What did you have to do to be considered a propeht?

[lettheredeemedsayso]

In scripture what qualities or criteria did a man have to be to possess to be considered a prophet. Please give scripture to support your answer.

[Jerry]

The biggest thing was that ALL their prophecies had to come literally true. If not, they were a false prophet. Also, they had to teach the truth about God and His Word - if they contradicted it or led the people to follow another God, then they were a false prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

I would also add that if someone was speaking the Word of God - and were a real prophet (not just like Balaam or Caiaphas - whom God used indirectly), then they would live holy lives, not be ungodly, carnal, etc.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

[obmember]

Wouldn't a prophet today be one who spoke the truth found in the Word of God, since God has not given additional prophecy since His Word? So those who speak prophecies you can't find in the Bible, are false prophets.