The Gift of Prophecy And Its Compatibility With the Sufficiency of Scripture

Religious people can't be real scientists! Trinitarians are polytheists! Calvinists don't believe in evangelism! Replacement Theology is anti-semitic! Belief in contemporary prophecy is not compatible with Sola Scriptura!

What do each of the above statements have in common? Well, for one thing, they are all very commonly heard statements today. But the other thing they each have in common is that none of them are true. They sound good. They each have a certain specious force. But they aren't actually true. Not in the least.

My purpose today is not to dispel myths about all of them. My goal today is to dispel the last one. Namely, the very common charge from cessationist Christians that belief in a continuing gift of prophecy is incompatible with a robust belief in Sola Scriptura, or Scripture Alone (for a brief description of what prophecy is, click here for an earlier post). It is a fairly simple charge. If, as they say, Scripture is sufficient for all of our needs, then what need have we of continuing prophecy, which is a form of revelation?

First of all, let me say that prophecy can be a threat to the sufficiency of Scripture if it is abused. That is to say that there have always been and always will be those who use their supposed prophetic "revelations" to undermine scriptural teaching, if not outright deny it. One need look no further than Mormonism, which  has even added false books to its list of approved scriptures. Additionally, I would be remiss to not point out some of the flaky, unbiblical things that sometimes emerge from the Charismatic Movement which clearly are at odds with Scripture. I don't argue that. My argument is that continuing prophecy does not necessarily conflict with Sola Scriptura.

Space prohibits a complete look at how prophecy works, or a full treatment of Sola Scriptura. So what I hope to do now is look at it from two different angles. Firstly, I want to point out a presupposition that I have concerning theological method. Secondly, I want to look at what I believe is the locus classicus text establishing the sufficiency of Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and make application of it to the question of prophecy. 

The first thing I want to do is apply a proper theological method to this question. Sometimes two things may be true in Scripture that don't immediately seem to reconcile. But I have to have faith that somehow they do reconcile, and then from there, work to find a solution. So for example, the Bible teaches monotheism. There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 1 Timothy 2:5). Scripture also teaches the deity of Jesus Christ and His essential unity with and distinction from the Father (John 1:1; 8:58; 10:27-30; Philippians 2:5-11). Moreover, the Bible teaches the deity of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11). How does that work!? How can there be only one God; but Father, Son and Holy Spirit each be God, while simultaneously distinct in personhood from each other? Well, I may not exactly know how it works. But it does. I believe that is how the early church thought. Biblically, they held to monotheism, but they also accepted what Scriptures taught concerning Christ and the Holy Spirit, and they came to gradually understand the Trinity because they refused to pit one strand of Scriptural teaching against another.

So now, with that in mind, to the question at hand. How can contemporary prophecy not threaten the sufficiency of Scripture? Well, even if I don't exactly know how, I know already that somehow it doesn't. I know that Scripture teaches its own sufficiency (Mark 7:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Everything God wants me to know to love and follow Him is found in the 66 books of the Bible and in them alone. Scripture also teaches that there is a spiritual gift of prophecy that is meant to build up the Body of Christ, and will function that way until the coming of "that which is perfect" - namely the consummation of redemptive history that God will bring in the New Heavens and New Earth (1 Corinthians 13:8-13; Ephesians 4:11-16). How do these two concepts go together? Well they do. I may or may not yet know exactly how. But I already know that they are compatible since Scripture teaches both truths. Again, one must not pit one strand of teaching against another.

But realistically, we can't stay there. Some attempt should be made of harmonizing two things that on the surface may not seem to agree. With that in mind, I turn attention to the primary text which establishes Sola Scriptura and the sufficiency of Scripture:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

Paul's words here to Timothy tell us what Scripture is meant to do in the life of believers, both  individually, and especially in the life of the Church. We understand here that all of Scripture is inspired by God, not just some parts of it. But we also read in verse 17 that Scripture makes us "complete, equipped for every good work". This is enough to establish its sufficiency. With the 66 books of the Bible, I can be complete and equipped for everything God requires of me.

So with that in mind, let's make specific application to the prophetic gift. The Bible is sufficient to teach us what prophecy is, what it does, and how long it will last. Scripture is sufficient to reprove and correct concerning improper views and applications of prophecy. Scripture is sufficient to train us in the right use of prophecy and how to handle specific problems that may arise. Among the many "good works" that the Bible is sufficient to make me "complete" and "equipped" for, is how to understand and apply the gift of prophecy to the life of the Church. 

In short, Scripture is sufficient to equip Christians to prophesy, in the same way that Scripture is sufficient to equip Christians to pray, to love their spouses and children, to work honestly at their jobs, to deal with relational problems, etc... In fact, I wouldn't even know what prophecy is and what it does except that Scripture tells me; so I already know that Scripture stands above prophecy in everything. To be sure, prophetic utterances do have a measure of authority. We are commanded not to despise them (1 Thessalonians 5:20), and also that we should desire them (1 Corinthians 14:1). But it is the Bible that stands over and above the prophetic gift and which teaches me everything I need to know about it, just as it teaches me everything I need to know concerning everything else.

I know this short treatment cannot answer every question or address every possible scenario concerning the proper applications of prophecy. But I do hope that it is sufficient to answer the specific charge against it, and to vindicate one of God's most precious and vital gifts to the Church in this present age. Amen.