神的先知 The Prophets of God
作者: 史鮑爾
(R.C. Sproul) 译者: 姚錦榮
摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the Christian Faith》P16 ,更新傳道會出版
舊約時代的先知是一群蒙神特別呼召的人，他們以超然方式領受神的信息，然後傳給百姓。神籍著先知的言語和作品來宣講祂的話。
先知的工作包括對未來事情的預言（foretelling），和對當時的百姓發出警告與勉勵（forthtelling）。先知被聖靈充滿，因此他們的話語就是神的話語，因此之故，先知的信息都是以[耶和華如此說]作為開始。
先知是以色列宗教的改革者，呼喚以色列民歸回純正的敬拜，並要順服神。先知們雖然指責猶太人的敬拜已經墮落成僅有儀文，但他們卻沒有否定或攻擊神原先賜給百姓的敬拜方式。先知不是革命家，也不鼓吹廢除宗教制度，他們的任務不是破壞，而是潔凈；不是取代，而是革新。
先知們也深切關註社會上的公平和公義，他們是以色列人的良心，呼喚以色列人悔改。他們也擔任神約的檢察官之角色，向全國違背神約的人遞上傳票。
先知憑著神的權威說話，因為他們蒙神特別呼召作代言人。他們的職分既非來自家傳，也不是經別人選出，他們職任證明，來自神直接的呼召和聖靈的能力。
假先知是以色列民經常遇到的問題。假先知宣講的不是神的話語，而是他們自己的意見和自己所見的異夢——假先知只宣講百姓喜歡聽的信息，而遭到同時代人嚴厲的逼迫和排拒。
聖經中的先知書分[大先知書]和[小先知書]二種，這區分不是根據先知的重要性和地位高低，乃是按照經卷篇幅的長短而定。以賽亞、耶利米、以西結書和但以理諸書稱之為大先知書，是因為他們的作品篇幅較長，而阿摩司書、何西亞、彌迦、約拿等書則稱為小先知書，因其篇幅較短。
新約時代的使徒也具備了舊約先知他特有的許多品質。使徒和先知一起被稱為教會的根基。
總結：
1.舊約先知是神啟示的代理人。
2.先知的工作包括預言、警告及勸勉。
3.先知是以色列人敬拜和生活的革新者。
4.只有直接蒙神呼召的人，才有權柄作祂的先知。
5.假先知只講自己的意見，和百姓喜歡聽的信息。大小先知書的區別，在於書卷的長短，而不在於作品的重要性的高低。
思考經文：
申十八15-22；賽6章；珥二28-32； 太七15-20； 弗四11-16
6.
THE PROPHETS OF GOD
The
prophets of the Old Testament were persons uniquely called of God and
supernaturally given God’s messages to pass on to us. God spoke His word
through the lips and writings of the prophets.
Prophecy
involved both future prediction (foretelling) and present proclamation and
exhortation of God’s word (forthtelling). The prophets were so endowed by the
Holy Spirit that their words were God’s words. That is why prophetic messages
were often prefaced by the phrase, “Thus says the Lord.”
The
prophets were reformers of Israel’s religion. They called the people back to
pure worship and obedience to God. Although the prophets were critical of the
way Jewish worship often degenerated into mere ritual, they did not condemn or attack the original forms
of worship that God had given His people. The prophets were not revolutionaries
or religious anarchists. Their task was to purify, not destroy; to reform, not
replace the worship of Israel.
The
prophets were also deeply concerned about social justice and righteousness.
They were the conscience of Israel, calling the people to repentance. They also
functioned as God’s covenantal lawsuit prosecutors. They “served subpoenas” on
the nation for violating the terms of the covenant with God.
Prophets
spoke with divine authority because God specifically called them to be His
spokesmen. They did not inherit their office, nor were they elected to it. The
immediate call from God coupled with the Holy Spirit’s power constituted the
prophets’ credentials.
False
prophets were a constant problem in Israel. Instead of speaking the oracles of
God, they related their own dreams and opinions—telling people only what they
wanted to hear. The true prophets were frequently severely persecuted and
rejected by their contemporaries for refusing to compromise the proclamation of
the whole counsel of God.
Sometimes
the books of the prophets are divided into the “major prophets” and the “minor
prophets.” This distinction is a reference not to greater or lesser importance of
the prophets, but to the volume of their canonical writings. Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, and Daniel are called major prophets because they wrote so much, while
Amos, Hosea, Micah, Jonah, etc., are referred to as the minor prophets because
their books are much smaller.
The
New Testament apostles possessed many of the characteristics of the Old
Testament prophets. The apostles and the prophets together are called the
foundation of the church.
Summary
1.
The Old Testament prophets were agents of divine revelation.
2.
Prophecy involved foretelling and forthtelling.
3.
The prophets were reformers of Israelite worship and life.
4.
Only those directly called by God had the authority to be His prophets.
5.
False prophets expressed their own opinions and told people only what they
wanted to hear.
6.
Major and minor prophets are so designated according to the volume of their
written works, not the importance of those works.
Biblical
passages for reflection:
Deuteronomy
18:15-22
Isaiah
6
Joel
2:28-32
Matthew
7:15-20
Ephesians
4:11-16