the

message

of the

prophets

A Survey of the Prophetic and Apocalyptic Books of the Old Testament

j. daniel hays

Tremper longman iii

General Editor

ZONDERVAN

The Message of the Prophets

Copyright © 2010 by J. Daniel Hays

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hays, J. Daniel, 1953–

Message of the prophets: a survey of the prophetic and apocalyptic books of the Old Testament / J. Daniel Hays; Tremper Longman III, general editor.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-310-27152-9 (hardcover)

1. Bible. O.T. Prophets—Textbooks. I. Longman, Tremper. II. Title.

BS1506.H43—2009

224′.066—dc22 2009022477

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Study Bible®. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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Contents

Introduction

Part One: The Big Picture

1. Prophets and Prophecy

Introduction

The Prophetic Books of the Old Testament

History of Prophecy in the Old Testament

Terminology

False Prophecy

Authorship and Composition of the Prophetic Books

Conclusion and Contemporary Relevance

Further Reading

Discussion Questions

Writing Assignments

2. The Prophets in History

The Historical Overview

History of the Prophetic Era

Conclusions

Further Reading

Discussion Questions

Writing Assignments

3. The Literature of the Prophets

The Genre of the Prophetic Books

Anthologies

The Prophets and Poetry

Further Reading

Discussion Questions

Writing Assignments

4. The Message of the Prophets

The Historical and Theological Context

The Basic Prophetic Message

The Postexilic Prophets and Daniel

Further Reading

Discussion Questions

Writing Assignments

5. The Prophets and Biblical Eschatology

Introduction

Interpretive Challenges

Interpretive Systems

Conclusions and Suggestions

Further Reading

Discussion Questions

Writing Assignments

Part Two: The Major Prophets

6. Isaiah 1–6

Overview of Isaiah

Message

Isaiah 1–3—The Covenant Lawsuit...

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MP:SPABOT

About Message of the Prophets: A Survey of the Prophetic and Apocalyptic Books of the Old Testament

Christians sometimes approach the Old Testament with a mixture of awe and bewilderment, knowing that it contains pearls of wisdom, but unsure how to dive for them—especially when it comes to the Prophets. In The Message of the Prophets, author J. Daniel Hays offers a scholarly, yet readable and student-friendly survey of the Old Testament prophetic literature that presents the message of each prophet in its historical and its biblical context and then tracks that message through the New Testament to challenge readers with what it means for them today.

Hays focuses on synthesizing the message of the prophets, which enables students to grasp the major contours of the prophetic books clearly and concisely. Hundreds of colorful pictures help to illustrate the historical and cultural background of the prophets. After identifying what the message meant for ancient Israel, Hays helps the readers to move toward theological application today, helping readers to gain a better understanding of God and the relationship between God and his people. The Message of the Prophets is essential for professors, students, and others seeking to understand the role that the OT prophets play in the Christian faith.

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Table of Contents