Prophecy in the new testament church—and today

Abstract

The manifestations of prophecy in the New Testament church are best understood in the light of their background in Israel and in the mission of Jesus. Christian prophecy is rooted in Israel's experience in which God revealed his mind to his people through divinely chosen individuals. As such, it has a number of characteristics in common with Old Testament prophecy. Jesus is identified in the Gospels as prophet, usually because of his miraculous powers but also in relation to his destined crucifixion, his supernatural discernment and his synagogue teaching. Early Christian prophecy displays its particular character in its ehristologieal model, in its role vis-a-vis false prophecy and in its rather unusual manifestation as a gift of strange tongues. Several characteristics of New Testament prophecy have significant implications for prophetic proclamation in the church today. A characteristic of New Testament prophecy, significant for the church today, is its communal context. Keywords: communal context; Jesus; New testament church; Old Testament prophecy; prophecy; strange tongues