A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I : Mas ter i ng the Ol d Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

Appendix 29 Principles behind Prophecy Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

1. Prophecy provides divinely inspired truth about God, his universe, and his will.

• Who is God and what is the nature of the “real”? • What is the truth, and how can we know it? • Where did we come from, why are we here, and how shall we act?

2. Prophecy originates and has its source in the Holy Spirit.

• It is his gift (Rom. 12.6; 1 Cor. 12.10; Eph. 4.8)

• Prophet = “person of the Spirit,” pneumatikos , 1 Cor. 14.37 and Hos. 9.7 • The hope of Moses (Num. 11.16, 29 cf. Luke 10.1)

3. Diverse and various forms of revelation (Jer. 18.18, Law from the priest, counsel from the wise, and word from the prophet)

• Lived in communities and guilds, some were attached to the temple, while others were priests (cf. 2 Kings 2.3ff.; Ezek. 1.3; Jer. 1.1) • Sages and wisdom teachers were “recipients and mediators” of the divine gift (cf. Gen. 41.38; 2 Sam. 14.20; 16.23; 1 Kings 3.9, etc.)

• Wisdom teacher and prophet both: Daniel

4. Prophecy not self-authenticating: it must be judged valid.

• Conflict existed between prophets within both the Old Testament and New Testament (cf. 1 Kings 22; Jer. 23; 28 and 2 Cor. 11.4, 13; 1 John 4.1-3) • Prophetic claims must agree with Moses (Deut. 13.1-5) and Jesus (Matt. 7.15; 24.11; 2 Pet. 2.1) • If the word comes to pass, it is from the Lord (Deut. 18.15-22) • All prophecy is to be examined for its truth value (1 Thess. 5.19-21)