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Introduction to the Old Testament

Prophetic Writings

15 April 2008

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)

The Law Torah

The Prophets Nevi’im

The Writings Ketuvim

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The Law Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

The Former Prophets

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings

The Latter Prophets

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekieland the Twelve Prophets

The Writings

Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel,Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles

Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)

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Prophetic Writings Before the Exile

Author Background Dates AudienceWorld 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 AssyriaSalvation to Gentiles

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Prophetic Writings Before the Exile

Author Background Dates AudienceWorld Power

Theme Ch.

Amos Farmer 760-753 Israel AssyriaJudgment on Israel

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HoseaCitizen of Israel

755-715 Israel Assyria Loyal love of God 14

IsaiahNoble, scholar

740-680 Judah AssyriaSalvation is of the Lord

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Micah Unknown 735-700 Judah AssyriaInjustice and justice

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Prophetic Writings Before the Exile

Author Background Dates AudienceWorld Power

Theme Ch.

Nahum Unknown 664-654 Assyria AssyriaDestruction of Nineveh

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Jeremiah Priest 627-580 JudahAssyria & Babylonia

Coming judgment 57

Zephaniah Unknown 632-628 Judah BabyloniaThe Day of the Lord

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Habakkuk Unknown 609-605 Judah BabyloniaThe just shall live by faith

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Prophetic Writings During the Exile

Author Background Dates Audience World Power Theme Ch.

Daniel Civil servant 605-535Jews in Babylonia

Babylon & Medo-Persia

Sovereignty of God 12

Ezekiel Unknown 593-571Jews in Babylonia

Babylon Glory of the Lord 48

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Prophetic Writings After the Exile

Author Background Dates AudienceWorld Power

Theme Ch.

Haggai Unknown 520Jews in Jerusalem

Medo-Persia

Rebuilding the temple

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Zechariah Unknown 520-480Jews in Jerusalem

Medo-Persia

Future blessing for Israel

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Malachi Unknown 432-424Jews in Jerusalem

Medo-Persia

Appeal to backsliders

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