The Distinction between Old Testament Prophetic Office and New Testament Prophecy: Authority, Function, and Reliability
by Stephen Gyesaw, Dr.
intro
Prophecy has always played a central role in God's communication with His people, but prophecy's nature, authority, and purpose differ markedly between the Old and New Testaments.
This distinction is critical to understanding how prophecy functions today within the Church and why it is essential to maintain the authority of Scripture over any individual prophetic utterance.
Old Testament prophecies
In the Old Testament (OT), prophets spoke infallibly as God's mouthpieces. In contrast, in the New Testament (NT), prophecy-particularly as exercised by ordinary Christians-is a gift primarily for edification and encouragement, but not without the potential for human error. This difference calls for caution, particularly in today's context, where self-proclaimed "prophets" often operate
without accountability.
In the Old Testament, prophets were divinely chosen to speak God's words with absolute authority. Their role was to reveal God's will, communicate His laws, and pronounce judgments or blessings upon His people. The infallibility and authority of OT prophets were emphasized by the strict standards placed on their messages: their words were considered the very words of God, and any error could lead to severe consequences, including death (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). This high standard ensured that Old Testament
prophecy was free from human error and carried the full weight of divine authority.
Moses is perhaps the quintessential Old Testament prophet, mediating between God and the Israelites. His role in
delivering the Ten Commandments and other laws (Exodus 20) illustrated the function of a prophet who not only communicated God's will but did so with inerrant precision. Moses was God's direct mouthpiece, and his words were not subject to questioning or testing because they were seen as divine
revelation. This authority set the Old
The prophetic office of the Testament apart as one marked by infallibility.
The prophetic ministries of
Jeremiah and Isaiah further underscore the authority and reliability of Old Testament prophets. Both prophets delivered God's message to Israel and the surrounding nations, often with dire warnings or promises of future events that would come to pass with complete
accuracy. Their prophecies were often written as Scripture, signifying their permanence and divine origin (Jeremiah 1:4-10; Isaiah 6).
The phrase "Thus says the Lord," commonly used by Old Testament prophets, signified that they spoke directly on God's behalf, without error or human interference (Isaiah 1:2, Jeremiah 2:1).
New Testament prophecies
The role of prophecy in the New Testament differs significantly from its Old Testament counterpart.
While prophecy remains a crucial spiritual gift for the edification of the Church, it is not accompanied by the same degree of authority or infallibility. The New Testament portrays prophecy as a means of
personal or communal edification, encouragement, and guidance rather than as a source of authoritative divine revelation. This difference is crucial in understanding the role of prophecy in the life of the contemporary Church.
One of the key differences in New Testament prophecy is its fallibility. Unlike Old Testament prophets, whose words were not subject to question,
New Testament prophecy must be weighed and tested by the community of believers. The apostle Paul clarifies this distinction by advising that
"two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said" (1 Corinthians 14:29). Testing prophecies suggests that they can contain human error. The Church is encouraged to discern what is from the Spirit and what might be influenced by human judgment or misunderstanding.
Agabus, a New Testament prophet, provides a helpful illustration of this fallibility. In Acts 21:10-11, he correctly predicted that the Jews would bind Paul in Jerusalem, but the specifics of his prophecy were slightly inaccurate. While Agabus said that the Jews would deliver Paul into the hands of the Gentiles, it was the Romans who arrested Paul
to protect him from the Jewish mob. Though the broad outline of Agabus' prophecy was accurate, the minor inaccuracy reveals the difference between New Testament prophecy and the infallible Old Testament prophetic office.
Paul did not dismiss Agabus as a false prophet for his error but treated the prophecy as valuable guidance.
The aim
The primary distinction between Old Testament and New Testament prophecy lies not only in the accuracy of the messages but also in
their function and scope.
In the Old Testament, prophecy was often revelatory, revealing God's will to the entire nation of lsrael or foretelling events of cosmic significance. Isaiah's prophecies of the coming Messiah (saiah 53) or
Jeremiah's prophecies about the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 29:10) are examples of this grand, nation-shaping purpose. Old Testament prophecy often formed the basis for Scripture itself, as the writings of the prophets became foundational to Israel's theology and covenant relationship with God.
