Comunicación y Gerencia
Prophets
SCTR 19 – Religions of the Book
prepared by Felix Just, s.j.
with Brian Moon & Sean Hind
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?
What is a Prophet?
• Judaism – navi (Hebrew)
– Spokesperson for God; speaks to people
– Filled with God’s spirit; conveys teachings
• Christianity – prophetes (Greek)
– One who “speaks on behalf of” God
– One who conveys God’s messages to others
• Islam – nabi & rasul (Arabic)
– Prophet: assigned a special mission by God
– Messenger: records God’s message in books
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 11:25-29; Deut 18:9-22
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 9:2-13)
– Pre-NT era: John the Baptist (Matt 11:7-15)
• Leaders of Early Christian Churches:
– Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Healers, etc.
– 1 Cor 12:28-29
– 1 Cor 14:1-40
Prophets in Islam
• Thousands of Prophets
– In all ages, to all nations (10:47; 16:36)
– All considered equal (same divine message)
• Chain of Prophets:
– First: Adam (2:30-39); Last: Muhammad
– Recognize all HB & NT prophets (6:84-90)
• Roles of Prophets:
– Nabi = “prophet”; spoken messages
– Rasul = “messenger”; written books
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 34:9-12
• Other Major Prophets:
– Isaiah (“called” in 6:1-10; “Spirit” in 61:1-11)
– Jeremiah (“called” in 1:4-10); Elijah; etc.
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 18:15-18
• Return of the Prophet Elijah?
– Malachi 3:23
Main Prophet of Christianity:
Jesus
• Christ/Messiah; Son of God (Mark 1:1)
– Son of Man; Son of David; King of the Jews
– Many other Christological Titles, including:
• Great Prophet
– Mark 6:14-15; 8:27-28
– Luke 4:4-30 (quoting Isaiah 61)
Question 2
• How do the NT texts selected for today
compare Jesus with Moses, Elijah, Isaiah,
and other prophets of ancient Israel?
• Jesus is More than a Prophet:
– John 1:1-18
• Word made flesh; only-begotten Son
– Hebrews 1:1-5; 3:1-19
• Superior to Angels; greater than Moses
Main Prophet of Islam:
Muhammad
• Last in the long Chain of Prophets
– Qur’an 33:40
– but not divine, not different from other humans
• Final Messenger
– through whom the Qur’an was revealed
• Role Model for Believers
– Hadith: Sayings of Muhammad
– Sunna: Traditions of Muhammad
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 3:42-60
– Surah 4:150-173
– Surah 5:109-120
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 Qur’an
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 3:42-60; 4:157-159
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
Main Message of the Prophets
• Similarities
– There is only One God
– Don’t 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
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?