prophteia

Prophteia is a scholarly transliteration of the Greek προφητεία, commonly rendered in English as "prophecy." The term denotes the act, content, or office of prophetic revelation in ancient religious traditions. It is etymologically linked to the Greek verb προφητεύω (to prophesy) and to the noun προφήτης ("prophet"), with prophteia referring to the messages believed to be inspired by the divine and to the practice of delivering them.

In classical and Hellenistic contexts, prophteia encompassed oracular utterances and visions attributed to gods or demigods, and it was connected with seers, oracles, and temple cults. In Judaism and early Christianity, prophecy is treated as a divine communication that could guide communities, warn of danger, or foretell future events; the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament reflect these concerns. Scholarly discussions distinguish between the experience of prophetic inspiration, the content of prophecies, and the social role of the prophet within a community.

Today, prophteia is primarily encountered in academic discussions as a historical and comparative term used to analyze prophecy across cultures. In standard theological and literary usage, the more common term remains "prophecy." Prophteia therefore functions as a bridge term in studies of religious experience, ritual, and revelation.