138 – The Offices of Christ – The Prophet

SEMESTER 3

138 – The Offices of Christ – The Prophet

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY III LESSON # 38
THE OFFICES OF CHRIST (PROPHET)

Read Jn. 1:23-25, Jn. 6:14, Jn. 7:40, Deut. 18:15-18.

INTRODUCTION:

1. In speaking of the offices of Christ, we could refer too many.
2. For the purpose of this course, we shall address three: Prophet, Priest and King.
3. In this lesson, then, I will address myself to Christ’s office as a prophet.
4. We will divide this study into three sections:

i. The meaning of the word biblically.
ii. The sense in which Christ filled this office.
iii. The exclusive nature of His office as prophet.

I. THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF THE WORD PROPHET

1. The most commonly used Hebrew word is nabiy (naw-bee’), meaning inspired man.
2. This word comes from the Hebrew root naba (naw-baw) meaning to speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction, or simple discourse).
3. This word is extended to the feminine gender nebiyah (neb-ee-yaw) meaning a prophetess or inspired woman, by implication a poetess, or by association a prophet’s wife.
4. The only word used for a prophet (true) in the Greek is prophetes (Prof-ay'-tace) meaning a foreteller, by analysis an inspired speaker, by extension a poet, or a prophet.
5. It is easily seen, that even though the word carries definitive meaning, we are greatly dependent upon context to show us the intention in a given place.
6. We have, for instance, on one extreme, the action of Saul in I Sam. 10:5-12, and in the other extreme, Christ revealing God unto dead men.
7. It is this latter extreme that this lesson shall address.

II. THE SENSE IN WHICH CHRIST FILLED THIS OFFICE

1. In the sense of the most concise expression of divine truth.

III: The repetition of Old Testament prophets in phrases describing that which was revealed unto them.

i. Christ revealed, in a five minute discourse, what Old Testa­ment prophets said in an entire book.

2. The most complete expression of divine truth. The Spirit was not given to Him by measure. (Jn. 3:31-34)
3. He was the pure expression of divine truth. Other prophets told the truth, Christ was the truth. (Jn. 14:6)

III. THE EXCLUSIVE NATURE OF HIS OFFICE AS A PROPHET

1. Even though He was the epitome of all the prophets, He was not among them.
2. Those who thought Him “one of the prophets” were classed in error. (Mat. 16:13-20)
3. The Jews were taught to look for an exclusive prophet, like unto Moses, yet superior, one whom the true Israel of God would hear. (Compare Deut. 18:15-18 to Jn. 1:21.) Christ was “that prophet,” the prophet above, and apart from, all prophets in that:

i. He knew all things. (Jn. 21:17)
ii. He was the subject of all prophecy. (Heb. 10:7)
iii. He is the object of all true prophecy. (Rev. 5:1-14)
iv. His testimony (testimony of Him) is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10)
v. He is the final and ultimate revelation of all that God is and shall do. (Heb. 1:1-2, Jn. 1:18, Col. 1:19, I Cor. 2:9)