Lectures - Books of the Bible Flashcards
What are Former (4) and Latter (4) Prophets?
Refers to books
Former: Josh, Judges, 1&2 Sam, 1&2 Kings
Latter: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 12 minor
What are Pre-Literary (5) and Literary (4) Prophets?
Pre-Literary (don’t have their own books): Abraham, Moses, Nathan, Elijah, Elisha
Literary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 12 minor
What are Pre-Exilic (10) Prophets?
Pre-Exilic: before 722 & 587 BCE
Isaiah 1-39, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah
What are Exilic / Post-Exilic (6) Prophets?
Post-Exilic: during or after 722 & 587 BCE
Isaiah 40-66, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Prophets message in a nutshell
(4)
- The people have sinned
- The sin is very serious
- Therefore God’s judgement is coming
- Even amid judgment, not all is hopeless
Isaiah Key Themes
(2)
- Zion is God’s home
- God works through rulers and world empires
Isaiah Reading Strategy
(1)
Recognize it has three parts
Isaiah - 1st Part
Identify chapters, time period, super power, message and AKA
Ch: 1-39
Time: mid to late 8th cent
Super power: Assyria
Message: varies, tied to kings in 8th cent
AKA: Isaiah of Jerusalem
AKA: Proto-Isaiah
Isaiah - 2nd Part
Identify chapters, time period, super power, message and AKA
Ch: 40-55
Time: mid 6th cent
Super power: Babylon (waning)
Message: Hope for exiles
AKA: Isaiah of the Exile
AKA: Deutero-Isaiah
Isaiah - 3rd Part
Identify chapters, time period, super power, message and AKA
Ch: 56-66
Time: late 6th cent
Super power: Persia
Message: Dealing with unrealized expectations
AKA: Isaiah of the Return
AKA: Trito-Isaiah
Isaiah Most Popular Verse
40:31
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will fly up on wings like eagles;
they will run and not be tired;
they will walk and not be weary.
Jeremiah Key Themes
(2)
- Divine Suffering
- Falsehoods
Jeremiah Reading Strategy
(1)
Don’t expect a clear organizational structure
Jeremiah Setting and Authorship
626-581 BCE
Jeremiah Most Popular Verse
29:11
I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.
Ezekiel Key Themes
(2)
- An embodied message
- Sacred space = the Temple
Ezekiel Reading Strategies
(2)
- It won’t be easy
- Keep track of the timeframe
Ezekiel Setting
597-571BCE
Ezekiel most Popular Verse
36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stony heart from your body and replace it with a living one
Daniel Key Theme
(2)
- Don’t trust conventional wisdom
- Don’t give up amid Greek persecution
Daniel Reading Strategies
(2)
- Recognize important shift in the nature of writing
- Recognize the significant differences between setting and authorship
Daniel Setting
Set in exile
Daniel Authorship
6th-2nd cent
Important connection with the “holocaust of the 2nd cent BCE”
Daniel Most Popular Verse
1:8
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine, so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself
Minor Prophets
Setting: 8th Cent
(4)
- Hosea
- Amos
- Jonah
- Micah
Minor Prophets
Setting: Before 587
(3)
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
Minor Prophets
Setting: After 587
(4)
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Obadiah
Minor Prophets
Setting: Unknown
(1)
Joel
Key Theme
Hosea
If you worship Baal, you are a whore
Key Theme
Joel
God’s judgment is coming like a locust plague
Key Theme
Amos
Harm the poor and face God’s wrath
Key Theme
Obadiah
Edom betrayed its brother Israel by siding with Babylon
Key Theme
Jonah
God is outrageously merciful
Key Theme
Micah
Idolatry and oppression leads to God’s judgment
Key Theme
Nahum
Syria is object of God’s wrath
Key Theme
Habakkuk
A lament moving from cries of injustice to rejoicing in God
Key Theme
Zephaniah
The day of the Lord will be harsh judgment leaving behind a holy remnant
Key Theme
Haggai
Rebuild the temple now
Key Theme
Zechariah
Remember and avoid the ancestor’s sin
Key Theme
Malachi
Give God proper worship including good sacrifices
