Prophets

[lunamoth]

How do you recognize/define a prophet?

Do prophets tell the future, or tell us Truth, or both?

Who in the NT would you say were prophets? Why?

Are there prophets today? Who?

If you think so, are they different from prophets of the Bible?

 

[dailogue is the best]

I think that the thread is directed to the Christians, yet, I would like to share the Islamic view with you:

Muslims regard as prophets of Islam (Arabic: نبي‎) those non-divine humans chosen by Allah (the standard Arabic-language word for "the God") as prophets. Each prophet brought the same basic ideas of Islam, including belief in one God and avoidance of idolatry and sin. Each came to preach Islam and told of the coming of the final law-bearing prophet and messenger of God: Muhammad. Each prophet directed a message to a different group and each prophet taught minor variations in Sharia (or the practice of religion) to a different target-audience. These variations constitute applications of Islam: mainstream Muslims do not consider them discrete versions of Islam.
Islamic tradition holds that God sent messengers to every nation. In Islam, only Muhammad was sent to convey God's message to the whole world, whereas other messengers (rasuls) were sent to convey their messages to a specific group of people or nation.
Unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam distinguishes between a direct messenger of God (ar rasool) and a prophet (nabi). Both function as divinely inspired recipients of God's revelation. However, in addition, rasuls receive a divine message or revelation for a community in book form. While every rasul is a nabi, not every nabi is a rasul.
Muslims regard Adam as the first prophet and Muhammad as the last prophet; hence Muhammad's title Seal of the Prophets. Islam regards Jesus as a rasul (and sometimes as a nabi) because he received wahi (revelation) from God, through which God revealed the Injil (Gospel) to him.[1] Muslims believe that God has sent over 124,000 messengers all over the world as mentioned in the Sahih Hadith. Five (sometimes known as Ulul Azmi or the Imams — literally: "leaders" — of the Rasuls) receive the highest reverence for their perseverance and unusually strong commitment to God in the face of great suffering:

1. Nuh (Noah)
2. Ibrahim (Abraham)
3. Musa (Moses)
4. Isa (Jesus)
5. Muhammad

source: Prophets of Islam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Dondi]

According to Deuteronomy 18:20-22, the test of a prophet:

"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

The prophet's prime duty is to speak a word in the Name of the Lord, and not any other gods. They proclaim truth as well as plans for the future in accordance to God's will.

There are only two prophets in the New Testament: John the Baptist and Jesus.

Of course, John the Baptist's ministry was fullfilled at the arrival of Christ "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30.

Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us:

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

Therefore, there is not need any longer for prophets since Jesus has spoken in these last days. All other apostles and teachers taught from Christ. Revelation is the revealing of Christ, spoken by Christ to John (Rev. 1:1)

 

[path_of_one]

How do you recognize/define a prophet?

I would define a prophet as someone that claims to devote their life to delivering a divine message. That is, they are not just anyone who receives a message from the Divine, but someone who receives a message to give to others and whose purpose/calling is to deliver this message.

I would recognize a prophet only through the discernment provided by the Holy Spirit.

Do prophets tell the future, or tell us Truth, or both?

Truth. When they speak of the future, it is generally to proclaim Truth about the consequences of current actions... in order to call people to a better way of being. Precognitive people and diviners tell us the future, but it has nothing to do with prophecy.

Who in the NT would you say were prophets? Why?

Jesus could be considered a prophet, though he is generally thought of as divine in Christianity. I think John the Baptist would also be considered a prophet.

While the disciples devoted their lives to Jesus' teachings, I would say they are not prophets because they did not themselves receive the message. Or, if you think Jesus was God, maybe they were prophets. That's an interesting intellectual question, but there is a qualitative difference between say, Moses, and Peter.

Paul had a direct experience of God, but it was to change his path in life to spread Jesus' teachings to Gentiles, not giving him a message of his own to deliver.

Are there prophets today? Who?

I think prophecy is possible today, but I haven't met anyone or know of anyone I would, myself, recognize a prophet relevant to me.

Certainly, there are people who claim to be prophets and there are those who fit the secular religious studies definition of one. One example would be the woman who wrote "A Course in Miracles," another might be Eckhart Tolle, though I don't think he sees himself that way. If you consider the Eastern masters to be like prophets, there are a lot of them. But I don't think they have the same ideas about transmission of ideas from Divine to humans as the Western religions do.

 

[Dream]

How do you recognize/define a prophet?

Do prophets tell the future, or tell us Truth, or both?

Who in the NT would you say were prophets? Why?

Are there prophets today? Who?

If you think so, are they different from prophets of the Bible?

A prophecy is what makes a prophet. A prophecy, from a human perspective, is a special message that 1: quickly multiplies 2: forms humanity into a larger image of itself, like a seed does to the ground or the way a cell forms into organs 3: creates positive change

In this sense Marcus Garvey was a prophet.

 

[arthra]

Well I was thinking I would post a contribution if it is allowed here under Abrahamic Religions on the Baha'i view of Prophets.. and of course as some of you know we accept that there are two Prophets or Messengers of God, i.e., the Bab (1819-1850) and Baha'u'llah (1817-1892) that appeared in relatively modern times.

Later this month the Baha'is observe the Feast of Ridwan (April 21) which is the anniversary of the Proclamation of Baha'u'llah that He was "Him Whom God would make manifest" by the Bab and on May 23rd we have an anniversary of the Declaration of the Bab that He was the Promised One.

We believe there are two types of Prophets...

Independent and Dependent..

The Independent Prophets are like the Sun of Their age and bring new laws and ordinances and reveal Holy Books (like the Rasuli) similar to Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'u'llah in our belief.

while Dependent Prophets basically derive their inspiration and light from the Independent Prophets and do not alter ordinances..or bring new laws...basically similar to Nabiyim. This would be like the minor Prophets in the Bible.

"Holy Mariner" study guide: Sun and Moon

Awhile ago the Baha'i Faith was in the Abrahamic group of religions here at Interfaith Forums but today we are in the Modern Religions section.

- Art

 

[Summia Rahmaan]

Greeting dear fellow!
I guess your post is about prophets in all Abrahamic religions. I would have to say what I know regarding Prophets.

How do you recognize/define a prophet?

Simply, to testify him. If he fulfills his testimonies given by God Almighty, he is a prophet for none has been sent without any testimony.

Do prophets tell the future, or tell us Truth, or both?

I don't think the word "Future" is suitable but "predictions". Yes, both predictions and truth. if predictions are going straight then surely prophet is Truthful.

Who in the NT would you say were prophets? Why?

Jesus pbuh is surely a prophet; not sure about others coz I found Bible at canonization, which is injust to God's words.

Are there prophets today? Who?

Yes, it is Muhmmad pbuh and will remain till the Day of Judgement.

If you think so, are they different from prophets of the Bible?

If bible mean old "Taurah and Injeel" then no! Muhammad pbuh is not different from other prophets. Muhammad pbuh brought the same message to worship one God as others did.