Interpreting the Prophets pt. 3: God's Message to New View-Far View

Question 1

The Prophet’s Message was GOD’S Message

The prophet claimed to speak directly for God. The Hebrew word for prophet comes from the Hebrew verb translated “__ ____.”

• They often punctuated their messages with the “____ ____ ___ ____”

Answer 1

The prophet claimed to speak directly for God. The Hebrew word for prophet comes from the Hebrew verb translated “TO CALL.”

• They often punctuated their messages with the “THUS SAYS THE LORD”

Question 2

Christians often think that the prophets spoke of
all things ___ [New revelation]

Occasionally God would use one of them to ______, or _____ the details of His promise plan (Is. 53, etc.), but by and large what they said
was not new at all.

Answer 2

Christians often think that the prophets spoke of
all things NEW [New revelation]

Occasionally God would use one of them to ENLARGE, or EXPAND the details of His promise plan (Is. 53, etc.), but by and large what they said
was not new at all.

Question 3

The prophets were called by God to express the essential content in a new, relevant way, but the message was old. This is what preaching is essentially:

___ expression; ___ truth.

Answer 3

The prophets were called by God to express the essential content in a new, relevant way, but the message was old. This is what preaching is essentially:

NEW expression; OLD truth.

Question 4

• ________ is correct belief. [think doctrine]

* ________ is correct action. [think practice]

Answer 4

• ORTHODOXY is correct belief. [think doctrine]
• ORTHOPRAXY is correct action. [think practice]

*This is what God was calling the nation of Israel to, through the prophetic voices, but it is also what He calls us to do in the new
covenant.

Question 5

The Task of Interpretation involves:

• The need for \_\_\_\_\_ help.
• The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ context.
  - the \_\_\_\_\_\_ context.
  - \_\_\_\_\_\_ contexts.
  - Isolate \_\_\_\_\_\_ oracles.

Answer 5

• The need for OUTSIDE help.
• The HISTORICAL context.
  - the LARGER context.
  - SPECIFIC contexts.
  - Isolate INDIVIDUAL oracles.

Question 6

Two Cautions:
1. The ________ of the future

2. Prophecy and _______ meanings

Answer 6

1. The FORETELLERS of the future
   • understand what God was saying to the original audience, before we assume that the prophecy speaks to an event in our times.
2. Prophecy and SECONDARY meanings
   • While there can often be a secondary meaning that transcends time, speaking to where we are living now, this will not be isolated from the original message.

Question 7

• ___ ____: events that would happen within their generation or the one to come

Answer 7

• Near View: events that would happen within their generation or the one to come

Question 8

• ___ ____: events that look much further into the future.

Answer 8

• Far View: events that look much further into the future. [promise of a Messiah, the giving of the Spirit, ‘the day of the Lord’ etc.]

Question 9

Near View - Far View

What are some examples of images that prophets painted about future hope?

Answer 9

Images that prophets paint about future hope could be:
• The return of Jews from exile
• The first coming of Christ
• The second coming of Christ

Question 10

The Covenant & The Law

• For Israel the law was indeed part and parcel of the covenant, defining God’s _________ to them
and what their ______ was to be in return.

Answer 10

• For Israel the law was indeed part and parcel of the
covenant, defining God’s COMMITMENT to them
and what their RESPONSE was to be in return.

Question 11

‘The law’ refers to

1. In the plural, the _ _ _ plus specific commands given;
2. In the singular, to the laws _______;
3. The ________;
4. In the singular by some NT writers to the OT _______ _______;
5. And by others to the laws of the ______, interpreting God’s stipulations.

Answer 11

‘The law’ refers to

1. In the plural, the 600 plus specific commands given;
2. In the singular, to the laws COLLECTIVELY;
3. The PENTATEUCH;
4. In the singular by some NT writers to the OT RELIGIOUS SYSTEM;
5. And by others to the laws of the RABBIS, interpreting God’s stipulations.

Question 12

Christians and OT Law: Answer the ff. statements in TRUE or FALSE

The OT Law is a covenant.

Answer 12

TRUE

• A covenant is a CONTRACT between two parties, usually a stronger one and a weaker one.
• BENEFITS and PROTECTION in exchange for loyalty.

Question 13

Christians and OT Law: Answer the ff. statements in TRUE or FALSE

The Old Testament is not our Testament.

Answer 13

TRUE

• It is between Israel and God, not REINSTATED in the NT.

Question 14

Christians and OT Law: Answer the ff. statements in TRUE or FALSE

Three kinds of old-covenant stipulations have
clearly not been renewed in the new covenant.

Answer 14

FALSE

CIVIL and RITUAL have not been reinstated, yet the ETHICAL law still stands.

Question 15

Christians and OT Law: Answer the ff. statements in TRUE or FALSE

Part of the old-covenant is renewed in the new-
covenant .

Answer 15

TRUE

Jesus REDEFINES aspects of the OT Law.

Question 16

Christians and OT Law: Answer the ff. statements in TRUE or FALSE

The Old Testament law is no longer the WORD of God because it is not the command of God to us.

Answer 16

FALSE

All of the Old Testament law is still the WORD of God for us even though it is not still the command of God to us.

• We still value God’s WISDOM towards His people

Question 17

Christians and OT Law: Answer the ff. statements in TRUE or FALSE

All parts of the Old
Testament law can be considered part of the New Testament “LAW OF CHRIST.”

Answer 17

FALSE

Only that which is explicitly renewed from the Old
Testament law can be considered part of the New
Testament “LAW OF CHRIST.”

• The 10 commandments remain, as well as the
simple call to love GOD and our NEIGHBOUR.