False Prophecy and Prophetic Ethics: A Contextual Exegetical Analysis of Jeremiah 23:26-32 and Its Relevance to The Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria

Prophecy holds a vital role in biblical tradition, serving as a channel for conveying God’s will, guidance, warnings, and instructions to His people. However, alongside genuine prophetic ministry, the Scriptures also highlight the existence of false claims where human ideas masquerade as divine revelations. In Jeremiah 23:26-32, this tension is addressed by calling out prophets whose messages originate from their hearts, rely on misleading dreams, misappropriate divine words, and assert divine authority without true commissioning. This study addresses these challenges and their significance for prophetic ministry within the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). By employing a historical-grammatical and contextual exegetical approach, the study examined the historical and literary context, key Hebrew terms, rhetorical flow, and the theological and ethical implications of Jeremiah 23:26-32. The findings identified five key criteria for authentic prophecy: a divine source, fidelity to revelation, truthfulness, genuine commissioning, and communal benefit. The study concluded that false prophecy extends beyond making inaccurate predictions; it involves the deceptive presentation of human ideas as divine messages, which can lead to spiritual and communal damage. It recommended enhancing biblical and theological training, fostering scriptural and ecclesial discernment, ensuring ministerial accountability, promoting financial transparency, establishing ethical guidelines for sensitive prophetic issues, and increasing congregational education. The CAC should maintain its prophetic legacy by rooting prophetic ministry in Scripture, integrity, accountability, and service to God’s people, rather than in personal authority, manipulation, or financial gain.