Distinguishing Prophets

Προφήτης, ἐν ᾦ τὸ ἐνὑπνιόν ἐστι, διηγησάσθω. Ἐπειδὴ καὶ οἱ ψευδοπροφῆται κατεχρῶντο τᾧ, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, τοὺς ἀληθεῖς προφήτας ὑποκρινόμενοι, ἔδει δὴ σημείων διαστελλόντων ἐκατέρους. Ἤν μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὸν Ἀποστολον πνευμάτων διακρίσεως χάρισμα, καὶ ὁ τοῦτο ἔχων διέκρινε πνεύματα, τά τε θεῖα ὄντα καὶ τὰ πονηρὰ, καθάπερ ἀργυραμοιβὸς τὸ νόμισμα τὸ δόκιμόν τε καὶ κίβδηλον. Χωρὶς δὲ τῆς καθολικῆς ἐπιστήμης καὶ τὸ νῦν εἰρημένον ἀρκει πρὸς διάκρισιν. Ὁ γὰρ λόγος μου, φησὶν, οὐ διάκενος καὶ τρόφιμος ἀλόγων, ἀλλ' οἱονεὶ σϊτος καὶ λογικῶν τροφή.  Ὠριγένης, Ἐκλογαι Εἰς Ἱερεμαιν

'The Prophet in whom there is a dream let him speak.' 1 Since false prophets have deceived with their words, saying 'Thus says the Lord,' true prophets are distrusted, and by signs they were distinguished. And certainly according to the Apostle there is a gift of distinguishing the spirits, 2 and he who has it, should judge the spirits, what was good, and what was evil, as one tests a coin for authenticity or falseness. But apart from general knowledge, it suffices now to question for the purposes of distinguishing. For my word, it then says, is not empty and fodder for irrational beasts, but as wheat and sustenance for rational creatures. Origen, Commentary On Jeremiah, Fragment 1 Jer 23.28 2 1 Cor 12:4-11