The Bible teaches that spiritual gifts, including prophecy, come from God and are given through the Spirit. But who can receive these gifts, how can genuine prophecy be recognized, and why does prophecy matter today?
Spiritual Gifts Are Meant to Be Understood
Paul begins his discussion of spiritual gifts with an important statement in 1 Corinthians 12:1: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”
Paul was writing to the members of the church in Corinth—not exclusively to prophets or apostles. His instruction suggests that spiritual gifts were something ordinary members of the Church were expected to understand.
This provides an important foundation: spiritual gifts are not presented as something reserved exclusively for a spiritual elite.
Where Do Prophetic Gifts Come From?
In 1 Corinthians 12:3–6, Paul explains that spiritual gifts come from God and operate through the Spirit. Although there are different gifts and different ways they operate, they come from the same divine source.
Paul also provides an important principle for discerning what is genuinely from the Spirit: spiritual manifestations should testify of Jesus Christ rather than deny or denigrate Him.
Therefore, the message and its spiritual fruit matter when considering a claim of prophecy. A message that contradicts the testimony of Christ does not fit the foundation Paul establishes for spiritual gifts.
Look for the Fruits of the Spirit
Another helpful passage is Galatians 5:22, where Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Longsuffering
- Gentleness
- Goodness
- Faith
These qualities provide a useful biblical framework for thinking about spiritual manifestations. If something is genuinely associated with the Spirit, we would expect its influence to be consistent with these Christ-like qualities.
Elizabeth Provides an Example of Prophecy
The New Testament gives an example of prophetic knowledge in the account of Elizabeth and Mary. When Mary visits Elizabeth, Elizabeth recognizes the significance of Mary’s child and declares, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed be the fruit of thy womb.”
The account illustrates the transcript’s understanding of prophecy: Elizabeth receives knowledge through the Spirit and testifies of Christ, even though she did not appear to have known Mary’s circumstances beforehand.
Spiritual Gifts Are Given for the Benefit of Others
Paul returns to spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:7–11. He lists a variety of gifts, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
Importantly, Paul says that the manifestation of the Spirit is given “to every man to profit withal.” He also explains that the gifts are distributed among people by the same Spirit.
The purpose of spiritual gifts, therefore, is not personal status or gain. They are intended to benefit people spiritually and help build a relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
Can People Receive the Gift of Prophecy Today?
The transcript emphasizes that Paul’s discussion of spiritual gifts was addressed to believers living after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul does not present prophecy in this passage as something restricted to a past generation.
Within this interpretation, spiritual gifts remain available through the Spirit. A person may receive different gifts, including prophecy, according to the will of God.
The emphasis is therefore not simply on seeking a particular gift. It is on developing a relationship with God and learning to recognize and follow the influence of His Spirit.
Why Prophetic Gifts Matter
The biblical discussion of prophecy is ultimately part of a larger teaching about spiritual gifts. These gifts have a common source, are distributed in different ways, and are intended for spiritual benefit.
For someone exploring prophetic gifts, the passages in 1 Corinthians and Galatians provide several principles to consider: spiritual gifts come from God, genuine spiritual manifestations testify of Christ, the fruits of the Spirit matter, and spiritual gifts are given for the benefit of others.
Rather than treating prophecy as something reserved for a select few, these passages invite believers to understand the gifts of the Spirit and consider how God may work through them.
