Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

C. Prophecy is a specific mode of the revelation of God.

1. Varieties of divine revelation exist: Jer. 18.18 (see Isa. 28.7; 29.10, 14) (e.g., the law from the priest, counsel from the wise, word from the prophet).

2. Who were the prophets?

a. They might live together in guilds, schools, or communities, (e.g., 2 Kings 2.3ff; 6.1).

b. Some were attached to the temple, and could have served as priests, (e.g., Samuel, Elijah, Ezekiel [1.3], and Jeremiah [1.1]).

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c. Priests had a prophetic function to interpret, transcribe, update, and apply the Law (cf. Isa. 28.7, also Ezra’s example).

d. Wisdom teachers were also regarded in Israel as prophetically gifted (see Gen. 41.38f; 2 Sam. 14.20, 16.23; 1 Kings 3.9, 12, 28).

D. Prophecy manifests itself in various personal and literary modes .

1. Recognized in Judaism and early Christianity as having many different forms (cf. Josephus, Against Apion I, 38-42 with Mark 12.36; Acts 2.30; 7.37)

2. Oracles in Scripture, Isa. 1.1ff.