Table of Contents
Series Preface 15
Preface 17
Abbreviations 21
1 The Nature of Prophetic Literature 23
Analyzing Prophecies 24
Distinguishing Between Three Temporal Categories of Prophecy 24
Prophecies Describing Present Events 25
Prophecies about a Future Era 26
Symbolic Apocalyptic Prophecies 27
Genres of Prophecy 28
Judgment Speech 29
Covenant Lawsuit 31
Trial Speech 32
Disputation 33
Oracle against Foreign Nations 35
Woe Oracle 37
Summons to Repent 38
Salvation Oracle 39
Proclamation of Salvation 41
Sign Acts 42
Hymn 43
Visions (Prophetic and Apocalyptic) 44
The Poetry of Prophecy 46
Notice the Parallelism 46
Synonymous Parallelism 47
Antithetical Parallelism 47
Synthetic Parallelism 48
Notice the Development of Parallelism 49
Deciphering the Imagery 51
Prophetic Figures of Speech 52
Apocalyptic Figures of Speech 55
The Persuasive Power of Prophecy 56
2 Major Themes in the Prophetic Books 59
Isaiah 60
Primary Themes 60
Trust and Exalt God, for the Proud Will Be Humbled 60
Israel's True God Will Restore His People, so Put Your Trust in Him 62
The Destiny of God's Trusting Servants 63
Overall Purpose 64
Jeremiah 64
Primary themes 65
Don't Be Deceived, Repent or God Will Judge You 65
God Will Judge Evil Leaders and Deceptive Prophets 66
Restoration and a New Covenant 66
God's Judgment of the Foreign Nations 67
Overall Purpose 67
Lamentations 68
Primary Themes 68
Ezekiel 68
Primary Themes 69
Acknowledge That God Will Destroy Jerusalem 69
Acknowledge That God Will Destroy the Nations 69
Acknowledge, the God Who Will Restore His People 70
Overall Purpose 71
Daniel 71
Primary Themes 71
Hosea 73
Primary Themes 73
Joel 74
Primary Themes 74
Amos 75
Primary Themes 75
Obadiah 76
Primary Themes 76
Jonah 77
Primary Themes 77
Micah 77
Primary Themes 78
Nahum 79
Primary Themes 79
Habakkuk 79
Primary Themes 80
Zephaniah 80
Primary Themes 80
Haggai 81
Primary Themes 81
Zechariah 82
Primary Themes 82
Malachi 83
Primary Themes 83
Thematic Summary 84
3 Preparing for Interpretation 85
Know the Historical Setting 86
The Setting of the Pre-exilic Prophets to Israel 88
Jonah 88
Amos 88
Hosea 88
The Setting of the Pre-exilic Prophets to Judah 89
Isaiah 89
Micah 89
Nahum 90
Zephaniah 90
Jeremiah 90
Habakkuk 91
Joel 92
The Setting of the Exilic Prophets 92
Obadiah 92
Ezekiel 92
Daniel 93
The Setting of the Post-exilic Prophets 93
Haggai and Zechariah 93
Malachi 94
Be Aware of Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy 94
Know How to Use Textual Criticism 98
The Need for Textual Criticism 98
Identify Variant Readings 99
Identify the Best Reading 101
Know Where to Find Help from Commentaries 103
Introductions to the Prophetic Books 104
Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy 104
Commentaries 104
Preaching from the Prophets 109
Computer Resources 109
4 Interpretive Issues in Prophetic Texts 113
Prophecy: Is It Literal or Metaphorical? 114
The Literal Interpretation of Prophecy 114
The Metaphorical Interpretation of Prophecy 116
Prophecy: Is It Limited by Its Context? 120
Prophecy: Is It Conditional or Unconditional? 124
Prophecy: Is It about the Near or Far Future? 127
Difficulties Between a Prophecy and its New Testament Fulfillment 131
Double Fulfillment 132
Sensus Plenior (Fuller Sense) 133
Pesher Interpretation 134
Typology 134
Exegetical Resolution of Difficulties 135
Prophecy: Is It Always Fulfilled? 136
5 Proclaiming Prophetic Texts 141
Getting Oriented 144
Reading the Text 144
Defining the Setting 146
Appreciating the Literary Context 148
Developing a Descriptive Outline 151
Filling in the Details 153
Shaping the Presentation 155
Knowing the Audience 155
Developing a Thematic Outline 156
Identify the Main Idea 156
Introductions and Illustrations 157
Determining the Principle 159
Reflecting on the Application 160
Fit the Application to the Audience 160
Make It Theological and Practical 161
Call for Change in Thinking and Action 162
6 From Text to Application 163
Interpretation and Application: A Near Future Prophecy 164
Getting Oriented 164
Reading the Text 164
Defining the Setting 165
Appreciating the Literary Context 167
Developing a Descriptive Outline 168
Filling in the Details 170
Shaping the Presentation 173
Developing a Thematic Outline 173
Identifying the Main Idea 174
Introduction and Illustrations 175
Determining the Principles 176
Reflecting on the Application 176
Fit the Application to the Audience 176
Make It Theological and Practical 177
Call for Change in Thinking and Action 178
Interpretation and Application: A Distant Future Prophecy 178
Getting Oriented 178
Reading the Text 178
Defining the Setting 180
Appreciating the Literary Context 181
Developing a Descriptive Outline 183
Filling in the Details 184
Shaping the Presentation 186
Developing a Thematic Outline 187
Identifying the Main Idea 188
Introduction and Illustrations 189
Determining the Principles 189
Reflecting on the Application 190
Fit the Application to the Audience 190
Make It Theological and Practical 192
Call for Change in Thinking and Action 192
Glossary 193
Scripture Index 197
Subject Index 211
