SCTR 19

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Prophets
Comunicación y Gerencia

• SCTR 19 Religions of the Bookprepared by Felix
  Just, s.j.with Brian Moon Sean Hind

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Overview

• What is a prophet?
• NOT primarily predicting the future!
• How does each religion view prophets?
• Who are the most important prophets?
• What are the prophets main messages?

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What is a Prophet?

• Judaism navi (Hebrew)
• Spokesperson for God speaks to people
• Filled with Gods spirit conveys teachings
• Christianity prophetes (Greek)
• One who speaks on behalf of God
• One who conveys Gods messages to others
• Islam nabi rasul (Arabic)
• Prophet assigned a special mission by God
• Messenger records Gods message in books

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Prophets in Judaism

• Named Prophets
• 55 total in HB 48 male, 7 female
• Tradition 600,000 male 600,000 female
• Major Prophets?
• First Last in Canon Moses Malachi
• Crucial in Israelite History Elijah Ezra
• Books of Prophets
• Former Prophets Joshua Judges Samuel Kings
• Latter Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel The
  Twelve
• Can all people be prophets?
• Num 1125-29 Deut 189-22

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Prophets in Christianity

• Recognize all Prophets of HB, plus
• Daniel (moved from HB Khetuvim to OT Prophets)
• John the Baptist (forerunner of Jesus)
• Jesus of Nazareth (but also more than a prophet)
• Greatest Prophets
• OT era Moses Elijah (cf. Mark 92-13)
• Pre-NT era John the Baptist (Matt 117-15)
• Leaders of Early Christian Churches
• Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Healers, etc.
• 1 Cor 1228-29
• 1 Cor 141-40

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Prophets in Islam

• Thousands of Prophets
• In all ages, to all nations (1047 1636)
• All considered equal (same divine message)
• Chain of Prophets
• First Adam (230-39) Last Muhammad
• Recognize all HB NT prophets (684-90)
• Roles of Prophets
• Nabi prophet spoken messages
• Rasul messenger written books

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Judaism Main Prophet Moses

• Greatest of All the Prophets
• Leader Teacher Law-Giver
• Received Torah from God on Mt. Sinai
• Decalogue Exod 20 Deut 5
• Written Torah Five Books
• Oral Torah Rabbinic Traditions
  (Mishnah/Talmud)
• No great than Moses Deut 349-12
• Other Major Prophets
• Isaiah (called in 61-10 Spirit in 611-11)
• Jeremiah (called in 14-10) Elijah etc.

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Question 1

• Acc. to the assigned HB readings and the Judaism
  101 web page, what kind of prophet(s) do Jews
  expect in the future?
• Another Prophet Like Moses?
• Deut 1815-18
• Return of the Prophet Elijah?
• Malachi 323

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Main Prophet of Christianity Jesus

• Christ/Messiah Son of God (Mark 11)
• Son of Man Son of David King of the Jews
• Many other Christological Titles, including
• Great Prophet
• Mark 614-15 827-28
• Luke 44-30 (quoting Isaiah 61)

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Question 2

• How do the NT texts selected for todaycompare
  Jesus with Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and other
  prophets of ancient Israel?
• Jesus is More than a Prophet
• John 11-18
• Word made flesh only-begotten Son
• Hebrews 11-5 31-19
• Superior to Angels greater than Moses

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Main Prophet of Islam Muhammad

• Last in the long Chain of Prophets
• Quran 3340
• but not divine, not different from other humans
• Final Messenger
• through whom the Quran was revealed
• Role Model for Believers
• Hadith Sayings of Muhammad
• Sunna Traditions of Muhammad

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Question 3

• Based on the selected readings from the Qur'an,
  what do Muslims believe about Moses and about
  Jesus?
• Sample of Many Texts
• Surah 342-60
• Surah 4150-173
• Surah 5109-120

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Other Views of Moses

• In Christianity
• Great prophet law-giver leader of Israelites
• Jesus is like a new Moses (esp. in Matthew)
• Yet Jesus is greater (John Hebrews etc.)
• In Islam
• Highly esteemed as prophet messenger
• Mentioned very often in all the Quran

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Other Views of Jesus

• In Judaism
• Teacher healer activist reformer rebel?
• Prophet? or False Prophet?
• Not the Messiah! Not the Son of God!
• In Islam
• A great prophet but still human, not divine
• Miraculous birth but no crucifixion!
• Surahs 342-60 4157-159

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Other Views of Muhammad

• In Judaism
• Not a prophet
• Jews are still waiting for the Messiah
• In Christianity
• Not a prophet
• No new/more revelation needed after Jesus

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Main Message of the Prophets

• Similarities
• There is only One God
• Dont make or worship idols
• Social justice love forgiveness peace
• Differences
• Moses Torah (Oral Written) applied in daily
  life
• Jesus Love God, neighbors, yourself, enemies
• Muhammad Total submission to God

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Summary

• Definition of prophet/prophecy?
• How the three religions view prophets
• Role of Prophets?
• Other Important Figures?
• Major prophets in the three religions?
• Moses Jesus Muhammad others?
• Main message of the prophets
• Similarities?
• Differences?