DAY 5Assign: Homework assignment: Love Jesus and love your people.

Day Objectives:1) Identify the nature of biblical prophecy and prophetic

literature.2) Identify reasons for reading the prophets and look at some

key prophetic texts3) Evaluate the NT writers’ use of the OT prophetic literature.4) Explain the nature of apocalyptic literature.

Issue of Predictive Prophecy and the Dates/Unity/Genres of

the Prophetic Books

How did the New Testament Writers “Read” the Prophets?

Main issue: Were the prophetic messages univalent (one meaning or application only) or polyvalent (more than one meaning or application)?Case illustration: Read Matthew 1:18-23 and Isaiah 7:13-16 in its context of the Syro-Ephraimitic War of 734 BCE.

Does the prophetic word apply only to Isaiah’s day?

Does the prophetic word apply only to Matthew’s day?

Does it apply somehow to both times?

Discuss in groups/class

Other issues: a) translation of “young woman” vs. “virgin”b) pesher interpretation at Qumran, leads to:

“Liberal” position: NT writers’ violate sound interpretation“Conservative” position (7:14 must mean “virgin”) feud.

Duke: Towards a Resolution

Oral culture vs. written: power of the spoken word.

God’s word is dynamic, living, efficacious.

I HATE you!

Therefore, the NT writers, inspired by God, had no trouble seeing the prophet words as polyvalent. (Pesher interpretation: “This which happened today, is that which was said by God through the prophets.”)

Issues of Isaiah

Issue: One, two, or three “Isaiah’s”?

• Apparent change of perspectives/settings from 8th century events with the Assyrians to an exilic perspective at (6th century, and fall of Babylonians to Persians, even naming Cyrus, 45:1) and then to a post-exilic perspective (as if returned to Jerusalem) without any transitional guiding comments, although Chapt. 39 ends with foreshadowing of the rise of the Babylonian empire.

Interpretative issue: • Are Chapt. 40-66 to be read as specific, univalent, predictive

prophesy from the 8th century man Isaiah? • How would/should we know?• What were the Israelite genres and genre clues?

Issues of DanielDifficult to date!• Found in DSS, so known by late 2nd century, but how much

earlier?• Charges of historical inaccuracies – difficult to substantiate.• Charges of late linguistic usage – difficult to substantiate.

Most difficult point: the visionary prophecies beginning with Chapt 10 get more specifically accurate with events leading up to Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century)!

Result: some evidence supports early date, some a late date.

Interpretive Issue: Are visionary prophecies to be read as specific, univalent, predictive prophecy? What clues?

Possible Clues and Resolution

We know NT writers applied inspired pesher interpretation to the Hebrew Bible regarding Jesus:“That which was said back then is what has happened now.”

We know the Qumran community used pesher interpretation prior to the NT writers to apply earlier prophetic words to their specific time.

What if inspired pesher like interpretation was already going on within the Hebrew Bible, perhaps developing with the exilic and post-exilic Jews? [We can see how the Torah is being interpreted in some of the narratives up through Ezra-Nehemiah.]

Duke: IF: • The Words of God were seen as always vital and

polyvalent (multiple applications), as supported by the preservation and transmission of the prophets, and

• The ancient Israelites did not simply vest authority in the human author [this does develop later], as supported by the lack of attribution with many writings,

THEN:• Maybe we should not this literature as univalent

predictive prophecy, and • Maybe we do not have to prove unity of authorship and

time in order to support the Bible’s authority.

Isaiah

Perhaps “disciples” of Isaiah saw how his prophetic words regarding the Assyrians and his foreshadowing of the rise of the Babylonians also came true with the fall of the Babylonians, and applied and developed them in an early pesher –like form of application.

Daniel

Perhaps early accounts and writings associated with the historical Daniel, specifically his vision of Chapt 4, were given our first developed pesher application in Chapt. 7-12 to the community suffering under the Seleucids.

[Brevard Childs: canonical criticism/reading, canonical theology]

How do you define "love"? Is it “unloving” to punish people for crimes?

How do you define "righteous" and "just"? Is it “just” to ignore crimes people commit?

Is a just God unloving and a loving God unjust? Is there a balance?------------------------------------------------- What is the story of the Book of Jonah about? Why was it included in the Hebrew canon? Does it balance Nahum?

Issues Raised by Nahum

•Why is God so "wrathful"?•Why would a loving God punish anyone? •Is God, as presented in the NT, more loving than God as presented in the OT?

Battle of Til-Tuba

Holiness of God in Isaiah: (2 of 5)

NIV Isaiah 40:12-13 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?NIV Isaiah 40:25-28 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Holiness of God in Isaiah: (3 of 5)

NIV Isaiah 40:13-14 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?

NIV Isaiah 45:11-12 "This is what the LORD says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? 12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.

Holiness of God in Isaiah: (4 of 5)

NIV Isaiah 48:17-19 This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me.“

NIV Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Holiness of God in Isaiah: (5 of 5)

Yet this same Holy One says:

“Come near to me and listen” (48:16);

“I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear: I will help you.’” (41:13);

“Your Maker is your husband” (54:5);

Prophetic Orientation toward the Future?“Classical” Prophets Vs. Later Apocalyptic Prophets

Classical Prophets often spoke of the immediate future• General: breaking covenant & need to turn back.• Judgment: God has “tried” his people and announced the

verdict, but still relents if they repent -- until Jeremiah, for instance, says it is too late.

• Promise of deliverance from enemies, if Israel obeys (Syro-Ephaimitic War)

Classical Prophets looked to the unspecified or distant future• Hope for an ideal King/Messiah• Coming of an ideal age of God’s rule.

