Prophecy

Oversimplified

• Speaking God's word — chiefly calling His people to faithfulness, and foretelling His saving acts, above all the coming of Christ.
• The Old Testament prophets are read by the Church as witnesses to Christ, "who spoke by the prophets" through the Holy Spirit.

Summary

Prophecy is the God-given word borne by the prophets — not mainly prediction but the declaration of God's will, judgment, and mercy. "No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1.21). The prophets confront kings, comfort the afflicted, and point beyond their own day.

Fulfilled in Christ

The Church reads Isaiah, the Psalms, and the prophets as foretelling Christ's birth, Passion, and Resurrection; the Creed confesses the Spirit "who spoke by the prophets." Prophecy continues in the Church as a charism of the Spirit, always tested against the apostolic faith (1 Corinthians 14, 1 John 4.1) — the failure of Montanism.[^1] See Isaiah, Typology in Scripture, The Holy Spirit.

[^1]: The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed confesses the Holy Spirit "who spoke by the prophets."