Prophecy and the interpretation of tongues are quite similar. Paul speaks of this gift in 1 Corinthians 12:10, “To another the working of miracles, to another PROPHECY, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” The word “prophecy” translates the Greek “prophéteia” (προφητεία). It simply refers to a divinely-inspired message; to speak words which God granted.
There are two types of prophecies found in Scripture:
1) Forth-telling or Proclamatory Prophecy.
2) Foretelling or Predictive Prophecy.
Forth-telling or Proclamatory Prophecy
Christians often mistake prophecy with prediction. Prophecy, on its own, does not predict the future. It is simply a divine message from God about anything or situation, given at the spur of the moment. This kind of prophecy, which does not predict anything, is called forth-telling i.e. to speak forth God’s Word to His people.
In the Old Testament, where God’s prophets simply said “Thus says the Lord,” they were prophesying, even though they were not predicting anything. For example, Isaiah 44:6-8 says, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people.
And the things that are coming and shall come, let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Notice this statement simply describes the greatness of God. It does not predict. It is prophecy.
The simple gift of prophecy is to deliver God’s message to His people. It does not speak concerning the future.
Foretelling or Predictive Prophecy
Prophecy can also predict the future. In this case, it is not just the gift of prophecy in operation. It is the gift of prophecy working together with the word of wisdom. The word of wisdom reveals information/facts about future events (1 Corin 12:8, cf. Jn 13:36-38, Mrk 13:1-2, Acts 11:27-30, 21:10-12). In this case, the prophet is foretelling.
Prophecy, on its own, is simply a divine message. It says nothing about the future. Where it predicts the future, it is working together with another gift—the word of wisdom.
Note that New Testament prophecy is more proclamatory than predictive. That is, it “forth-tells” more than it “foretells.” New Testament prophecy is majorly non-predictive in nature. Paul makes this clear, in 1 Corinthians 14:3, “But he who prophesies speaks EDIFICATION and EXHORTATION and COMFORT to men.” Notice Paul does not say, “He who prophesies speaks concerning the future to men.” Prophecy, on its own, does not reveal the future (until it is accompanied by the word of wisdom).
Therefore, in the New Testament, the forth-telling sort of prophecy is much more pronounced. Prophecy in the New Testament is speaking a divine message in a known language, to edify, exhort, and comfort men. It does not necessarily speak about future events.
The Interpretation of Tongues and Prophecy
The interpretation of tongues and prophecy are similar because they are both divine messages, in a known language. The only difference between the interpretation of tongues and prophecy is the vehicle by which both come.
The interpretation of tongues comes through the channel of tongues (it accompanies tongues). Practically, there must first of all be a message spoken in tongues, then this message is interpreted. The divine message comes after a tongue is spoken.
The simple gift of prophecy, however, is direct. It does not necessarily have to accompany tongues; it is simply speaking a divine message, at once (without having spoken with tongues first).
Prophecy Is Not Preaching
Some have held that the “prophecy” referred to by Paul (in 1 Corinthians 14) is preaching. This cannot be the case for obvious reasons.
To preach, you are expected to study, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15, KJV). The preacher is to be sound in doctrine, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Tit 2:1), and able to teach, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Tim 3:2).
The “ability to teach” comes from diligent study of God’s Word, not prophecy. This is why Paul instructs Timothy, a Pastor, to take heed to his doctrine, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim 4:13). Vs. 16 says, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
The elders (i.e. Pastors) who are to be considered “worthy of double honor” are those who work hard at preaching and teaching, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim 5:17). A good Bible teacher becomes so by applying himself to rigorous study of God’s Word, not by the gift of prophecy.
This is the difference between preaching and prophecy; preaching is prepared beforehand. Prophecy is given at the spur of the moment i.e. by inspiration.
The Office Of The Prophet
Furthermore, there is a difference between the simple gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet. They are not the same.
Every believer in Christ has the simple gift of prophecy, “To another the working of miracles, TO ANOTHER PROPHECY, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corin 12:10). In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul asks believers to desire to prophesy, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (vs. 1). Vs. 5 says, “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” Paul remarks in vs. 24, “But if ALL PROPHESY, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.” All can prophesy, in the gathering of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14 ends thus, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order” (vv. 39-40). The gift of prophecy is one which every Christian has, and should desire to walk in.
Similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20, Paul says, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.” It is apparent, therefore, that Paul acknowledged prophecy as one of the gifts of the Spirit present amongst the saints.
While clear that EVERY believer can prophesy, Paul also recognized the OFFICE of a prophet. He writes in Ephesians 4, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some PROPHETS, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (vv. 11-12). Similarly, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? ARE ALL PROPHETS? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?”
