What is a prophecy? The biblical definition explained
When we hear the word “prophecy,” we often automatically think of predicting the future. But does the Bible present it that way? What is a prophecy really from a biblical perspective? To answer this question, it’s worth taking a closer look at the Holy Scriptures.
Meaning: What is a prophecy according to the Bible?
Simply put, the Bible defines a prophecy as a message or communication from God. So, the primary focus is on the origin of the message, not necessarily the time of the event.
In 2 Peter 1:20, 21, we learn an important detail about the origin:
(2 Peter 1:20, 21) “For you know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. 21 For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.”
A prophet, therefore, is someone who receives messages from God and passes them on to others. He acts as a mouthpiece.
How did God communicate prophecies? 4 methods
How exactly did this information reach people from God? The biblical account shows that there wasn’t just one single way. God used different methods of communication:
1. Guidance of Thought (Inspiration)
The Bible speaks of all Scripture being “inspired by God.” The Greek word literally means “God-breathed.” This can be understood as follows: God used his active power, the Holy Spirit, to “breathe” his ideas and thoughts into the minds of his servants. The content originated 100 percent from God, but the prophets used their own words and phrases to express these divine thoughts.
2. Oral Transmission by Angels
When the exact wording was crucial, God instructed the angels to dictate his message.
3. Visions and Dreams
God also used visual impressions:
- Visions while awake: These could be so intense that the prophet felt as if he were right in the middle of the action.
- Trance: In other cases, visions were conveyed while the prophet was in a trance—a state between wakefulness and sleep.
- Dreams: Sometimes God also conveyed his messages through dreams while the prophet was asleep.
4. The Written Form
Known from the Ten Commandments, which God himself wrote down and gave to Moses.
Misconception: Are prophecies always predictions of the future?
The answer is a clear no. While many biblical prophecies deal with things that were yet to come, that was not their sole purpose.
Prophecy as a Conditional Warning
A message from God could be a warning. God let the Israelites know that their bad behavior would have consequences. The interesting thing about this is its conditional nature: If they changed their ways, there would be positive consequences. Future events depended on people’s decisions in the here and now.
Prophecies Without Reference to the Future
There are biblical prophecies that had absolutely nothing to do with prediction but served other purposes:
- Explanation of God’s Approach: When the Israelites were in distress, God sent a prophet to explain why he hadn’t helped them (because of their past disobedience).
- Revelation of the Past: When Jesus spoke to a woman at the well in Samaria, he revealed details of her private life. She recognized him as a prophet because, through divine inspiration, he knew her hidden story.
- Revelation of Hidden Knowledge: When Jesus was interrogated and beaten, the guards mocked him, “Prophesy to us who beat you!” The point here was to reveal, through God’s power, something that happened in secret (the identity of the assailant), not the future.
Conclusion
In summary, we can say that a biblical prophecy is far more than a glimpse into the future. It is divine communication. Whether conveyed through angels, visions, dreams, or guided thoughts, it serves to make God’s will, his warnings, or his knowledge of the past, present, and future accessible to humankind.