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Biblical Hermeneutics

Genre Principles: OT

Prophecy

Genre Principles

Hermeneutics—Genre: OT Prophecy

Literary InterpretationGeneral Principles

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Prose PoetryOld Test. New Test.

OTProphecy

Prophecy

Hermeneutics—Genre: OT Prophecy

General Observation

“We should note at the outset that the prophetic books are among the most difficult parts of the Bible to interpret or read with understanding.”—Fee and Stuart

Hermeneutics— OT Prophecy: Concepts

OT Prophecy: Key Concepts

• Interpretive problems• Historical background• Prophetic forms• Interpretive principles

Hermeneutics—OT Prophecy: Problems

Concepts: (1) Problems• Problem of prophet’s context

- Non-writing prophets: we know their biography, but not their words

- Writing prophets: we know their words, but not their biography

- Exceptions: Gad (1 Sam 22; 2 Sam 24); Nathan (2 Sam 7; 12; 1 Kngs 1); Huldah (2 Kngs 22); Jonah, Daniel

Hermeneutics— OT Prophecy: Problems

Concepts: (2) Implications

• Problem of prophecy’s form- Collections: oracles collected over time, not

chronological, unclear literary boundaries- Mixed genre: disparate mixtures of prose

and poetry, often with high poetic ratio




Hermeneutics—Prophecy: Background

Concepts: (2) Background• Prophets as God’s speakers

- God’s word to all: “Thus says the Lord” style- God’s authority over all persons, groups- God’s ambassador to royal court, nation

• Prophets as crisis managers- Pivotal points in national history- Installing kings (1 Kgs 19:16; 21:17–22)- Declaring war ( 2 Kgs 3:18–19; 2 Chron

20:14–17; Hos 5:5–8)- Declaring neutrality (Jer 27:8–22)

Hermeneutics— Prophecy: Background

Concepts: (2) Background• Prophets as covenant mediators

- Moses as mediator paradigm- Speakers on behalf of God’s covenant

✦ blessings: life, health, prosperity, agriculture, re-spect, safety (Lev 26:1–13; Deut 4:32–40; 28:1–14)

✦ curses: death, disease, drought, dearth, danger, destruction, defeat, deportation, destitution, disgrace (Lev 26:14–39; Deut 4:15–28; 28:15—32:42)

✦ messages: not entirely de novo (even Messiah is anticipated in Deut 18:18

Biblical Metanarratives

CreationIsraelJesus

Story Story Story Story Story Story

Old Testament New Testament

Bible

• Abraham• Egypt• Exodus• Conquest

Israel

Background Narrative for Prophecy

Hermeneutics—OT Law: Metanarrative

Hermeneutics—Introduction: Reflection

Prophecy-Historical MovementAbraham1800 BC

Joshua1400 BC

David1000 BC

Prophets760–460

• unprecedented political, social upheaval• unsettling power, empire, population shifts• unrelenting religious unfaithfulness

Hermeneutics—Introduction: Reflection

Prophecy-Historical MovementAbraham1800 BC

Joshua1400 BC

David1000 BC

Prophets760–460

1. Israel Assyria Destroyed722 BC Amos, Hosea

2. Judah Babylon Destroyed586 BC

Isa, Jer, Joel, Mic, Nah, Hab,

Zech, Ezek

3. Judah Persia Return538 BC

Ezek 33–48, Dan, Hag, Zech, Mal

Three Periods




Hermeneutics—Prophecy: Forms

Concepts: (3) Forms• Lawsuit

- Israel on trial: references to trial procedures- Yahweh as prosecutor, judge, jury- Israel has broken the covenant- Examples: Mic 6:1–5; Isa 3:13–26

• Woe- Opening interjection of “woe!”- Description of those addressed, evil deeds- Prediction of punishment (Hab 2:6–8)

Hermeneutics— Prophecy: Forms

Concepts: (3) Forms• Salvation (Promise)