We can all prophesy, but that does not make us all prophets (in the office of the prophet). We all have money, to some degree or extent, but that does not make us rich. Rich people have money, but simply sharing the same characteristic as they (i.e. having money) doesn’t make us them—rich!
The Book of Acts also recognizes this difference between the simple gift of prophecy (which we all have) and the office of prophecy. Although all saints can prophesy (Acts 2:18), Acts 13 mentions those who occupied the office of prophets in the Early Church, “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were CERTAIN PROPHETS and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (vs. 1). Agabus was also a prophet, “And as we stayed many days, A CERTAIN PROPHET named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (Acts 21:10-11). He gave a predictive prophecy here. Philip’s daughters also functioned in the office of prophets, “Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied” (Acts 21:9).
Therefore, there exists a difference between the simple gift of prophecy which we all have (1 Corin 12:10, cf. Acts 2:16-18) and the New Testament office of the prophet (Eph 4:11, 1 Corin 12:28). Usually, the Prophet is more skilled in the art of prophecy, and operates in the gift more frequently and intensely than others normally would, in public ministry.
Spiritual Songs Through Prophecy
Via the interpretation of tongues and prophecy can also proceed psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, given in a known language. That is, we may sing in tongues and get an interpretation in songs, “What is the
conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (1 Corin 14:15). To “sing with the understanding” is to sing forth the interpretation of what was “sung in the spirit” (i.e. in tongues).
The word “sing” (vs. 15) translates the Greek “psalló” (ψάλλω) which means to make melody i.e. singing accompanied with tunes. Practically, this means we may sing in tongues (i.e. add music/melody to our tongues), then sing in the understanding (i.e. add music/melody to the interpretation which comes afterwards).
We can also give an inspired song directly (without singing in tongues first), via prophecy, “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, EACH OF YOU HAS A PSALM, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corin 14:26). Notice Paul does not say to sing in the Spirit first to get this psalm (unlike in vs. 15). This psalm comes instantaneously, at the spur of the moment, by prophecy.
Thus, either of the two may be found in the gathering of the saints: a spiritual song by the interpretation of tongues, or a song by prophecy. The former will be preceded by singing in tongues. The latter would come without first singing in tongues.
Seven ways to discern prophecies
The Bible, both clearly and by inference, gives us certain benchmarks to judge between prophecies genuinely sourced in the Spirit of God and false prophecies. Some of these criteria include:
1) No true prophecy would contradict Scripture and the clear revelation of the Word of God (Isa 8:20, cf. Gal 1:6-9, 1 Jn 4:1-3).
2) All true prophecy would glorify Christ (Rev 19:10, cf. 1 Corin 12:3).
3) No true prophecy would encourage sin (Deut 13:1-5).
4) New Testament prophecy does not inspire fear, sin-consciousness or condemnation (Rom 8:1, Heb 8:12). It does not condemn us for past or present sins which God has ALREADY forgiven (Eph 1:7, Col 1:14, 2:13), nor does it pronounce woes or curses on God’s people like Old Testament prophecies did (see Isa 5:8-23, 10:1-4, Ezek 16:23, Am 6:1). It edifies and comforts (1 Corin 14:3).
5) Usually, a word of prophecy would simply confirm something God has already told you. For example, Acts 13:2 confirmed an earlier word to Paul (about his ministry) in Acts 9:15-16 (see also Acts 26:13-18).
6) The life of the so-called prophet must also be examined. Words from a prophet living in open sin should be treated cautiously (Matt 7:15-20, cf. Jd 1:12-13, 16-19, Tit 1:10-16, 2 Pt 2:1-3, 10).
7) Predictive prophecies, with no conditional clauses, that do not come to pass are false (Deut 18:22). However, predictive prophecies, which give room for human response, may or may not come to pass, depending on man’s actions or inactions to God’s promises. Scripture teaches that human responses may sometimes alter the outcome of prophecies (see Exo 32:9-14 cf. Pss 106:23, Lev 26:3-4, 14-16, 40-42, Num 14:11-12, 19-20, Deut 28:1, 15, 1 Sam 2:30, 1 Kgs 21:21-22, 27-29, 2 Kgs 20:1-6, 2 Chron 12:5-7, Jer 18:7-10, 26:1-3, 12-13, 36:1-3, Ezek 18:21-23, 33:13-16, Am 7:1-6, Jon 3:4-5, 10, 4:2, Rev 2:5, 22).
This brings our study of the utterance gifts to a close. We now proceed to examine the revelatory gifts, beginning with the word of knowledge.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2026.