In contrast,
New Testament prophecy serves a more localized and personal function. Paul clarifies that New Testament prophecy's purpose is for
"strengthening, encouragement, and comfort" (1 Corinthians 14:3). New Testament prophecy is not typically revelatory in the same sense as Old Testament prophecy and is
often aimed at guiding or encouraging individual believers or local congregations. Its scope is much narrower, dealing more with personal edification than national or cosmic events.
Safety
The fallibility of New Testament prophecy necessitates
testing and weighing every prophetic utterance to ensure it aligns with the known teachings of Scripture. Paul advises believers to
"test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21), recognizing that New Testament prophecy can contain elements of human error. This testing is critical in maintaining the
authority of Scripture, as all prophetic words must be
evaluated against the infallible revelation found in God's word.
In the Old Testament, false prophets were exposed by their failure to meet the standard of inerrancy and were judged accordingly (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). However, in the New Testament, ordinary Christians exercising the gift of prophecy are not held to this same standard of infallibility. Instead, the responsibility falls on the community of believers to test and discern the truthfulness and relevance of each prophetic word.
A warning
Given the fallibility of New Testament prophecy,
it is dangerous for any prophet or spiritual leader to operate independently without the oversight and discernment of a group of leaders. A prophet functioning as a "lone ranger" without the accountability of a church body or other spiritual leaders is more likely to fall into error,
misinterpretations, or even doctrinal heresy. The New Testament model of prophecy, where believers are called to weigh and test each prophetic word, implies that no individual prophet should assume infallibility or complete authority.
When self-proclaimed prophets function without accountability, their prophecies may go unchecked, leading others astray or causing spiritual harm. This is particularly dangerous in an era when charismatic individuals can attract large followers, sometimes based on their prophetic claims alone. The New Testament safeguards against such
lone-ranger prophets by encouraging
communal discernment and the
primacy of Scripture as the final authority.
The final authority
The fallibility of New Testament prophecy underscores the necessity of maintaining the authority of Scripture as the final and ultimate rule for Christian faith and practice. While prophecy is a valuable gift, it must always be subordinate to the inerrant Word of God. Paul affirms the authority of Scripture when he writes that "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Any
prophetic word that contradicts or adds to the revelation of Scripture must be rejected.
Briefing
The distinction between Old Testament prophetic office and New Testament prophecy is an essential theological point that highlights the different roles, functions, and levels of authority between the two. While Old Testament prophets spoke infallibly with the full authority of God, New Testament prophecy, particularly exercised by ordinary Christians, serves a more localized and edifying purpose yet remains subject to human error. This distinction ensures that Scripture remains the supreme authority in the Church and calls for humility and accountability among those exercising prophetic gifts.
In this context, communal discernment and the testing of prophecies are paramount, making it unwise for any prophet or spiritual leader to operate without the oversight and input of other mature believers. In the final analysis, all prophecy must be tested against the infallible Word of God, ensuring that Scripture alone remains the final and unquestionable authority in matters of faith and doctrine.
Assoc. article:
Briefly about OT VS NT prophecies
Dr. Stephen Gyesaw is a Christian apologist, an educator, and a philosopher, committed to equipping fellow Christians to know God intimately..
Like St. Augustine, Dr. Gyesaw believes that reason alone is incomplete. Faith helps us to understand further truths that cannot be discovered through reason alone. As a Christian apologist and theologian, Stephen's focus has been on getting other Christians to know God's nature and character. He has been a Bible teacher in many churches, including the church of Pentecost, Christ Apostolic Church, Methodist, and Assembly of God denominations.
Through his teachings and writings, Stephen assists Christians to discern Biblical truths from heresies and false religious teachings. Dr. Gyesaw served as an Advisory Board Member of African Studies at Loyola University International Studies, Los Angeles, California. He was elected five times to serve on the School-Based Management Committee and the school site council at Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles, CA. He is now a public school principal in Los Angeles, CA, and an associate pastor and Bible teacher at Solid Foundation Chapel in Santa Clarita, California.
