The Prophets — The Anástasis Center

The Prophets

Bible Studies, Messages, Papers

Photograph: This is the dome of the Pammakaristos Church in Istanbul, built in the 12th century. It portrays Christ surrounded by the Old Testament prophets. Photo credit: Giovanni Dall'Orto | CC2.5, Wikimedia Commons; cropped.

Bible Studies and Messages from The Anástasis Center: Prophets:

The second major section of the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament, is called the Prophets, or in Hebrew, Nevi’im. Below are messages, small group leader notes, and exegetical notes on the books of the Prophets. Click on the images below to view material by book.

Joshua

Judges

Samuel

Kings

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

The Twelve

The Prophets

Notes and Essays on the Prophets (Nevi'im)

From Garden to Exile: A Thematic and Canonical Analysis of the Old Testament

There is a pattern in the canonical shape of the Old Testament literature, as divided into three sections: Pentateuch; Prophets; Writings. Each section begins with a garden or garden imagery. Each section ends with a state of exile yet hope for restoration. Biblical scholar John Sailhamer calls these ‘compositional seams’ linking and holding together books of the Bible. The arrangement of the books within each division reinforces the story and significance of garden to exile. Hope builds on itself.

The Seven Prophets: A Thematic and Canonical Analysis of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (TBD)

The Twelve Minor Prophets: A Thematic and Canonical Analysis of the Treisar (TBD)

Why Did God Choose a "Chosen People"? Why Not Just Skip Right to Jesus?

These two questions stand behind all of the questions that we might have about God’s relationship with the people of Israel as portrayed by the Old Testament. Why did God apparently favor Abraham and Sarah and their family? Why did God protect them by taking other human life, like in the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Egyptian firstborn, etc.?

The Troubling Acts of God: Noah's Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Egyptian Firstborn, and the Canaanites

When God took human life in these occasions, it was not to supposedly demonstrate "retributive justice," but rather to protect His human partners at the time, until Jesus came among the Israelites.

The Troubling Acts of God: The Destruction of the Canaanites

Text of a message focusing on how God engaged with the Canaanites throughout the Old and New Testaments. Slides to this presentation are graphics-heavy so have been divided into part 1 and part 2. When God took human life on some of the occasions where Israel and the Canaanites came into conflict, it was not to supposedly demonstrate "retributive justice," but rather to protect His human partners at the time, until Jesus came among the Israelites.

The Troubling Acts of God: Did God or Satan Make David Sin?

An examination of 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, where we find a curious mention of Satan acting upon King David, which opens us up into a much larger question. The paper compares Tolkien’s view of Melkor vs. R.C. Sproul’s view of Satan. This paper advocates that both Satan and David had free will. It critiques the “divine meticulous sovereignty” view typical of Calvinists.