真假先知

摩西在申命记18章中给了以色列人一个简单的检验标准：如果先知的话没有应验，那话就不是出于耶和华。圣经也给出了其他的检验标准，包括先知是否忠于神、他们的人生结出怎样的果实，以及他们对基督的信仰。圣经不止一次地将真先知和假先知并列比较，让二者之间的区别不言自明。

检验

真先知假先知

Fulfilled Prophecy

真先知: What he predicts comes true

假先知: Predicts, and it fails

Deuteronomy gives the baseline test: if what a prophet says in the LORD's name does not happen, the LORD did not speak it, and no one needs to fear that prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22

Fidelity to the LORD

真先知: Points to the LORD, even when the sign works

假先知: Leads toward other gods, even when the sign works

A sign coming true is not enough on its own. Even a prophet whose sign or wonder comes to pass is false if the message leads Israel to worship another god.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Source of the Word

真先知: Stood in the LORD's council

假先知: Speaks from his own heart

Jeremiah accuses Jerusalem's prophets of never standing in the LORD's council to hear his word, and of repeating prophecies they heard from one another instead.

Jeremiah 23:16-22 Jeremiah 23:30-32

Fruit of Life

真先知: Good fruit, marked by repentance and righteousness

假先知: Bad fruit, marked by adultery, lies, and corruption

Jesus points to the fruit a prophet bears, not their claims or credentials. A good tree does not produce bad fruit. Jeremiah likewise condemns the prophets of his day for their adultery, lies, and failure to turn people from their wickedness.

Matthew 7:15-20 Jeremiah 23:14

Confession of Christ

真先知: Confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh

假先知: Spirit of antichrist

John gives a specifically Christian test: a spirit that confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh is from God; one that does not is the spirit of antichrist.

1 John 4:1-3

Motive

真先知: Serves without demanding pay

假先知: Divines for money

Micah accuses prophets who cry "peace" for anyone who pays them and "war" on anyone who does not. Peter later warns of teachers who exploit people with made-up words for the same reason: profit.

Micah 3:5-7 2 Peter 2:3

对峙

公元前900年公元100年

Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal

公元前875年

Elijah 对 the prophets of Baal

On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenges 450 prophets of Baal to call down fire on a sacrifice. They cry out to Baal and cut themselves for hours, but nothing happens. Elijah prays once, and fire falls from heaven, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the water.

The people fall on their faces and confess, “The LORD, he is God.” The prophets of Baal are then seized and executed at the Kishon."

1 Kings 18:20-40

Micaiah vs. Zedekiah & Ahab's 400

公元前853年

Micaiah 对 Zedekiah son of Chenaanah

Ahab's 400 court prophets, led by Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, unanimously promise victory at Ramoth-gilead. Micaiah alone predicts defeat and Ahab’s death. He also says the other prophets are speaking under a lying spirit sent by God to draw Ahab into battle.

Ahab goes to war anyway, disguised so the enemy will not recognize him. A random arrow strikes him, and he dies, just as Micaiah had warned.

1 Kings 22:13-28

Jeremiah vs. Hananiah

公元前594年

Jeremiah 对 Hananiah

Hananiah publicly breaks the wooden yoke Jeremiah wears as a sign and declares that Babylon's rule will end within two years. Jeremiah responds with an iron yoke and gives a specific test: Hananiah himself will die that same year.

Hananiah dies two months later, in the seventh month of that year.

Jeremiah 28:1-17

Nehemiah vs. Shemaiah

公元前444年

Nehemiah 对 Shemaiah

Shemaiah, who had been hired by Nehemiah's enemies, urges him to hide inside the Temple because men are supposedly coming to kill him. Nehemiah realizes the message is not from God and refuses to go. The prophetess Noadiah and other prophets also try to intimidate him.

Nehemiah refuses to be frightened or compromise his position. He finishes rebuilding Jerusalem's wall in 52 days despite the opposition.

Nehemiah 6:10-14

Paul vs. Elymas (Bar-Jesus)

公元46年

Paul 对 Elymas (Bar-Jesus)

Elymas the sorcerer opposes Paul and Barnabas before the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, trying to keep him from the faith. Paul calls him a son of the devil, full of deceit, and pronounces temporary blindness on him.

Sergius Paulus, watching it happen, believes.

Acts 13:6-12