Download Circular Reasoning Issues with Prophecy

 As we think about the many prophecies in
Scripture that refer to Jesus, we need to think
seriously about some issues in prophecy.
 These issues aren’t with Scripture.
 Rather, the way that we have traditionally thought about
Scripture creates numerous issues when we wish to
explore prophecies about Jesus.
 Tonight, we want to explore these issues with
prophecy that we might move fully to discuss
prophecy & make appropriate application.
 In the field of apologetics (defending the faith),
circular reasoning is often used to establish the
truthfulness of Scripture & the identity of Jesus
Christ.
 This circular reasoning goes like this:
 I believe in the Bible (or Jesus) because of the
prophecies.
 I believe in the prophecies because I believe the Bible.
 Such reasoning is far from valid logically.
The Bible
says Jesus
was born in
Bethlehem
(Lk 2:4-7)..
The Bible
says Jesus
would be
born in
Bethlehem
(Mic 5:2).
 Obviously, an unbeliever is going to have a
“field day” because of such logic.
 We need to find a way to present biblical truth
in a way that doesn’t go in that circle.
 First, I do not know that we need to escape all
circular reasoning.
 Scripture itself stands as the perfect testimony to
faith.
 Rom 10:13-17.
 Jesus declares that the Old Testament prophecies stand
as a testimony to His identity:




Matt 5:17.
Lk 4:20-21.
Lk 24:44.
Jn 5:39.
 In a world of perfect “logic,” this reasoning does
not at all work.
 However, God has turned the logic of this world
upside down (1 Cor 1:25-27).
 Biblical faith does not operate on the dictates of
Aristotelian logic!
 Second, some prophecies of the Messiah can be
established outside of Scripture.
 In other words, a few Old Testament prophecies
that are established outside of the New Testament.
 There are no serious scholars—regardless of
spiritual persuasion—who doubt that Jesus was
crucified.
 Many prophecies point to crucifixion.
 Is 53:5.
 Ps 22:16.
 Another issue with biblical prophecy has to do
with the very nature of prophecy.
 We often fail to understand what prophecy really
is.
 Scholars are divided on the origin of the Hebrew
word for “prophet.”
 Some believe it comes from an Arabic term meaning
“spokesman.”
 Ex 4:10-17.
 The word “spokesman” (v 16) is Hebrew for “prophet”; the
prophets were spokesmen for God.
 Some believe it comes from the Hebrew word which
means “bubbling up.”
 This would point to the inspiration of the prophet.
 Others believe the word is Akkadian in origin &
originally mean “to be called.”
 The nature of biblical prophecy comes into play
as we think about messianic prophecies.
 We tend to think of “prophecy” as a prophet’s being
inspired to tell of future events.
 That certainly happened (Mic 5:2 & the birth of Jesus in
Bethlehem is a perfect example).
 However, prophets, more often than not, were
spokesmen for God.
 The role of the biblical prophet was to call the people of God
back to the “straight and narrow.”
 This becomes important as we think of messianic
prophecies.
 There are different types of messianic prophecy & not
every messianic prophecy was a prediction.
 Types of Messianic Prophecy:
 Direct Fulfillment.
 Double Prophecy.
 Typological Fulfillment.
 Direct Fulfillment:
 Matt 2:6; Mic 5:2.
 There is no indication from the text of Micah that the
prophet had any incident of his day in mind.
 He was looking forward to the coming of the Christ, and,
being filled with the Spirit, predicted the Messiah’s birth
in Bethlehem.
 Matt 4:15-16; Is 9:1-2.
 Double Fulfillment:
 Matt 2:17-18/Jer 31:15.
 If you look at the context of Jeremiah 31, there is
nothing to suggest that Jeremiah is speaking about
the slaughter of the innocents under Herod.
 In fact, the text in Jeremiah is one of hope, not gloom!
 The mothers are weeping for their children who had gone
into captivity.
 But, in Jer 31:16-17, they are told to weep no more, for their
children will come back from captivity.
 This prophecy seems to have been fulfilled twice,
not just once.
 Once, when the Babylonian exiles returned.
 Second, when Herod killed the innocents.
 Typological Fulfillment.
 Matt 2:15/Hos 11:1.
 In reading Hosea 11, you would never get the idea that
the prophet is speaking about Jesus.
 The reference is to the Israelites’ being led out of
Egyptian bondage.
 Matthew seems to be saying, “When God delivered
Jesus out of Egypt, it was like the time He delivered all
the Israelites out of Egypt.”
 1 Cor 10:4.
 “He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”
 What prophet predicted that Jesus would be
called a Nazarene?
 Some have suggested this is a reference to the
Nazarities (Judg 13:5-7).
 Others find fulfillment in Is 11:1—The Hebrew
word for “branch”(naser) is supposed to sound like
the word “Nazarene.”
 I personally reject both of those ideas—they seem
like a stretch.
 It’s important to note a couple things:
 Matthew writes about this prophecy differently
than he does any other prophecy.
 He does not say that this prophecy was written—he says
it was spoken.
 He also doesn’t name the prophet, nor does he say “the
prophet,” but he says “the prophets.”
 We know that not all prophets wrote down their
prophecies.
 Elijah & Elisha never wrote a book, but they were still
prophets of God.
 I personally believe that Matt 2:23 refers to a prophecy
that was handed down through generations.
 The Jews of Jesus’ day would easily have recognized it.