"The Man of God."

"THE MAN OF GOD." Appendix 49 To The Companion Bible.
The first occurrence of this expression is in Deuteronomy 33:1, and is used of Moses. Its use in connection with Moses (Psalm 90, title), who was, par excellence, the prophet, like unto whom Christ was to be "raised up" (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), shows that it is to be understood of what Moses was, namely, "the prophet". He was so called, not because he foretold, but because he spoke FOR God. This is the meaning of the word "prophet" as taught by its first occurrence in Genesis 20:7. The prophet was God's "spokesman" (Exodus 4:16. Compare Exodus 7:1). God's spokesman could know what to speak for Him only (1) from His Spirit (Nehemiah 9:30. Compare Hosea 9:7, margin, and see Numbers 11:16, 17, 25-29); (2) from Jehovah making Himself known (Numbers 12:6. Ezekiel 3:17. Jeremiah 15:19. Compare 2Chronicles 36:12); and (3) from God's written word. This is why Timothy is the only one called a "man of God" in the New Testament (1Timothy 6:11), and why, to-day, one, and only one who knows "all scripture", which is so profitable, can be called a "man of God" (2Timothy 3:17). All such are God's spokesmen because they alone know what He wishes to be spoken. They are His witnesses (Acts 1:8; 22:15). Christ was THE prophet because He spoke only those things which were given Him to speak (see note on Deuteronomy. 18:18), and He alone is "the faithful Witness" (Revelation 1:5). It was for the above reasons that the expression "the man of God" (that is to say, God's man) became the general name for a prophet among the common people.		See all the occurrences:— Deuteronomy 23:1. Joshua 14:6. Judges 13:6, 8. 1Samuel 2:27. 1Samuel 9:6, 7, 8, 10. 1Kings 12:22. 1Kings 13:1, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 14, 21, 26, 29, 31. 1Kings 17:18, 24. 1Kings 20:28. 2Kings 1:9, 10, 11, 12, 13. 2Kings 4:7, 9, 16, 21, 22, 25, 25, 27, 27, 40, 42. 2Kings 5:8, 14, 15, 20. 2Kings 6:6, 9, 10, 15. 2Kings 7:2, 17, 18, 19. 2Kings 8:2, 4, 7, 8, 11. 2Kings 13:19. 2Kings 23:16, 17. 1Chronicles 23:14. 2Chronicles 8:14. 2Chronicles 11:2. 2Chronicles 25:7, 9, 9. 2Chronicles 30:16. Ezekiel 3:2, 2. Nehemiah 12:24, 36. Psalm 90, title. Jeremiah 35:4. Number of occurrences:—
Pentateuch Prophets Other Books New Testament	1 65 12 78 = 6×13 (see Appendix 10). 2 80 = 8×10 (see Appendix 10).

The first occurrence of this expression is in Deuteronomy 33:1, and is used of Moses.

Its use in connection with Moses (Psalm 90, title), who was, par excellence, the prophet, like unto whom Christ was to be "raised up" (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), shows that it is to be understood of what Moses was, namely, "the prophet".

He was so called, not because he foretold, but because he spoke FOR God. This is the meaning of the word "prophet" as taught by its first occurrence in Genesis 20:7. The prophet was God's "spokesman" (Exodus 4:16. Compare Exodus 7:1).

God's spokesman could know what to speak for Him only (1) from His Spirit (Nehemiah 9:30. Compare Hosea 9:7, margin, and see Numbers 11:16, 17, 25-29); (2) from Jehovah making Himself known (Numbers 12:6. Ezekiel 3:17. Jeremiah 15:19. Compare 2Chronicles 36:12); and (3) from God's written word. This is why Timothy is the only one called a "man of God" in the New Testament (1Timothy 6:11), and why, to-day, one, and only one who knows "all scripture", which is so profitable, can be called a "man of God" (2Timothy 3:17).

All such are God's spokesmen because they alone know what He wishes to be spoken. They are His witnesses (Acts 1:8; 22:15). Christ was THE prophet because He spoke only those things which were given Him to speak (see note on Deuteronomy. 18:18), and He alone is "the faithful Witness" (Revelation 1:5).

It was for the above reasons that the expression "the man of God" (that is to say, God's man) became the general name for a prophet among the common people.