STUDY GUIDE FOR ADDITIONAL READING ASSIGNMENT 1

Old Testament Prophecy, by Frank Knight Sanders

Introduction and chapter 1

Pages 1-12

NOTE REGARDING LIBERAL TENDENCIES

As you read this text, you should be aware that the author shows liberal tendencies, and some of his comments express opinions that Third Millennium does not share. For example: 1) He sometimes gives the impression that he believes the prophetical books of the Bible contain errors and contradictions. Third Millennium clearly holds to the inspiration and inerrancy of all the Scriptures. 2) He also tends to give dates for some of the books much later than evangelicals tend to give. 3) Thirdly, he breaks up the book of Isaiah into many sections, spread over many years, by several different authors. 4) Finally, he places less emphasis on how the Old Testament points to Christ than evangelicals do.

Having said this, the reading has many valuable insights and a lot of helpful information. An important part of studying theology includes developing the capacity to read books that do not totally conform to our standards, and to discern what is valid and what is not valid. To help you in this process, we will quote some of the more liberal comments in the study guides so that you can learn to identify them.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Introduction

1. According to the author, the prophets, at least the best of them, were not only preachers about God and His world, but also what?

2. How does the author define a prophet?

3. What was the primary task of a prophet?

4. Are the prophetical books in chronological order in the Bible?

5. The history of the development of the prophetic order among the Hebrews first becomes clear in the days of ________.

Chapter 1

1. Who was the first "literary prophet"?

2. "History writing, then as now, was a ready and important method of ________."

3. What was the economic situation at the time of Amos?

4. What was the concern of Israel and Judah regarding the international situation at the time of Amos?

5. Amos worked as a ________.

6. Amos preached his messages to _________.

7. How were Amos's messages received by the people to whom he preached?

Notice the comment on page 12:

"The declaration of 9: 8b-15 that the predicted exile would result in a sifting out of the good grain, of the true Israel which would be restored and blessed, must be regarded as a later addition to the original book of Amos, which closed with 9: 8a. It is out of harmony with the sweeping declarations of the prophecy as a whole."

How do you think this differs from the more conservative evangelical view?