The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today

by Grudem, Wayne A.

• ISBN13: 9781581342437
• ISBN10: 1581342438
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-07
• Publisher: Crossway Books

Summary

What does the New Testament teach about the spiritual gift of prophecy? What is it? How does it function? Can evangelical Christians use it in their churches today?This updated, comprehensive work answers such questions and points the way to a renewed understanding of the gift of prophecy--an understanding that suggests how the body of Christ may enjoy one of the Holy Spirit's most edifying gifts without compromising the supremacy of Scripture."This conservative evangelical scholarly work gives a solid theological basis for further development of a practical theology of spiritual gifts." --John Wimber, Vineyard Christian Fellowship"Careful, thorough, wise, and to my mind, convincing." --J.I. Packer"...a fresh, biblically sound, readable contribution...its depth of scholarship, pastoral solidity, and cautions against abuses are special strengths. Highly recommended." --Vern S. Poythress, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Westminster Theological Seminary"If Grudem's convincing thesis could be heard, a new path of dialog could perhaps be opened up in the Christian community. The research, clarity, and typical Grudem candor continue to make this the finest book on the subject to date." --L. Russ Bush, Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary"...thorough, biblical, and practical. It deserves the attention of all who are concerned about the spiritual development of the church today." --Stanley Horton, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Bible and Theology, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Author Biography

Wayne A. Grudem earned a B.A. from Harvard, an M. Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, England. He is an ordained Baptist minister and currently Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 11
Preface to the 1997 Reprint	p. 13
Preface to the 2000 Edition	p. 15
Introduction	p. 17
Old Testament Prophets: Speaking God's Very Words	p. 21
The Prophets Are Messengers of God
The Prophets' Words Are Words of God
The Absolute Divine Authority of Prophetic Words
Application for Today
New Testament Apostles: Speaking God's Very Words	p. 27
New Testament Apostles Are Messengers of Christ
New Testament Apostles Are Connected with Old Testament Prophets
The Apostles' Words Are Words of God
Why the Name "Apostle" instead of the Name "Prophet"?
Are the Apostles Ever Called "Prophets"?
Application for Today
New Testament Prophets at Corinth: Speaking Merely Human Words to Report Something God Brings to Mind	p. 51
The Structure of 1 Corinthians 12-14
1 Corinthians 14:29: Prophecies That Need to Be Sifted
1 Corinthians 14:30: Prophecies That Were Intentionally Neglected
1 Corinthians 14:36: No Words of God from the Corinthian Prophets
1 Corinthians 14:37-38: Prophets with Less Authority Than an Apostle
1 Corinthians 11:5: Women Prophets Who Neither Govern Nor Teach
Conclusions from 1 Corinthians
New Testament Prophets in the Rest of the New Testament: Speaking Merely Human Words to Report Something God Brings to Mind	p. 71
Evidence from Acts
Evidence from Other New Testament Books
Prophecy in Early Church History
Summary
Application for Today
The Source of Prophecies: Something God Brings to Mind	p. 95
1 Corinthians 14:30: Prophecy Must Be Based on a "Revelation" from God
How Much Does the Prophet Know?
Is Prophecy Ecstatic?
Is Prophecy Miraculous?
Summary
Application for Today
Prophecy and Teaching: How Are They Different Gifts?	p. 113
The Essential Nature of Prophecy
The Essential Nature of Teaching
The Difference between Prophecy and Teaching
The Difference between Prophecy and Preaching
Why Does Paul Allow Women to Prophesy but Not to Teach?
Summary
Application for Today
The Content of Prophecies: What Did the Prophecies Say?	p. 125
1 Corinthians 14:3: Anything That Would Build Up, Encourage, or Comfort
1 Corinthians 14:31: Might Prophecy Include Teaching, Since People Could "Learn" from It?
1 Corinthians 13:2: Prophesying with or without Love--a Crucial Difference
Functions of Prophecy Mentioned outside 1 Corinthians
The "Form" of Prophecies: Did They Contain Typical Words and Phrases, or Distinctive Patterns of Speech?
Summary
Application for Today: What Kinds of Content Can Be in Prophecies?
Prophecy as a Sign of God's Blessing in a Church (1 Cor. 14:20-25)	p. 145
Introduction
The Meaning of the Old Testament Quotation (Isa. 28:11-12)
Paul's Use of Isaiah 28:11-12
Are Both Prophecy and Tongues Called "Signs"?
The Key to Understanding This Passage: "Signs" Can Be Positive or Negative
Summary of Paul's Meaning
Implications for the Gift of Speaking in Tongues
Conclusion: How Is Prophecy a Sign of God's Blessing?
Application for Today
Prophets and Church Government: Were Prophets "Charismatic Leaders" in the Early Church?	p. 155
Introduction: The Source of This Suggestion
An Evaluation of the Evidence for a Charismatic Leadership Role for Early Prophets
Summary
Application for Today
Can All Believers Prophesy?	p. 161
Is "Prophet" an Office in the Church or an Informal Designation?
Can All Believers Prophesy?
Is Prophecy a Temporary or a Permanent Gift?
The Gift of Prophecy Could Vary in Strength
Is It Right to Seek the Gift of Prophecy?
Summary
Application for Today
Women and Prophecy: Prophesying Encouraged, but Not the Judging of Prophecies	p. 183
Acts 21:9: Philip's Daughters
1 Corinthians 11:5: Women Who Prophesy with a Head Covering
1 Corinthians 14:33b-35: In What Way Should Women Be "Silent" in the Churches?
Summary
Application for Today
The Duration of Prophecy: How Long Will Prophecy Be Used in the Church?	p. 193
Introduction
The Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Objections to this Interpretation
The Relationship between the Gift of Prophecy and Scripture
Spiritual Gifts as a Characteristic of the New Covenant Age
Summary
Application for Today
Encouraging and Regulating Prophecy in the Local Church	p. 217
For Churches That Do Not Use the Gift of Prophecy but Would Like To
For Churches That Already Use the Gift of Prophecy
Why Do We Need the Gift of Prophecy Today?	p. 227
The Office of Apostle	p. 229
The Canon of Scripture	p. 237
The Sufficiency of Scripture	p. 257
Prophecy and Prophets in the Old and New Testaments: A Biblical-Theological Study	p. 271
What Are the "World of Wisdom" and "Word of Knowledge" in 1 Corinthians 12:8?	p. 293
Some Incorrect Assumptions in Cessationist Reasoning	p. 303
A Note on Some Objections in Edmund Clowney's The Church	p. 307
Why Christians Can Still Prophesy	p. 313
The Interpretation of Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5	p. 329
Some Evidence for the Existence of the Gift of Prophecy at Various Points in the History of the Church	p. 347
Abbreviations	p. 361
Notes	p. 363
Bibliography	p. 383
General Index	p. 385
Scripture Index	p. 388
Extra-biblical Literature Index	p. 399
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