone.

And when a person is commissioned that means they are given the authority to perform a task or a certain set duties for an extended period of time. So the only difference between the gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet is duration in which the person operates in that gift.

The idea of a person commissioned to be a prophet for an extended period of time is what we see in the OT.

The Old Testament prophet defined: nabiy (nä·bÄ“’) – one who is caused by a divine inspiration to either rebuke the conduct of kings and nations or predict future events.

The eighteenth chapter of Deuteronomy clearly explains why God established the office of prophet and also describes how we can know if a person truly is a prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:14-22
14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

17 The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.”

21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Along with many others, John the Baptist is a perfect example of an Old Testament style prophet.

John 3:1-12
1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”

4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11″I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Speaking in different kinds of tongues & Interpretation of tongues

Because of the nature of these two gifts it is best to examine them together rather than apart.

English: tongues
Greek: glōssa – the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations

English: different kinds or diverse
Greek: genos – the aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort. English words used to translate genos: kind (used 5 times in KJV), kindred (used 3 time in KJV), offspring (used 3 times in KJV), nation (used 2 times in KJV), stock (used 2 times in KJV), born (used 2 times in KJV), diversity (used 1 time in KJV).

Tongues defined: The gift of speaking in tongues is a supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit enabling the recipient to speak in languages unknown to him/her.

English: Interpretation
Greek: hermÄ“neia (her-mā-nā’-ä) – more or less what has been spoken obscurely by others.

We get the English word “hermeneutic” from this Greek word, and hermeneutics is the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts.

Interpretation of tongues defined: The gift of interpretation of tongues is a supernatural comprehension of the unknown language (the “tongue” that was just spoken) and an utterance of that comprehension.

Important facts to know:

• The gift of tongues is the most prominent of the three speaking gifts, having the most controversy, although it is not the most important of the spiritual gifts.
• Tongues are a sign that will follow believers.
  • Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues…
• Speaking in tongues can happen when a person is baptized/filled with the Holy Spirit for the first time. In the book of Acts, there are four occasions (Acts 2:4, 8:17, 10:44, 11:15) where people were filled with the Spirit (11:15 being a retelling of 10:44) and of those only 8:17 doesn’t specifically say the people spoke in tongues, however, it does say that a visible sign did occur.
  • Acts 8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money…
• The gift of tongues is used in two different ways: privately and publicly.
• Privately the gift of tongues is primarily a devotional gift to be used in our prayer life and during personal times of praise and worship to God.
  • Paul apparently used his personal tongues quite often as he said he spoke in tongues more than the Corinthian church who we know was “exploding” with spiritual gifts.
    • 1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
  • Tongues used in the private devotion life are a constant reminder of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence and are meant to supernaturally encourage and strengthen a believer.
    • 1 Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…
    • Greek for edify is oikodomeō (oi-ko-do-me’-ō) – has two aspects to it.
      • To build or restore a house or building from the foundation up.
      • To establish and promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness.
• Publicly the gift of tongues, when used with the gift of interpretation of tongues, can be used to build up and encourage a group of believers. It is the equivalent of the gift of prophecy.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:5 …He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
  • Without the gift of interpretation, tongues spoken publicly are fruitless unless the hearers understand the spoken language.
    • 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
    • Acts 2:1-12 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
  • When used publicly among a gathering of believers, messages in tongues should be orderly and limited to 2 or 3 at most, and then, only if there is an interpreter.
    • 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
  • There is strong evidence to suggest that tongues, when spoken publicly, will only be in human languages.
    • 1 Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
      • How can unintelligible babblings be a sign unto unbelievers of God’s love and grace unless the language is understood?
    • 1 Corinthians 14:23-25 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
    • Acts 2:1-12 (See above)
  • One scripture that seems to counter this thought is:
    • 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
    • On the surface this verse seems to suggest that tongues can be in either a human language or an angelic, non-human language. So if this is true then it needs to not contradict 1 Corinthians 14 and Acts 2.
    • Since we know that tongues used privately are for personal communication between the believer and God, and for the believer’s edification, then it doesn’t matter if the believer or anybody else around the believer understands the language.
      • 1 Corinthians 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
      • 1 Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…
    • But if the message in tongues is uttered with a public intention, scripture suggests that the language, although unknown to the speaker, will be known (understood) to the hearers when there is no interpretation given.
      • 1 Corinthians 14
      • Acts 2

The next article will examine the Action Gifts in more detail.