Origins of the Prophets and Prophecy Marks of the Prophets Major Prophets Minor Prophets Origins of the Prophets and Prophecy Marks of the

Origins of the Prophets and Prophecy

Marks of the Prophets

Major Prophets

Minor Prophets

Origins of the Prophets and Prophecy

Marks of the Prophets

Major Prophets

Minor Prophets

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s WordPart 1E The Prophets


Prophets and Prophecy

1. The prophet is a special kind of messenger from God

2. Prophets were present through the early and late stages of the Old Testament

3. Moses was God’s first messenger

4. Prophecy became a literary movement as the sayings of selected prophets were gathered and kept

5. “Former prophets” appeared in earlier times while the “latter prophets” later

Prophets and Prophecy

1. The prophet is a special kind of messenger from God

2. Prophets were present through the early and late stages of the Old Testament

3. Moses was God’s first messenger

4. Prophecy became a literary movement as the sayings of selected prophets were gathered and kept

5. “Former prophets” appeared in earlier times while the “latter prophets” later



Major Prophets versus Minor Prophets The difference is related to the length of the book and not

the importance of the prophet or his message

Major Prophets versus Minor Prophets The difference is related to the length of the book and not

the importance of the prophet or his message



Major prophetsMajor prophets Minor prophetsMinor prophets

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Hosea

Joel

AmosObadiah

Jonah

Micah

NahumHabakkuk

Zephaniah

HaggaiZechariah

Malachi

Prophecy

1. Prophets received a call from God and felt compelled to leave their former way of life to follow it

2. Ways they received the call to prophecy: voices, dreams, visions, inspiration to share God’s message

3. They often spoke unpopular messages with the rulers

4. In general, the message of the prophets was meant to convert their listeners to God

5. They warned the people to repent of their sins under the penalty of punishment if they failed to do so

Prophecy

1. Prophets received a call from God and felt compelled to leave their former way of life to follow it

2. Ways they received the call to prophecy: voices, dreams, visions, inspiration to share God’s message

3. They often spoke unpopular messages with the rulers

4. In general, the message of the prophets was meant to convert their listeners to God

5. They warned the people to repent of their sins under the penalty of punishment if they failed to do so



Call Narratives of Moses, Isaiah, and JeremiahCall Narratives of Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah



1. The setting is one of mystery / holiness

2. God initiates the call.

3. The personresists.

4. God reassuresthe person.

5. God sends the person on a mission.

Marks of Prophecy

1. Prophets inherited the role of Moses – They usually based their criticism of Israel on the statutes of Moses

2. Prophets were “spiritual warriors” – During the time of the kings, they were “demilitarized judges” or “specially selected messengers of God”

3. Prophets were social revolutionaries – Theirreligious concern (to serve YHWH and no other gods) was always accompanied by their social and political concerns

Marks of Prophecy

1. Prophets inherited the role of Moses – They usually based their criticism of Israel on the statutes of Moses

2. Prophets were “spiritual warriors” – During the time of the kings, they were “demilitarized judges” or “specially selected messengers of God”

3. Prophets were social revolutionaries – Theirreligious concern (to serve YHWH and no other gods) was always accompanied by their social and political concerns



Marks of Prophecy

4. Prophets were messengers of God – The prophets almost always spoke in the first person, as if God were speaking, by the use of the “messenger formula”

Marks of Prophecy

4. Prophets were messengers of God – The prophets almost always spoke in the first person, as if God were speaking, by the use of the “messenger formula”



The Book of Isaiah1. Isaiah is quoted in the New Testament

more than any other prophetic book2. It represents the work of more than one

writer, from more than one time:(a) Jer 1–39: details the ministry of the prophet in Jerusalem(b) Jer 40–55: written by an anonymous prophet living during the Babylonian exile; it includes four Servant Songs fulfilled in Christ (c) Jer 56–66: a mixture of poetry and prose that provide a message of hope

The Book of Isaiah1. Isaiah is quoted in the New Testament

more than any other prophetic book2. It represents the work of more than one

writer, from more than one time:(a) Jer 1–39: details the ministry of the prophet in Jerusalem(b) Jer 40–55: written by an anonymous prophet living during the Babylonian exile; it includes four Servant Songs fulfilled in Christ (c) Jer 56–66: a mixture of poetry and prose that provide a message of hope



The Book of Jeremiah

1. Jeremiah remained in Jerusalem through all the events of the siege and exile of the people

2. He preached that Judah was paying a price for its infidelity and the best course of action would be to submit to Babylon so Jerusalem could escape destruction

3. In his Temple Sermon he warns that those who oppress refugees, orphans, or widows to reform their evil ways

4. He suffered personal trauma for being a prophet with an unpopular message

The Book of Jeremiah

1. Jeremiah remained in Jerusalem through all the events of the siege and exile of the people

2. He preached that Judah was paying a price for its infidelity and the best course of action would be to submit to Babylon so Jerusalem could escape destruction

3. In his Temple Sermon he warns that those who oppress refugees, orphans, or widows to reform their evil ways

4. He suffered personal trauma for being a prophet with an unpopular message



The Book of Ezekiel

1. Ezekiel was deported with the first group of exiles in 597 and began his prophecy in Babylon

2. He experienced a series of bizarre visions and actions:

(a) Ez 1-24 – warns of Jerusalem’s impending doom

(b) Ez 33-48 – a resurrection of Jerusalem after the exile

4. His visions and actions:(a) the call to prophecy (Ez 1-3)

(b) the transport to Jerusalem (Ez 8-11)

