Interpreting the Prophets pt 1: Introduction to the Challenge of History Flashcards
Of the _ _ Old Testament books, _ _ are prophetic. (hint: numbers)
Of the 39 old testament books, 17 are prophetic
* four major Prophets and the twelve minor Prophets (the final twelve books of the Old Testament).
All of the writing prophets wrote between about _ _ _ and _ _ _ B.C.
All of the writing prophets wrote between about 760 and 460 B.C.
*Several earlier prophets were not writing prophets, eg. Elijah, Elisha, etc.
The prophetic books are among the most
difficult parts of the Bible to interpret or read
with understanding.
[____ & _______ questions]
The prophetic books are among the most
difficult parts of the Bible to interpret or read
with understanding.
[FORM & FUNCTION questions]
The meaning of “Prophecy”
For most people this word means what appears as the first definition in most dictionaries: “_______ or ______ of what is to come”.
For most people this word means what appears as the first definition in most dictionaries: “FORETELLING or PREDICTION of what is to come”
The meaning of “Prophecy”
Many Christians look at the Prophets as being primarily concerned with foretelling the ______ (especially Christ and the New Testament age), totally ignoring the original _____ and ______.
Many Christians look at the Prophets as being primarily concerned with foretelling the FUTURE (especially Christ and the New Testament age), totally ignoring the original CONTEXT and AUDIENCE. [as you read advent narratives you find some examples]
According to Fee/Stuart in ‘How To Read The Bible For All It’s Worth’
- less than _ % of the Old Testament prophecy is messianic
- less than _ % specifically describes the New Covenant age
- less than _ % concerns events yet to come.
According to Fee/Stuart in ‘How To Read The Bible For All It’s Worth’
- less than 2 % of the Old Testament prophecy is messianic
- less than 5 % specifically describes the New Covenant age
- less than 1 % concerns events yet to come.
*Therefore the majority of
future predictions given by the prophets had to do
w/ the future of Israel, Judah & their surrounding nations, within the general time frame of the OLD TESTAMENT.
The primary function of the prophets was to ____ _____ for God to their own
contemporaries.
The primary function of the prophets was to SPEAK FORTH for God to their own
contemporaries.
We understand the lives of non-writing prophets better because the historical book record their actions, but very little of their
prophecies or “_____.”
We understand the lives of non-writing prophets better because the historical book record their actions, but very little of their
prophecies or “ORACLES.”
With the written prophets we hear from God via their written oracles, but we know very little
about their _____.
With the written prophets we hear from God via their written oracles, but we know very little
about their LIVES.
Reading the Prophets
The prophetic books for the most part are actually just ________ of individual oracles given by that prophet at different times and in different contexts. They are often not even in ________.
The prophetic books for the most part are actually just COLLECTIONS of individual oracles given by that prophet at different times and in different contexts. They are often not even in SEQUENCE.
Reading the Prophets
The challenge is to know their exact _______ context and to appreciate that they are often in poetic form. This makes them the most difficult and sometimes the most _______ of Biblical literature.
The challenge is to know their exact HISTORICAL context and to appreciate that they are often in poetic form. This makes them the most difficult and sometimes the most ABUSED of Biblical literature.
The Challenge of History
The problem of historical ______, becomes most ______ with the prophets.
The problem of historical DISTANCE, [as discussed in our lesson on Historical/Cultural Context section] becomes most OBVIOUS with the prophets.
The Challenge of History
The very nature of prophecy was to address God’s people or the people around them in their context about ______ issues.
The very nature of prophecy was to address God’s people or the people around them in their context about SPECIFIC issues.
The Challenge of History
Today we are in a completely ______ context and the issues we face and are involved in are different for the most part. [yet we are connected as the people of God]
Today we are in a completely DIFFERENT context and the issues we face and are involved in are different for the most part. [yet we are connected as the people of God]
The Challenge of History
Without a sense of _____, it is often hard for
us to see what the prophets are referring to and why.
Without a sense of HISTORY, it is often hard for
us to see what the prophets are referring to and why.
