Transcript Introduction to OT Prophetic Writings

Introduction to the
Old Testament
Prophetic Writings
15 April 2008
1
Prophecy in the Bible
 The Bible includes about 10,000 prophecies
 About 1/3 of the Bible is directly or
indirectly related to prophecy
 51 of the Bible's 66 books were written by
people called prophets or who made
prophetic statements or had visions or
dreams inspired by God
 57 of the books mention prophets
 49 contain prophecies
 47 show fulfilled prophecies
 All 66 books are somehow related to
prophets or prophecy
2
Old Testament Prophets
 Oral prophets – left no records that survived
 Nathan, Iddo, Jehu, Elijah, Elisha, …
 Writing prophets – left writing that survived
 Major
– Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
 Minor
– had shorter writings
– Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah,
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
3
O.T. Prophets’ Ministry
 Foretelling – telling what God was going to do
 Forth-telling
 Exposed sinful practices
 Urged people to obey the Law & trust God
 Warned the people of coming judgment
 Anticipated the coming Messiah
 Offered a future hope
4
O.T. Prophets’ Qualifications
 Called by God
 Could not just be a good guesser
 Had to be 100% accurate
If what a prophet proclaims in the name
of the Lord does not take place or come
true, that is a message the LORD has not
spoken. That prophet has spoken
presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
– Dt. 18:22 NIV
5
The Law and the Prophets
“Do not think that I came to destroy the
Law or the Prophets. I did not come to
destroy but to fulfill.” (Mt. 5:17 NKJV)
6
Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)
The Law
Torah
The Prophets Nevi’im
The Writings
Ketuvim
7
Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)
The Law
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, Deuteronomy
The Former Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings
Prophets
The Latter
Prophets
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
and the Twelve Prophets
The
Writings
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of
Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel,
Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles
8
Prophetic Writings Before the Exile
Author
Background Dates
Audience
World
Power
Theme
Ch.
Obadiah Unknown
848-841
Edom
Assyria
Doom of Edom
1
Joel
Unknown
835
Judah
Assyria
Coming judgment
3
Jonah
Unknown
782-753
Assyria
Assyria
Salvation to
Gentiles
4
9
Prophetic Writings Before the Exile
Author
Background Dates
Audience
World
Power
Theme
Amos
Farmer
760-753
Israel
Assyria
Judgment on
Israel
9
Hosea
Citizen of
Israel
755-715
Israel
Assyria
Loyal love of God
14
Isaiah
Noble,
scholar
740-680
Judah
Assyria
Salvation is of the
Lord
66
Micah
Unknown
735-700
Judah
Assyria
Injustice and
justice
7
Ch.
10
Prophetic Writings Before the Exile
Author
Background Dates
Audience
World
Power
Theme
Nahum
Unknown
664-654
Assyria
Assyria
Destruction of
Nineveh
3
Jeremiah
Priest
627-580
Judah
Assyria &
Babylonia
Coming judgment
57
Zephaniah Unknown
632-628
Judah
Babylonia
The Day of the
Lord
3
Habakkuk
609-605
Judah
Babylonia
The just shall live
by faith
3
Unknown
Ch.
11
Prophetic Writings During the Exile
Author Background
Dates
Audience
Daniel
605-535
593-571
Civil servant
Ezekiel Unknown
World Power
Theme
Ch.
Jews in
Babylon &
Babylonia Medo-Persia
Sovereignty of God
12
Jews in
Babylon
Babylonia
Glory of the Lord
48
12
Prophetic Writings After the Exile
Author
Background Dates
Audience
World
Power
Theme
Haggai
Unknown
520
Jews in
Jerusalem
MedoPersia
Rebuilding the
temple
2
Zechariah Unknown
520-480
Jews in
Jerusalem
MedoPersia
Future blessing
for Israel
14
Malachi
432-424
Jews in
Jerusalem
MedoPersia
Appeal to
backsliders
4
Unknown
Ch.
13