(c) the valley of dry bones (Ez 37)

(d) the restored Israel (Ez 40-48)

The Book of Ezekiel

1. Ezekiel was deported with the first group of exiles in 597 and began his prophecy in Babylon

2. He experienced a series of bizarre visions and actions:

(a) Ez 1-24 – warns of Jerusalem’s impending doom

(b) Ez 33-48 – a resurrection of Jerusalem after the exile

4. His visions and actions:(a) the call to prophecy (Ez 1-3)

(b) the transport to Jerusalem (Ez 8-11)

(c) the valley of dry bones (Ez 37)

(d) the restored Israel (Ez 40-48)



The Book of Daniel1. Although Daniel did not receive the traditional call by

God to preach, the Catholic Old Testament includes it with the prophetic books

2. It has three main divisions which include prophecy, history, and apocalyptic literature

3. Apocalyptic literature:(a) Arose in circumstances of Jewish oppression(b) This highly symbolic writing protected the authors as well as the readers from persecution(c) Apocalyptic writing also found in sections of Ezekiel and Zechariah

The Book of Daniel1. Although Daniel did not receive the traditional call by

God to preach, the Catholic Old Testament includes it with the prophetic books

2. It has three main divisions which include prophecy, history, and apocalyptic literature

3. Apocalyptic literature:(a) Arose in circumstances of Jewish oppression(b) This highly symbolic writing protected the authors as well as the readers from persecution(c) Apocalyptic writing also found in sections of Ezekiel and Zechariah



The Minor Prophets1. The Book of Hosea – Hosea’s controversial marriage

symbolizes God’s relationship with Israel; his message is the faithfulness and love of God for his people

2. The Book of Joel – Joel is filled with apocalyptic images and describes the “day of the Lord” which would mark a new beginning when God will pour out his spirit on all humanity

3. The Book of Amos – Amos preached a strong message of social justice, speaking against many of the sins of those living in the northern kingdom and condemning the abuses of the wealthy

The Minor Prophets1. The Book of Hosea – Hosea’s controversial marriage

symbolizes God’s relationship with Israel; his message is the faithfulness and love of God for his people

2. The Book of Joel – Joel is filled with apocalyptic images and describes the “day of the Lord” which would mark a new beginning when God will pour out his spirit on all humanity

3. The Book of Amos – Amos preached a strong message of social justice, speaking against many of the sins of those living in the northern kingdom and condemning the abuses of the wealthy



The Minor Prophets4. The Book of Obadiah – Obadiah contains a harsh

denunciation of the Edomites who had participated in the sack of Jerusalem, and prophesies their destruction and Judah’s restoration

5. The Book of Jonah – A parable about God’s compassion on all people, even non-Jews, in which Jonah represents Israel who sinfully rejected God’s call and listened to their own voices

6. The Book of Micah – Micah warned the people that if they did not return to the Lord and observe the Law, they would be destroyed; writes of a messiah who would come to lead Israel to peace and justice

The Minor Prophets4. The Book of Obadiah – Obadiah contains a harsh

denunciation of the Edomites who had participated in the sack of Jerusalem, and prophesies their destruction and Judah’s restoration

5. The Book of Jonah – A parable about God’s compassion on all people, even non-Jews, in which Jonah represents Israel who sinfully rejected God’s call and listened to their own voices

6. The Book of Micah – Micah warned the people that if they did not return to the Lord and observe the Law, they would be destroyed; writes of a messiah who would come to lead Israel to peace and justice



The Minor Prophets7. The Book of Nahum – Nahum depicts YHWH as

both an avenger who protects his people from their enemies, but also as merciful, who orders the world in his moral goodness

8. The Book of Habakkuk – Habakkuk warned of Judah’s capture by the Babylonians and provided a lyrical reminder of Israel’s past

9. The Book of Zephaniah – Zephaniah’s prophesied a “day of the Lord” that would bring doom, yet in spite of the infidelities, God’s mercy would spare a holy remnant

The Minor Prophets7. The Book of Nahum – Nahum depicts YHWH as

both an avenger who protects his people from their enemies, but also as merciful, who orders the world in his moral goodness

8. The Book of Habakkuk – Habakkuk warned of Judah’s capture by the Babylonians and provided a lyrical reminder of Israel’s past

9. The Book of Zephaniah – Zephaniah’s prophesied a “day of the Lord” that would bring doom, yet in spite of the infidelities, God’s mercy would spare a holy remnant



The Minor Prophets

10. The Book of Haggai – Haggai sought to encourage the Jews to complete the rebuilding of the Temple

11. The Book of Zechariah – Zechariah too encouraged the completion of the Temple and predicted a messianic age to come

12. The Book of Malachi – The predominant theme is fidelity to God’s covenant and a prophecy about the coming messenger who would announce the day of the Lord

The Minor Prophets

10. The Book of Haggai – Haggai sought to encourage the Jews to complete the rebuilding of the Temple

11. The Book of Zechariah – Zechariah too encouraged the completion of the Temple and predicted a messianic age to come

12. The Book of Malachi – The predominant theme is fidelity to God’s covenant and a prophecy about the coming messenger who would announce the day of the Lord



Documents

Origins of the Prophets and Prophecy Marks of the Prophets Major Prophets Minor Prophets Origins of the Prophets and Prophecy Marks of the