- Individual or nation, imminent or future- Divine analysis, messenger formula,

prediction- Examples: Jer 28:2–4; Amos 9:11–15

• Enactment- Symbolic actions reinforcing spoken words- Isaiah walks naked in the streets (Isa 20)- Ezekiel makes Jerusalem model (Ezek 4)

Hermeneutics—Prophecy: Forms

Concepts: (3) Forms• Disaster (messenger speech)

- Similar to salvation (promise) but negative- Prophet acts as God’s ambassador- Divine analysis, mess. formula, prediction- Examples: 2 Kgs 1:3–4; Isa 38:1–8

• Other forms- Dirge, hymn, liturgy, disputation, vision, call- Derive from context of Israel’s life, worship




Hermeneutics—Prophecy: Principles

Concepts: (4) Principles• Distinguish forthtelling and foretelling

- Forthtelling—historical (Israel’s story)✦ frames interpretation, guides application✦ judgment invoked is in immediate context✦ find judgment cause, expected covenant conduct

- Foretelling—future (beyond Israel’s story)✦ future banquet for “all peoples” (Isa 25)✦ Davidic monarchy beyond Zerubbabel (Ezek

34:22–23; Hag 2:20–23; Zech 4:6–10)

Hermeneutics— Prophecy: Principles

Concepts: (4) Principles• Forthtelling interpretive principles

- Understand conditional nature✦ fulfillment hangs on two crucial factors: (1) God’s

sovereignty, (2) nation’s spiritual status✦ contrast fates of Ninevah (Jonah) and Jerusalem

(Jer 26:1–6)

- Understand six types of fulfillment✦ 1. literal: historical, lifetime of prophet or prophecy

• next day (2 Kgs 7:1–2)

• 300 years (1 Kgs 13:1–3; 2 Kgs 23:15–16)

• first century—Jesus (Isa 40:3–5; 61:1–2; Luke 3:3–6; 4:16–21)


Concepts: (4) Principles• Forthtelling interpretive principles

- Understand six types of fulfillment✦ 2. suspended: incomplete, fulfillment beyond book✦ 3. figurative: beyond literal words, events, actions

(Jesus on striking the shepherd, Zech 13:7–9)✦ 4. spiritual: beyond historical

• Davidic monarchy restoration and rule over Edom interpreted as church and Gentiles (Amos 9:11–12; Acts 15:16–17)

• New Covenant (Jer 31:31–34; Heb 8:8–12; 10:15–17)

• New Israel: Christ, church (Isa 19:19–25; Rom 2:28–29; Gal 6:16; Eph 2; 1 Pet 2:9–10)

✦ 5. unexpected: crucified vs. conquering Messiah (Isa 52–53 vs. Isa 9, 11)


Concepts: (4) Principles• Foretelling interpretive principles

- Marked by “latter days” language✦ anticipating future age beyond present age✦ concluding creation’s metanarrative

- Marked by “telescoping” time✦ time sequence unclear, collapsed✦ “For unto us a child is born” (Isa 9:6–7)

- Contolled by New Testament teaching✦ Jesus already inaugurated realties of future age✦ Jesus also anticipates future consummation

• Creator• Creation• Garden• Fall

Creation


Concepts: (4) Principles

• Foretelling interpretive principles- Understand complicated fulfillment levels

✦ double fulfillment: prophet’s time and much later• David’s “son” and kingdom as Solomon (2 Sam 7:12–16))

• David’s “son” and kingdom as Jesus (Heb 1:5)

✦ sensus plenior issue (fuller meaning)• covered in previous lecture

• best left to inspired writers


Concepts: (4) Principles• Foretelling interpretive principles

- Understand apocalyptic genre✦ related genre, but strikingly different

• context of oppression of God’s people

• pastoral concern for audience

• sin problem assumed unsolvable

• God breaks into history to end history

• predictions of end time rather than in time

✦ highly symbolic• reports of extraordinary visions

• predominately figurative meanings


Concepts: (4) Principles

• Foretelling interpretive principles- Understand apocalyptic genre

✦ examples• Isa 24–27

• Ezek 38–39

• Joel 2:28—3:21

• Zech 1–6; 9–14

• Dan 7–12

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