Author Topic: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT  (Read 11728 times)

Offline jesse

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Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« on: May 07, 2015, 07:57:16 PM »
+1
True!!

A few proofs:

"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
“In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
The Lord our righteousness.’" - Jeremiah 23:5-6

"The Lord says to my Lord:
    'Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.'" - Psalm 110:1

Hebrews 1:8, "But of the Son He says, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom."
[Quoted from Psalm 45:6, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom."]

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [h]the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn." - Zechariah 12:10
« Last Edit: May 07, 2015, 08:14:38 PM by jesse »
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Warrior_Monk

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2015, 09:12:13 PM »
+2
True!!

A few proofs:

"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
“In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
The Lord our righteousness.’" - Jeremiah 23:5-6

"The Lord says to my Lord:
    'Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.'" - Psalm 110:1

Hebrews 1:8, "But of the Son He says, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom."
[Quoted from Psalm 45:6, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom."]

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [h]the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn." - Zechariah 12:10
Isaiah 9:6 this one you might have an argument for, but Jewish people generally think it is referring to Hezekiah, and that "God" here is used figuratively.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 is not necessarily referring to Jesus. After all, Jesus did not reign as king.  It's more likely to refer to Hezekiah or Josiah. As for the name, that was common. After all, Daniel means "God is our judge" but that doesn't make him God, now does it?

Psalm 110:1 I don't get why you think this refers to Jesus. "Lord" is a term for royalty.  It's more likely referring to David or Solomon.  Plus I don't think Jesus would want his enemies as his footstool. He'd want to have a drink with them sometime.

Hebrews is N.T. and even if it refers to the O.T. you cannot use that interpretation of the O.T. as a proof.

Zechariah 12:10 This also doesn't necessarily refer to Jesus. More than likely it's Israel or God himself, looking at the context of the whole passage.

There's a reason Jewish people don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, nor that he was God, and that's because it's not conclusive. Throwing out the N.T. takes a way a lot of arguments for Jesus being God himself, and if you're looking at the O.T. alone, I don't think I'd come up with the Messiah being God himself.  It distinctly refers to them as separate entities and there is only one God.

Offline jesse

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2015, 09:56:08 PM »
+2
You're right that there is one God - but He is triune: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Definitely a mystery but Genesis to Revelation it's what God reveals about Himself. 

"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." - 1 Timothy 2:3-6

If Jesus wasn't/isn't God, then we are hopelessly condemned to hell because only God can take away our sins...but it had to be a man who stood in our place, because humanity is who is guilty of sin. In God's perfect holiness and justice, every sin is deserving of hell, and the one who sins is the one held guilty- unless a perfect substitute is offered in place (sacrificial lamb's bloodshed + death concept established in the O.T.). So Jesus is uniquely the only possible savior - God who took on humanity because of His unimaginable love for us, and because of our dire need for salvation.

Jesus really is God and it is the best news EVER  :)
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Offline Redoubter

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2015, 10:05:44 PM »
0
Westy is not saying anything beyond that the proof from the OT you posted was insufficient for Jewish scholars examining the same evidence to come to that same conclusion.

Side note, I split this off since the original topic was asking people to vote in a poll on the topic, and this was a derailment (and its own discussion).
« Last Edit: May 07, 2015, 10:14:07 PM by Redoubter »

Offline jbeers285

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2015, 10:18:48 PM »
+1
I may be misunderstanding something but don't almost all Jewish scholars concur that OT prophecies all had short and long term forms of fulfillment?  Don't most of them believe that as Westy said those prophecies pointed to Hezekiah and possibly Josiah but that they also point to the messiah?

Granted I accept Jesus as the Messiah, but Jewish scholars would still say the long term fulfillment has not yet come.

I am at work but have something interesting from the prophecy of Daniel I would like to share in this thread but will need a computer to type on. So hold me a place :-)
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Offline Red

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2015, 10:38:38 PM »
0
The classical Reformed view of the Bible would say that the Old Testament promises Christ and the New Testament presents Christ. The problem here is that while the Old Testament does have messianic prophecies that can be said to be fulfilled in Christ, they are not conclusive evidence. Now when we bring the New Testament in, we have a clear picture of Christ that shows the prophecy fulfilled. The issue here is, as a Christian we shouldn't be dividing the Testaments like this, they both play a clear part in the Story of Redemption and both are needed.
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kariusvega

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Re: Please Take My 1 Question Survey for Book I'm Writing
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2015, 11:24:59 PM »
+1
I think the best OT references which truly allude to Christ are Noah, Moses with the Golden Serpent http://www.zianet.com/maxey/brsnake1.jpg, and Abraham. I mean, Moses put EXACTLY what was killing the people on a cross for them to focus with pin point precision on the fact they were going to kill themselves by leaving the camp to go commit sin. In John 3 Jesus says to Nicodemus "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up." This is a perfect illustration of how we are in fact physically killing ourselves with our sin psychologically all the way to biologically. This is a scientific principle often over looked all the way to our society today. Every one of your neurons are connected to a part of your body. Giving your neurons any other connection to anything but continuous harmonious inner connection from clogged arteries, smoking, drinking HIV/AIDS, Ebola, leprosy, will physically manifest as cancerous tumors and diseases where they are no longer focused on their task at hand (survival). Often facing death is a way to forcefully invoke the will to survive which yields harmony from a number of different physiological/chemical genetically developed reactions to circumstances.. But is also a path to dying.

