God no longer speaks through prophets who deliver new, authoritative revelation like the biblical prophets did. The apostles and prophets laid the foundation of the church, and God’s final word has come through his Son, Jesus. But the gift of prophecy continues in the church today, as believers speak God’s already-revealed truth to strengthen, encourage, and comfort one another.
Prophets in the Old Testament
Some churches today claim to have prophets and apostles who speak for God with the same authority as Scripture. To know whether that’s biblical, we need to understand what prophets did in the first place. In the Old Testament, prophets weren’t fortune-tellers. They were messengers God chose to confront sin, comfort his people, and call them back to himself.
God sent Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Hosea to picture God’s faithful love through a painful marriage, and Jonah to warn the wicked city of Nineveh. When God called Ezekiel, he made the assignment clear:
Ezekiel 2:3-5 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Old Testament prophets spoke with the authority of “This is what the Sovereign Lord says.” Their words carried God’s own weight, and many of them became part of Scripture.
The Spirit Poured Out on All Believers
In the New Testament, something changed. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus, and Peter explained it by quoting the prophet Joel.
Acts 2:17-18 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Under the old covenant, the Spirit especially empowered prophets, priests, and kings. Under the new covenant, every believer receives the Spirit. That doesn’t mean everyone becomes an Old Testament–style prophet. It means God now speaks to and through all his people as they share his truth. Some believers in the early church were especially gifted in this way, like Philip’s four daughters and a man named Agabus (Acts 21:9-11).
Foundation Prophets and the Gift of Prophecy
The key to answering this question is recognizing two kinds of prophets in the New Testament. The first are foundational prophets who spoke authoritatively for God and, together with the apostles, revealed the gospel that Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.
Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
A foundation is laid once. God doesn’t need to reveal new doctrine through modern prophets, because the foundation is complete in Scripture. The second kind of prophet is someone with the spiritual gift of prophecy, which Paul says Christ gives to equip his people and build up the church (Ephesians 4:11-12). This gift speaks God’s truth into each new generation and congregation. As Paul explained, “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3).
Because this gift is exercised by imperfect people, Paul told believers not to treat prophecies with contempt, but to “test them all” and “hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). Any word that contradicts the Bible, or adds to its message, isn’t from God.
Jesus Is God’s Final Word
Why don’t we need new authoritative prophets today? Because the greatest prophet has already come. The book of Hebrews opens with this contrast:
Hebrews 1:1-2 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Jesus isn’t just another messenger in a long line of prophets. He is the message. Everything we need to know about God and how to be made right with him is revealed in Jesus and recorded in Scripture. When we want to hear from God, we don’t need to chase the latest prophetic claim. We can open his Word, listen to his Spirit, and look to his Son.
The Takeaway
Does God still speak through prophets? Not through prophets who add new revelation to Scripture. That foundation is complete, and Jesus is God’s final word. But God still speaks through his Word, by his Spirit, and through believers who use the gift of prophecy to strengthen and encourage the church.
