Lets look at 1 Cor 14 - maybe we’ll notice what it is that Paul describes as prophecy:
“3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”
“18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue...22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.”
“29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”
I notice a few things:
There are probably 3-4 prophets per congregation, and possibly more - after all, if one lets 2-3 speak, and other weigh what is said, then the minimum would be 3-4. Per congregation.
You say you’ve met “five that I consider to be prophets” - that is about the MINIMUM per congregation, if Paul is using the same definition as you!
I notice that a prophet “speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” Hmmm...didn’t say much about predicting the future, did it. And who in the church “speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” - any ideas?
While contrasting prophesy and tongues, Paul says, “in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue”. So a prophet speaks words “with [his] mind in order to instruct others”.
Golly. I wonder if anyone in those stodgy old mainline Baptist churches ever does that...if so, who?
And I notice “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you” - lets see, have I ever seen that?
Yep. Maybe not falling on his face, but certainly falling on his knees! And not once, but quite a few times!
Now, if you are right in defining what the office of a prophet is in the NT, then you have, by your own admission, met just enough in your life to support ONE congregation.
If I am right, and this office describes preaching the word of God, then I’ve seen this many times.
I have already said that the NT also supports a prophet who speaks the word of God directly. Anyone want to guess how many New Testaments were floating around in 75 AD? But most of the NT scriptures WERE available by 150-200 AD, which is also when the more formally defined prophets started to disappear.
By 100AD, the formal definition type Apostles were gone. Then, by 200 AD, certainly the large majority of the formal definition prophets were gone. Teachers remained, as did Preachers of the Word.
Of course, if you are right, then you have enough folks wandering around in secret to support a single congregation in one meeting. If I’m right, the church is doing OK by the gifts of the Spirit, who I believe has been at work for 2000 years - and yes, Baptist though I be, who worked through the Catholic and Orthodox Churches as well.
We still have church planters. We still have folks who, by your definition, have ‘knowledge’. But no, I see no sign we have second-grade Apostles who can do everything but write scripture. And I see no sign we have 4-5 future-telling prophets per congregation.
And I REALLY see no sign that Jedediah is a true prophet of God!
I think I understand your sensibilities and perspective.
I think your stridency has been quite effective in communicating both your sensibilities and perspective and some of your emotions about it all.
If Paul had meant something else, he would have used a different word.
Prophesy:
προφητεύω
prophēteuō
prof-ate-yoo'-o
From G4396; to foretell events, divine, speak under
inspiration, exercise the prophetic office: - prophesy.
Ref:Strongs Concordance (KJV)
There are probably 3-4 prophets per congregation, and possibly more - after all, if one lets 2-3 speak, and other weigh what is said, then the minimum would be 3-4. Per congregation.
Okay... But that was in a time when prophets were accepted, and when the Spirit was accepted. Did you miss the part about the whole congregation speaking in tongues, and the whole congregation prophesying? Hmmm... That part doesn't sound so much like any mainstream church I heard of... But it does sound a whole lot like the Spirit coming down upon the whole house.
If I am right, and this office describes preaching the word of God, then I’ve seen this many times.
Except for one problem:
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
The prophets are those endowed with knowledge and revelation. As the Prophecy unrolls it is the prophets who see (though through a veil), and acknowledge the passing milestones. It has also been the prophets who have pronounced God's favor and disfavor upon cities and nations, and have been the bearer of warnings of impending doom.
Unless it is your argument that the New Testament Scripture is the "perfect" that "does away" with the prophesying, it must still serve it's purpose. In fact, since that seems to be your argument, I find it horribly flawed, as without prophets to reveal the New Covenant prophecies, the Church is flying blind, and has been for many, many years.
If all that has been reduced to a mere "word of knowledge" about whether or not someone should make a purchase, or some such nonsense, then the coming of Christ performed the exact reverse of the Pentecostal promise:
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
This verse, by the way, directly ties the Old Testament word for "prophesy" (naw-baw') directly to the New Testament word thereof (propheteuo - see Acts 2:17).
Of course, if you are right, then you have enough folks wandering around in secret to support a single congregation in one meeting.
If I am right (which I know I am), It speaks to the nakedness of the visible Church today - and the literal blindness - Relying on the baptism of water, when they should be looking for the baptism of the Spirit
Note that I do not mean to disparage the "word of knowledge". That such is recognized within your Church is a very good thing, and it is a worthy thing to defend. Many denominations would call even that "crazy".
My testimony regards the true and real power of the Holy Spirit. Real miracles. Real prophecy. Real foreknowledge and revelation. Real healing. Tongues and interpretation.
These were promised to the Church. Where are they?