With Abraham and Isaac the Father tells him not to kill Isaac as an ultimate sacrifice knowing it would not be sufficient for mankind at the time.

This is honestly the biggest problem with humans- they can know not the knowledge of God (or the knowledge of Good) because of the place for the knowledge of evil. In example, knowing time as one linear path. Jesus knows multitudes of times and possible outcomes as they exist in wavelengths and frequencies we do not physically access as carbon based beings. Carbon 12 (6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons), yes we are the beast, is what makes 98% of the life WE KNOW OF. Only what we know of though..  Keep in mind, stars trajectories are hyperbolic and omni directional.

I guarantee the same percentage of people on this forum alone are oblivious to their own demons. Knowing not as a not is simply knowing that which isn't- which won't take you anywhere or get you anything relatively speaking, basically setting you up for complete demonic exploitation. Falling through a vacuum of space revolving around one central entity (a literal lake of fire) just as we are in our solar system around our star makes Jesus quite relevant from a neurological to an astrological perspective. Anyone who has taken a look at the universe can clearly tell that rationally we are quite self similar proportionately if you know anything about the Golden Ratio and can feel a song for instance (the frequencies of vibration at specific biologically known yet psychological ignorant to exact frequencies).

The best part about Christianity which I feel is often the most exempt from consideration is the fact that it is applied science. The law is a way to live. Life yields life and is how you live. Do not die, and you will survive. Keep the fruits of the spirit and you will have much more than the bare necessities of life. Jesus is the keystone between the OT and the NT just as he is the keystone to understanding the connection of religion to science.

But probably the best prophecy of Christ above all can be found at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1 when God says "Let there be light". Before there was light, there was darkness. Before we could be alive to understand, we were not. Understanding Christ as God and as King allows us to understand Christ as understanding. Understanding him as a being and becoming truly Christ like is our way to potentially have eternal life in Him as our genealogical lineage has continued to exist through to this point in time due to His very own applied scientific way of life.

Offline kram1138

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Re: Please Take My 1 Question Survey for Book I'm Writing
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2015, 01:19:37 AM »
0
Do not die, and you will survive.
The most profound statement I have ever seen. ;)
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TheHobbit13

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2015, 01:52:51 AM »
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Well it a hinges on the resurrection and not the prophecies anyway. Any guy with delusions of grandeur with a background in scripture could try and be the Messiah. Its not obvious at first glance if Jesus was simply following a recipe.

Offline jbeers285

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2015, 02:38:53 AM »
+1
Well it a hinges on the resurrection and not the prophecies anyway. Any guy with delusions of grandeur with a background in scripture could try and be the Messiah. Its not obvious at first glance if Jesus was simply following a recipe.

Any guy could be born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, move to Egypt and then be called out of Egypt, and be known as a Nazarene?  I thought that pretty much relied on your parents.
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Offline joeychips

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2015, 12:25:46 PM »
+1
I discuss this topic at great length in my book:
Mighty Messianic Prophecy: Biblical Research of Predictions Proving that Jesus Is God.

You can actually read the first 3 chapters of it for free online here:
http://joechiappetta.blogspot.com/2013/11/mighty-messianic-prophecy-book.html
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Offline Lampy 2.0

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2015, 03:57:36 PM »
+1
A good one is in Genesis 3:15.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This predicts Satan's downful at the defeat of death by Jesus' hand.
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Warrior_Monk

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2015, 03:58:58 PM »
+1
A good one is in Genesis 3:15.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This predicts Satan's downful at the defeat of death by Jesus' hand.
No, it doesn't. It doesn't say anything about Jesus.

Offline yirgogo

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2015, 04:45:16 PM »
+1
A good one is in Genesis 3:15.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This predicts Satan's downfall at the defeat of death by Jesus' hand.
No, it doesn't. It doesn't say anything about Jesus.

As a Christian, I believe it points to Jesus, as do the sacrificial animal in Genesis w/ Adam and Eve, as does Isaac, but Other Jewish Scholars don't.

Good evidence for Christ I see in the Old Testament in Isaiah 53, the whole chapter, but especially verses 7 and 8.
"7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.

The book of Isaiah was talking about the Messiah who would come, but says that he was... It uses past tense to describe him, and who can exist in the past from the Future but God?

Also, Zachariah is possibly the most specific book about Jesus in the bible. It was written to encourage the Jews to keep building the new temple, and was written to show the coming of Jesus, and that there was hope for them.

