Discerning True Prophecy from False Prophets in Scripture

Discerning true prophecy from false prophets is a recurring theme in Scripture, with various tests and characteristics provided to distinguish between them. Prophets were individuals through whom God communicated his will, purposes, and plans to humanity ^{[2, 5]}. This communication could occur in diverse ways, including audible voices, angelic visitations, and direct declarations ^{[5, 9]}. The prophetic gift was understood to be received through the agency of the Spirit of God ^[9].

One primary function of a prophet was prediction, which Easton's Bible Dictionary defines as a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture" ^[6]. The Old Testament, for instance, contains numerous predictions concerning the coming of the Messiah ^{[6, 13]}.

False prophets, in contrast, were not sent or commissioned by God ^[7]. They often pretended to be sent by God, speaking their own prophecies rather than the word of the Lord ^{[7, 19]}. The book of Proverbs emphasizes the deceitful nature of false witnesses, stating that "a truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies" ^[4]. Another proverb notes that "a truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful" ^[1].

Several characteristics and tests are given in Scripture to identify false prophets:

Lack of Divine Commission: False prophets were not genuinely sent by God, as highlighted in Jeremiah 14:14 and 23:21 ^[7]. Their messages originated from their own imaginations rather than divine revelation ^[19].
Deceitful and Treacherous Nature: False prophets are described as "light and treacherous" (Zephaniah 3:4) and are associated with lies spoken in the name of the Lord ^[7]. Proverbs 12:17 states that "a false witness gives out deceit" ^[3].
Motivation and Character: Scripture portrays false prophets as covetous, crafty, drunken, immoral, and profane ^[7]. Their actions and character often contradicted God's will, even if their words seemed appealing ^[16]. Jesus warned against false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves, emphasizing that they would be known by their fruits ^[17]. This means that a prophet's actions must align with their words and with God's word to be considered true ^[16].
Failure of Predictions: A crucial test for a prophet's truthfulness was whether their predictions came to pass ^[16]. If a prophet's words did not conform to God's word or if their predictions failed, they were considered false ^[16].
Speaking What People Want to Hear: False prophets often spoke messages that pleased their audience rather than calling them to live according to God's will ^[16].

The practice of divination, which involves seeking knowledge of the future through supernatural means not sanctioned by God, is also associated with false prophets ^[8]. This includes practices like consulting images or examining entrails ^[8].

The New Testament continues to warn against false prophets and teachers. John Gill, commenting on 2 Peter 1:19, notes that the "word of prophecy" (referring to Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ) is more reliable than "cunningly devised fables" ^[18]. The fulfillment of prophecy, such as those concerning the Messiah, serves as a testament to the truthfulness of God's word ^{[10, 12, 13, 15]}. For example, the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel are perfectly expressed in Jesus the Messiah ^[11]. The ultimate fulfillment of prophecy includes the Lord being king over all the earth, reaffirming Israel's creed of one Lord and signaling the end of idolatry ^[14].

