Prophecy is divinely-inspired speech — God's word delivered through a human mouth. While popular usage reduces it to prediction, the biblical term is far broader: it is forth-telling (proclaiming God's word to the present situation) as much as foretelling (declaring future events). The OT prophets primarily called Israel to covenant fidelity — "Thus says the LORD" — with warnings and promises attached. The criterion for true prophecy was absolute: if the prophet spoke in God's name and it did not come to pass, he was a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:22). Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of all OT prophecy (Luke 24:27). The NT continues the gift of prophecy in the church (1 Corinthians 14), but all prophecy must be tested against Scripture.
PROPHECY, n. A foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something to come. The prophecies of Scripture are one of the strongest arguments for its divine original. The whole scope and tenor of Scripture is a continued prophecy of the dispensations of God toward man, from the creation to the final consummation of all things. In Scripture, it sometimes denotes a song of praise, or inspired moral instruction.
Two opposite errors plague prophecy today. The cessationist error says the gift ended with the apostles — but this overcorrects in response to genuine abuses and leaves the church without a biblically-attested gift. The continuationist error of charismatic excess has produced "prophets" whose vague, flattering, frequently-wrong predictions are treated as infallible divine utterances — and their errors are never held to account. The Bible's standard is unambiguous: 100% accuracy for words claimed to come from God. Personal "impressions" or "words of encouragement" are one thing; claiming "Thus says the LORD" is another. All prophecy must be tested against Scripture, submitted to the community, and judged (1 Corinthians 14:29).
2 Peter 1:21 — "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."
Deuteronomy 18:22 — "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."
1 Corinthians 14:3 — "But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort."
Luke 24:27 — "Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."
1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 — "Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good."
H5030 — נָבִיא (navi) — prophet, one who bubbles forth or speaks for God
H2372 — חָזָה (chazah) — to see (prophetic vision); the ro'eh was a "seer"
G4394 — προφητεία (prophēteia) — prophecy, gift of divinely-inspired speech
G4396 — προφήτης (prophētēs) — prophet, spokesman for God
"The prophets were not crystal ball gazers — they were covenant prosecutors, calling Israel to account before a holy God."
"Every OT prophecy either points to Christ or finds its ultimate meaning in Him. He is not one fulfillment among many; He is the point."
"Prophecy that cannot be tested is not biblical prophecy. It is just someone's opinion with divine authority claimed for it."