How do we study the Prophecy in the Bible?

As we study the Bible, we see that the authors used a variety of literary styles to communicate to people in a way they would understand. In fact, there are 9 major literary styles found in the Bible, including Law, Narrative, Poetry, Wisdom, Prophecy, Gospels, Parables, Letters, and Apocalyptic. Commonly used in their culture, the original hearers would’ve been familiar with these styles and would’ve known how to read each appropriately for their intended purpose. But what about us today?

How do we study the Prophecy in the Bible?

God used hand-selected prophets to communicate messages from Him. There were hundreds of prophets throughout Jewish history, 16 of whom would have their own named books in the Old Testament (Isaiah through Malachi).

How is it unique?

The writings of the prophets used powerful imagery and language to communicate God’s messages to His people, the majority being the Israelites. The prophetic books span about three centuries and overlap with the history of the Israelite people found throughout the Old Testament, filling in details about God’s communication with His people during their lifetime.

What was its purpose? 

Prophets were used by God to: 

• Communicate God’s Law – Remind Israel of God’s law and call them to repentance. Prophets warned the Israelites of divine judgment for sin, reminded them of the covenants they agreed to, and ultimately revealed the nature of God to humanity.
• Communicate God’s Promises – Foretell specific future events that would come to pass, which included God’s rescue plan (Jesus) that would save the world. Most of these types of prophecies, however, referred to the immediate future of Israel, Judah, & surrounding nations and have already been fulfilled. 
• Communicate God’s Sovereignty – Already fulfilled prophecies allow us to see God’s hand and sovereignty over events in history and can give us confidence in God and His Word.

Why should I read it today?

While these messages from God were captured at specific times and places in history to a particular audience, they can help deepen our trust in God and call us into a relationship with Him. As we see the heart of God and His desire for relationship with humanity, it should make us uncomfortable with a life separated from Him and drive us toward behavioral change that draws us closer to the Lord.

How do I get the most out of it?

Use these questions as a general guide to study any Biblical prophecy:

• What is the historical context of the prophet and their audience (Who, What, When, Where, and Why)?
• Why did God speak this message to those people at that time and how does this reveal God’s heart?
• What larger themes jump out while reading?
• What do we learn about God and what He wants from His people?
• How is Jesus revealed (Note: not always applicable, not all prophecies are Messianic)?

Interested in learning more about prophecy literature? Check out episode 92 of The Chara Project Podcast on How to Study Prophecy, available on YouTube and most podcasting sites, or check out the Studying Jonah Bible Study.

Interested in learning more about other Literary Styles of the Bible? Check out this article.