Rick Renner
Study Guide on the Five Fold
The Prophet:
Here are four specific ways the Greek word pro can be translated:
#1: The Greek word pro means before. It can describe a prophet’s posi-
tion before God.
Before the presence of God, a prophet listens with an open heart to whatever the Spirit of God would say to Him. But the word phemi — the second part of the word prophetes — shows that a prophet does more than listen; he listens and he speaks, conversing or communicating before the face of God. The prophet lingers in God’s presence to receive clarification, making sure he understands the message God is speaking. This is the primary role of a prophet’s responsibility.
So speaking and conversing before God is a requirement for him to fulfill his task. Many think that a prophet prophesies spontaneously, but in fact, if he speaks, he is able to speak because he has spent much time before the presence of God. He first speaks God’s message before God to make sure he knows His heart and His message.
Although most think of a prophet’s ability to prophesy, this is secondary to a prophet’s primary function. The prophet’s foremost task is to be in the presence of God to listen and hear His message clearly. He is humbling himself, lingering to clearly hear what God is saying....
#2: The Greek word pro means in front of. It can describe a prophet’s position in front of people.
A second translation of the word pro means in front of, and it depicts a prophet’s public role to stand in front of people. The divine insights he receives from God are not for him; he is to impart them to those God asks him to stand in front of. He becomes the voice or mouthpiece of God. When the word pro is compounded with the word phemi — which means to speak — it means a prophet is called to public ministry in front of people.
Once he has heard and understands the message on God’s heart, he moves from the solitary to the public to stand in front of (the Greek word, pro) people to speak (the Greek word, phemi). His job is to give the message God has authorized him to deliver and nothing more....
#3: The Greek word pro means on behalf of. It can describe a prophet’s responsibility to “speak on behalf of ” the Lord.
The word pro can mean on behalf of and underscores that a prophet does not speak on his own behalf, or on the behalf of any other human being or organization. His job is to speak — the Greek word, phemi — but he does not have the right to speak his or anyone else’s views or commentary or interpretation on a divine matter. He is to speak on behalf of the Lord and accurately represent His message. ...
#4: The Greek word pro means in advance. It carries with it the sense of a predictive ability and can be translated as one who “speaks in advance.”
The word pro can describe a prophet’s ability to speak (the Greek word, phemi) with a certain predictive ability or to describe events in advance of their happenings. Although this is not what a prophet does all the time, it is a part of his ministry. ..
Rick Renner
Study Guide on the Five Fold
https://renner.org/product-category/study-guides/