Sources

Proverbs “A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful. -- Proverbs 14:25”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
Proverbs “Proverbs 12:17 (BBE) — The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of righteousness; but a false witness gives out deceit.”
Proverbs “A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. -- Proverbs 14:5”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophets — God spoke of old by -- Ho 12:10; Heb 1:1. The messengers of God -- 2Ch 36:15; Isa 44:26. The servants of God -- Jer 35:15. The watchmen of Israel -- Eze 3:17. Were called Men of God. -- 1Sa 9:6. Prophets of God. -- Ezr 5:2. Holy prophets. -- Lu 1:70; Re 18:20; 22:6. Holy men of God. -- 2Pe 1:21. Seers. -- 1Sa 9:9. Were esteemed as holy men -- 2Ki 4:9. Women sometimes endowed as -- Joe 2:28. God communicated to His secret things. -- Am 3:7. At various time and in different ways. -- Heb 1:1. By an audible voice. -- Nu 12:8; 1Sa 3:4-14. By angels. -- Da 8:15-”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prophecy — Or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture." (See [509]PROPHET.) The great prediction which runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work of the Messiah; and the great use of prophecy was to perpetuate faith in his coming, and to prepare the world for that event. But there are many subordinate an”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophets, False — Pretended to be sent by God -- Jer 23:17,18,31. Not sent or commissioned by God -- Jer 14:14; 23:21; 29:31. Made use of by God to prove Israel -- De 13:3. Described as Light and treacherous. -- Zep 3:4. Covetous. -- Mic 3:11. Crafty. -- Mt 7:15. Drunken. -- Isa 28:7. Immoral and profane. -- Jer 23:11,14. Women sometimes acted as -- Ne 6:14; Re 2:20. Called foolish prophets -- Eze 13:2. Compared to foxes in the desert -- Eze 13:4. Compared to wind -- Jer 5:13. Influenced by evil spirits -- 1Ki 22:21,22. Prophesied Falsely. -- Jer 5:31. Lies in the na”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Divination — Of false prophets (Deut. 18:10, 14; Micah 3:6, 7, 11), of necromancers (1 Sam. 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), of Balaam (Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines (Isa. 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and A”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: How The Prophetic Gift Was Received — --We learn from Holy Scripture that it was by the agency of the Spirit of God that the prophets received the divine communication; but the means by which the divine Spirit communicated with the human spirit, and the conditions of the latter under which the divine communications were received, have not been clearly declared to us. They are however, indicated. In (Numbers 12:6-8) we have an exhaustive division of the different ways in which the revelations of God are made to man. + Direct declaration and manifestation: "I will speak”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 4:14: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet-- (Isa 9:1-2 or, as in Hebrew, Isa 8:23, and Isa 9:1). saying--as follows:”
Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 3:12: 3:12 Jesus the Messiah perfectly expresses the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel (Isa 42:1-4; 53:3, 7-9; Zech 9:9; see Matt 11:28-30; 12:15-21; Phil 2:1-8; 1 Pet 2:23).”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 12:17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying-- (Isa 42:1).”
Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 42:9: former things--Former predictions of God, which were now fulfilled, are here adduced as proof that they ought to trust in Him alone as God; namely, the predictions as to Israel's restoration from Babylon. new--namely, predictions as to Messiah, who is to bring all nations to the worship of Jehovah (Isa 42:1, Isa 42:4, Isa 42:6). spring forth--The same image from plants just beginning to germinate occurs in Isa 43:19; Isa 58:8. Before there is the slightest indication to enable a sagacious observer to infer the coming event, God foretells it.”
Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 14:9: 14:9 the Lord will be king: Zechariah envisions the ultimate fulfillment of many psalms (see Pss 47–48, 93, 97-99). • there will be one Lord: This promise reaffirms Israel’s creed (Deut 6:4) and signals a final end of all idolatry.”
Malachi (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Malachi 3:12: Fulfilling the blessing (Deu 33:29; Zac 8:13). delightsome land-- (Dan 8:9).”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 7:15: 7:15-20 False prophets speak what people want to hear rather than calling people to live according to God’s will. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:21-22 set standards for evaluating a prophet’s truthfulness: His words must conform to God’s word, and his predictions must come true. Jesus unpacks the first requirement: A prophet’s actions must match his words in order to be believable; accordingly, a true prophet’s actions will also match God’s word. Just as the fruit indicates the nature of a tree, so one’s life indicates either a regenerate or unregenerate heart. False ”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 7:15: We have here a caution against false prophets, to take heed that we be not deceived and imposed upon by them. Prophets are properly such as foretel things to come; there are some mentioned in the Old Testament, who pretended to that without warrant, and the event disproved their pretensions, as Zedekiah, Kg1 22:11, and another Zedekiah, Jer 29:21. But prophets did also teach the people their duty, so that false prophets here are false teachers. Christ being a Prophet and a Teacher come from God, and designing to send abroad teachers under him, gives warning to al”
2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:19: Though this word of prophecy is generally understood of the writings and prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, yet different ways are taken to fix the comparison: some think the sense is, that they are more sure than the cunningly devised fables, Pe2 1:16 but as these have no certainty nor authority in them, but are entirely to be rejected, the apostle would never put the sacred writings in comparison with them: and it is most clear, that the comparison lies between this word of prophecy, and the testimony of the apostles, who were eye and ear witnesses ”
Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 13:1: 13:1-3 The fundamental difference between true and false prophets was that false prophets were inventing their own prophecies, while true prophets spoke the word of the Lord. Now these false prophets would receive a word from the Lord about their own destruction. Sorrow awaited these deceived and deceiving messengers.”

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