Dictionary of Bible Themes Men or women who falsely claim to speak on God's behalf. They are denounced in the OT and NT for leading people astray. Scripture provides criteria by which true prophets may be recognised and distinguished from false prophets, who often speak from base motives. Deuteronomy 18:21-22Criteria for recognising true prophets See also A true prophet's word will be fulfilled Jeremiah 28:8-9Deuteronomy 13:1-4 See also A true prophet's teaching commends righteous behaviour Ezekiel 13:17-23; 14:4-8Lamentations 2:14 Matthew 7:15-20 See also A true prophet's godly life will reflect his calling Isaiah 28:7Jeremiah 23:10-11,14 Zephaniah 3:4 1 John 4:1-6 A true prophet will acknowledge Jesus Christ as divine Jeremiah 23:16The motivations of false prophets See also Their messages originate with themselves Jeremiah 14:13-14; 23:25-32,36Ezekiel 13:1-7 Jeremiah 29:8-9 Their messages may be occasioned by popular demand Numbers 22:35,38; 23:12,26; 24:12-131 Kings 22:13-14 God places a strict requirement upon his prophets that they should proclaim only what is divinely revealed: Isaiah 30:10-11Jeremiah 5:30-31 Micah 2:11 Nehemiah 6:12-13 See also Their messages may be given for financial reward Jeremiah 6:13-14Ezekiel 13:19 Micah 3:11 2 Peter 2:1-3 1 Kings 22:19-23 Their messages may be the result of deception See also Ezekiel 14:9pp 2Ch 18:18-22 Jeremiah 14:14See also Their messages may be inspired by divination Ezekiel 13:6-7; 22:28Acts 13:6 Nehemiah 6:10-13 Examples of false prophets See also In the OT 1 Kings 22:1-28Jeremiah 27:9-10,14-18 pp 2Ch 18:1-27 Nehemiah 6:14Ezekiel 13:17 False prophetesses Jeremiah 23:13See also Prophets of other gods 1 Kings 18:19-402 Kings 10:19 Jeremiah 2:8 Matthew 24:24 In the NT See also Matthew 24:10-11pp Mk 13:22 Acts 13:6-11Revelation 2:20; 16:13; 19:20; 20:10 False prophets feature as part of the symbolism of the book of Revelation: Deuteronomy 18:20The punishment of false prophets See also Deuteronomy 13:5Zechariah 13:3 Jeremiah 14:15 Jeremiah 28:15-17; 29:21-23,30-32 Jeremiah 23:34-40 God sometimes intervened to strike the false prophet down: Ezekiel 13:8-16Micah 3:5-6 See also 4160 driving out5908 motives 6145 deceit 8748 false religion 8749 false teachers 8750 false teachings 8776 lies 8848 worldliness 9105 last things |
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