Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Writings

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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. 1822 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. 517 NKJV)
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Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)
The Law Torah
The Prophets Neviim
The Writings Ketuvim
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Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)
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
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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
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Prophetic Writings Before the Exile
Author Background Dates Audience World Power Theme Ch.
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
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Prophetic Writings Before the Exile
Author Background Dates Audience World Power Theme Ch.
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 Unknown 609-605 Judah Babylonia The just shall live by faith 3
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Prophetic Writings During the Exile
Author Background Dates Audience World Power Theme Ch.
Daniel Civil servant 605-535 Jews in Babylonia Babylon Medo-Persia Sovereignty of God 12
Ezekiel Unknown 593-571 Jews in Babylonia Babylon Glory of the Lord 48
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Prophetic Writings After the Exile
Author Background Dates Audience World Power Theme Ch.
Haggai Unknown 520 Jews in Jerusalem Medo-Persia Rebuilding the temple 2
Zechariah Unknown 520-480 Jews in Jerusalem Medo-Persia Future blessing for Israel 14
Malachi Unknown 432-424 Jews in Jerusalem Medo-Persia Appeal to backsliders 4