Apocalyptic Literature (when Israel under foreign rule)• Calls people to be faithful in the midst of oppression• Looks (visionary) into the future defeat of chaos/evil and the

victory of God.

Prophetic Orientation toward the Future?“Classical” Prophets Vs. Later Apocalyptic Prophets

Issue: Was apocalyptic “prophecy” meant as a blueprint for the future?Duke: Universal human desire to find security in knowing details of “The Plan”:• Is contrary to walking with God in trust. • Is contrary to the main theme of apocalyptic literature that

calls people to be faithful even if it costs them their lives. (Such literature is “visionary.”)

• Is contrary to Jesus’ instructions simply to be prepared. ("But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32 NIV).

• Has produced many historical examples of FAILED predictions about end-time events.

• Has led to (American) pop-Christian escapist philosophy about being snatched away from tribulations.

Ranking Biblical Texts for Determining Doctrine1. Systematic, straightforward instruction: good, but

almost none (e.g. Romans on salvation by ‘faith of Christ’)

2. Literal language teaching: good, but limited to specific issue being addressed in context

3. Symbolic language teaching: caution; must control origin and meaning to original audience

4. Narratives: caution; focus on main themes, values, relationships among events, character portrayal

5. Visionary literature: extreme caution; only MAIN themes & intentions!

6. Unique material in visionary literature: NO!

Q: On which texts do many people focus for “doctrine” about eschatology (the end times) and final judgment?A: #6, #5, #3!!!

Assignment #12Obj.: Explore the nature of the Book of Jonah. a) Read the book of Jonah and list (N) all of the unusual

features (events, style, form, etc.) that you find, particularly when you think about it in comparison with the prophetic literature.

b) (T) Is Jonah prophetic literature? Why do you think Jonah was included in the Hebrew Bible/OT? What rhetorical functions does the book seem to have? c) (N) How would you describe the genre of the Book of Jonah?

(Next slide)

WHAT GENRE IS JONAH? (#13)

Caution: The issue of genre is not determined by a conflict between world views. (E.g. Belief in demonic activity.)

In an honest communication process, we give genre clues to signal to our audience, whether we are speaking fictional or historical narrative. (E.g. “Once upon a time.” “Barbourville, AP”)

(a) Are there unusual narrative features in Jonah, which might be genre clues? What?

(b) Why was Jonah included in the canon? What seems to be the rhetorical intentions of Jonah? How do you think the Jewish audience was supposed to respond?

(I have not been able to discover when the following tradition began, but Jonah is traditionally read on the Day of Atonement.)

(c) Thoughts about the genre of Jonah?

Duke: Personal note.

Whether Jonah is based on a historical event or not, it does not seem to have been composed and preserved merely for the sake of being an historical artifact.

The emphasis on the “bad guys” repenting – even the animals – and the parable-like question at the end, seems to be there to lead the audience to self-critical reflection on matters such as:

• God’s universal concern for all people• Israel’s call to be a light to the nations• Israel’s own often negative response to the

prophets• Etc.

Daniel (1 of 5)

Genre: apocalyptic, with narratives

Nature of Apocalyptic: Setting: "underground" literature of oppressed people (primarily

Jewish) for whom symbolic language is a "code" not to be understood by oppressors.

Form: narrated accounts of visions and dreams, often with angelic interpretation; heavy use of symbolism: numbers and strange animals, many in fantasy forms rather than realistic forms.

Function: set present struggle in light of cosmic, spiritual perspective and in light of ultimate victorious outcome, in order to guide and encourage audience to be faithful. (Daniel 3:16-18)

Main theses: God is in control of history; conditions will not improve in this age; one is to live faithfully until God ushers in Age to Come / Kingdom of God.

Daniel (2 of 5)

Interpretive Approaches to Book of Daniel [Revelation]:

Preterist: focuses on original historical setting, what the text meant. Weakness: ignores what text "means" to community of faith.

Historicist: interprets as forecast of course of history (up to time of interpreter). Weakness: very subjective, little agreement, tends to ignore what text meant.

Futurist: reads as a guide book for events yet to come. Weakness: ignores what text meant and what it means to contemporary community.

Idealist: interprets as a timeless expression of basic principles regarding the activities of God and the community of faith. Weakness: sees no ultimate consummation of Kingdom of God in history.

Daniel (3 of 5)

Duke: Suggested "Blended" Approach: Typologico-historical:

1) Start with preterist perspective to ground symbolic language in its original setting, while

2) recognizing historicist perspective that text speaks of a real historical consummation of Kingdom of God, the pattern of which,

3) applies typologically (idealist) to the ongoing experiences of the community of faith.

Daniel (4 of 5)

Suggested Reading Tips/Strategies:

1) Read for overall story-line and message of the whole work. 2) Read each vision looking for the impact of the whole. Do not

focus on and allegorize all of the details. 3) Explore allusions to other OT texts to get some control over the

symbols and theological perspective. 4) Look for internal interpretation of images. 5) Recognize distinction between "oppression," which is the

experience of the community of faith and "wrath," which is judgment on the opponents of God.

6) Identify how events fit typologically with the current setting of the community of faith and look for the book's message for such situations today, but exercise great caution about reading as blueprint for specific historical events.

Daniel (5 of 5)

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons ca. 139-200, said:

[In regard to using the number 666 in the Book of Revelation to predict the person of the Antichrist]

“It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfillment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved.”

Against Heresies, Book V. in The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, reprinted 1973), vol. 1, xxx. 3, p.559.