Comparing Agabus Prophesied To Paul In Corinthians

making and handling of problems. The need arises because humanity is constantly faced with important choices to make and serious crises. Immediate knowledge of all relevant considerations that are necessary to facilitate the making of a wise decision may not be available.

Hence there is need for prophetic communications to close the gap. Prophecy is necessary to serve individual and social needs. Paul in Corinthians talks of the edification, exhortation and comfort of the church. Christian prophecy is not necessarily ecstatic. Aune describes it as controlled prophetic trance (Aune 1983: 19-21).

While the revelation that is received may be distinct and compelling to the extent: - that the recipient may feel it is irresistible (although Paul

Conversely, in prophecy, a person is bringing words the Lord gives directly. A person can bring prophetic words which s/he also does not understand. During an inspired sermon however, a preacher may prophesy or come up with the word of knowledge and wisdom which must be distinguished from preaching. If a teaching or an exposition edifies, exhorts or consoles, it does not necessarily make it a prophecy. And 1 Corinthians 14:3 does not restrict prophecy to a congregation only or marginalize prophecy given to individuals. Agabus prophesied to Paul outside a congregational meeting.

In general, the purpose of a prophetic utterance is the assurance of the presence of God among his people whom He knows intimately. Discerning of spirits is vital because prophecy is not a purely Christian phenomenon. Even the devil can prophesy. So discernment of spirits will enable hearers not only to determine the content of the message but also the source of the message. In Acts 16:17 the Philippi slave girl worked by fortune telling.

When she joined Paul and Silas, her prophecy and testimony was true, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God who are telling you the way to be saved.’ However the prophecy was demonically inspired. The devil has counterfeits of all true gifts. There are many false prophets in the

After testing it Paul was convinced that the prophecy was true but he still had to go to Jerusalem. The early Christian community tested prophecy on the grounds of rules of faith and the canon. Scripture became the key by which prophesies were assessed. Does the prophecy edify, comfort and exhort the Christian community or challenge it wit him the limits of the apostolic faith and tradition? This was a common question. Because of emphasis of scripture as the norm, the need arose to: - assess the person, who prophesied, evaluate the content of the message, and how the message is transmitted. Methodology looks at the order of transmission. ‘The spirits of the prophets are subject to prophets’ (1 Corinthians 14:32). Those who refuse to submit to community orders, or who are disruptive, or refuse to be tested and give themselves unchallenged authority, fail the test and must be ignored. These measures tend to be very subjective while at the same time emphasis on the discernment of the spirit is diminishing in