[that he may prophesy]: The context of this gift is in the more ancient conception of a prophet rather than the modern one. In modern usage, we assume that there is only one prophet at a time. In the ancient world, there might be more than one, such as when Lehi was called to prophesy in a Jerusalem that already say Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesying. Even in the world of the New Testament, the evidence of the Didache tells us that there were many who were considered prophets who were separate from the official hierarchy of the nascent church. The Didache is a church manual from just after 100 AD. At that time, the particular community that produced the Didache was receiving messengers of Christianity as the passed through the community. Some who came through were truly messengers of God, others were simply charlatans. The Didache gave the community some rules to discern true prophets from false prophets. In the following passage, it should also be remembered that in Greek the word apostle simply means one who is sent, and does not carry the connotation of being one of the twelve that we assume in our modern context. The following rules were used to discern among the various prophets who might come through the community:
“But concerning the apostles and prophets, act according to the decree of the Gospel. Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord. But he shall not remain more than one day; or two days, if there’s a need. But if he remains three days, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread until he lodges. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet. And every prophet who speaks in the Spirit you shall neither try nor judge; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. But not every one who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; but only if he holds the ways of the Lord. Therefore from their ways shall the false prophet and the prophet be known. And every prophet who orders a meal in the Spirit does not eat it, unless he is indeed a false prophet. And every prophet who teaches the truth, but does not do what he teaches, is a false prophet. And every prophet, proved true, working unto the mystery of the Church in the world, yet not teaching others to do what he himself does, shall not be judged among you, for with God he has his judgment; for so did also the ancient prophets. But whoever says in the Spirit, Give me money, or something else, you shall not listen to him. But if he tells you to give for others’ sake who are in need, let no one judge him.” (Didache, chapter 11 p. 176).
Reference: The content of this verse is contained in 1 Corinthians 12:10.