Topical Bible: Prophets: Often Committed Their Predictions to Writing

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In the biblical tradition, prophets served as God's messengers, conveying His will and future plans to His people. A significant aspect of their ministry involved committing their prophecies to writing, ensuring that their messages were preserved for future generations. This practice not only provided a permanent record of divine revelation but also allowed for the verification of prophetic fulfillment.

Moses: As the first major prophet in the biblical narrative, Moses is credited with writing the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. These texts include numerous prophecies and laws given by God. In Exodus 24:4, it is recorded, "And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD." This act of writing was foundational for the Israelite community, providing a written covenant and a guide for their relationship with God.

Isaiah: The prophet Isaiah is another prominent example of a prophet who committed his prophecies to writing. The book of Isaiah contains a wealth of prophetic material, much of which was written down by the prophet himself or by his disciples. Isaiah 30:8 states, "Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness." This command underscores the importance of preserving prophetic words for future generations.

Jeremiah: Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah also documented his prophecies. In Jeremiah 36:2, God instructs him, "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah until now." This directive highlights the role of written prophecy in maintaining a record of God's dealings with His people.

Ezekiel: The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to write down his visions and prophecies. In Ezekiel 43:11, God tells him, "Write down before them all the specifications and regulations, so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations." Ezekiel's writings include detailed visions and symbolic actions that conveyed God's messages to the exiled Israelites.

Daniel: The book of Daniel is another example of prophetic writings. Daniel recorded his visions and interpretations, which included predictions about future kingdoms and the coming of the Messiah. Daniel 7:1 notes, "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream."

Habakkuk: The prophet Habakkuk was instructed to write down his vision clearly. Habakkuk 2:2 records, "Then the LORD replied: 'Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.'" This instruction emphasizes the clarity and accessibility of the written prophecy.

John the Revelator: In the New Testament, the Apostle John, who is often considered a prophet, was commanded to write down the visions he received on the island of Patmos. Revelation 1:11 states, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches." The Book of Revelation is a testament to the continuation of the prophetic tradition in the early Christian church.

The practice of writing down prophecies served multiple purposes: it provided a tangible record of God's communication, allowed for the dissemination of His messages, and offered a means for future generations to study and understand His plans. The written prophecies have been preserved as part of the biblical canon, serving as a testament to the enduring nature of God's word.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 21:12
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus said the LORD God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 36:2
Take you a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Faustus Denies that the Prophets Predicted Christ. Augustin Proves ...
... side, and why should this fact be committed to writing ... As often as they repeat this
denial, we can ... The apostles quoted the predictions of the prophets, to prove ...
/.../faustus denies that the prophets.htm

Faustus is Willing to Admit that Christ May have Said that He came ...
... Against these Gentiles the Apostle Paul often wrote, and ... disparagement of the law
and the prophets, that Christ ... and Seth, and the rest, committed adultery in ...
/.../faustus is willing to admit.htm

The Credibility of Scripture Sufficiently Proved in So Far as ...
... Let each of the prophets be examined, and not one ... When (as often happened) the people
proudly and petulantly ... of the prophecy, still, after he committed it to ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 the credibility of.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... critics are at one in insisting that Christ stands committed to the ... instead of being
stoned or torn asunder, as the prophets of God had often been by their ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... own way, the figurative actions of the prophets differ from ... of Isaac is charged with
having committed a great ... with one wife only, they are often influenced by ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

The Second Epistle of St. Peter
... The fatal result of scoffing at angels was often noted in ... is the holy command (see
iii.2) committed to Christians ... of an allusion to the holy prophets of the OT ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the second epistle of st.htm

The Doctrine of Arbitrary Scriptural Accommodation Considered.
... be a mere exhibition of human fancy, often seems to ... apparent good sense, and
fairness,"is entirely committed to a ... I think it clear that the Prophets did not ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon vi the doctrine of.htm

Extracts No. vii.
... not very openly, ie if a person committed sin after ... too clearly discovered, what
has been too often the fact ... things did exist; and unless the prophets had some ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no vii.htm

Of the Power of the Church in Articles of Faith. The Unbridled ...
... Hence we so often meet with the expressions, "The word ... he commanded the prophecies
also to be committed to writing ... composed of the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 of the power.htm

Introduction.
... is not one great personage, but prophets, who are ... Miracles often repeated failed
to convey this truth ... destruction of Jerusalem, having first committed to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/introduction.htm