Zechariah 9:9 states:
"Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Which corresponds with Matthew 21:7-9
"7 They [The Disciples]brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.
8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted"

Zechraiah also points to Jesus in many other specific ways, the 30 Pieces of Silver, 11:12-13, his Disciples leaving him, 13:7, and most specifically to his being pierced, 12:10,which in the time of the Jews was not the way they killed people in the time Zechariah was written.

Zechariah 12:10:
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."

An argument against this was that they were talking about someone at the time who would die, and Israel would mourn for them, but Zechariah was written during the Reign of Darius the Great, and they used a technique called Scaphism, which was killing someone by coating them with honey so that insects came and ate them inside out, which involves no nails, or being pierced whatsoever.

People then say "what about someone dying in battle?" Well, Under Darius the Great, the only Soliders were Perisans, not Jews.

I believe all this points to the Messiah Being Jesus Christ.
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Warrior_Monk

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2015, 06:33:37 PM »
+1
But Jesus was not a king.

Isaiah is probably talking about himself in Isaiah 53. The context says "To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" and then that passage follows.

I've already mentioned that Zechariah is (probably) referring to God, or perhaps Israel, in chapter 12.  It's pretty clearly figurative language, like much of prophecy.

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #15 on: May 08, 2015, 07:43:28 PM »
+2
But Jesus was not a king.

Jesus says himself that he is a king though,

Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a King. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien

Offline Red

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2015, 09:13:28 PM »
+2
But Jesus was not a king.

Isaiah is probably talking about himself in Isaiah 53. The context says "To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" and then that passage follows.

I've already mentioned that Zechariah is (probably) referring to God, or perhaps Israel, in chapter 12.  It's pretty clearly figurative language, like much of prophecy.
Jesus will return a king. The issue here is that you are trying to interpret this like a Jew or Muslim. You have to look at the whole of the Bible to discern prophecy.
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Warrior_Monk

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #17 on: May 09, 2015, 12:36:25 AM »
+3
But Jesus was not a king.

Isaiah is probably talking about himself in Isaiah 53. The context says "To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" and then that passage follows.

I've already mentioned that Zechariah is (probably) referring to God, or perhaps Israel, in chapter 12.  It's pretty clearly figurative language, like much of prophecy.
Jesus will return a king. The issue here is that you are trying to interpret this like a Jew or Muslim. You have to look at the whole of the Bible to discern prophecy.
Not when the original question specified only looking at the old testament (as a Jew or Muslim might look at it, yes).

Offline jbeers285

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #18 on: May 09, 2015, 12:44:45 AM »
0
But Jesus was not a king.

Isaiah is probably talking about himself in Isaiah 53. The context says "To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" and then that passage follows.

I've already mentioned that Zechariah is (probably) referring to God, or perhaps Israel, in chapter 12.  It's pretty clearly figurative language, like much of prophecy.
Jesus will return a king. The issue here is that you are trying to interpret this like a Jew or Muslim. You have to look at the whole of the Bible to discern prophecy.
Not when the original question specified only looking at the old testament (as a Jew or Muslim might look at it, yes).

Can a Muslim or Jew be presented the factual evidence of Jesus life as accounted for in a historical (non-religious) sense? Sure they can. So to say you have to interpret it without knowledge of Jesus existence would also be inaccurate.
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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #19 on: May 09, 2015, 02:02:25 AM »
+2
I was speaking more of the N.T. portions where it addresses how Jesus fulfilled the O.T. prophecies, not from the actually words of Jesus.  There's a reason most people didn't see Jesus as the messiah--his fulfillment was very unconventional.

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #20 on: May 09, 2015, 02:56:44 AM »
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lol troll

I sort of agree with westy overall.

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #21 on: May 09, 2015, 04:25:56 AM »
+2
Quote
Not when the original question specified only looking at the old testament

The original question did not specify that, it just asked whether it accurately predicted Jesus as God, which it did.  The question of whether you could or would understand the prophecy of the Old Testament by only looking at the Old Testament is a different question. 

Quote
There's a reason Jewish people don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, nor that he was God, and that's because it's not conclusive.
 

That is false. The issue is pride and a lack of faith, not a lack of evidence. This was pretty explicitly demonstrated in the gospels and Acts with the Pharisees and priests not contesting the facts of the miracles but refusing to accept Christ anyway.

Quote
Throwing out the N.T. takes a way a lot of arguments for Jesus being God himself, and if you're looking at the O.T. alone, I don't think I'd come up with the Messiah being God himself.

Maybe and if I looked at the N.T. alone, a lot of that wouldn't make sense either. They are separate parts but they are meant by God the author to be understood as one whole.  You can of course study individual parts but they are never in isolation from the rest. Throwing out part of the Bible or looking at it as a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, scientologist, etc. is probably just going to lead to bad interpretation.  In fact if we try to interpret Scripture in any way as a human without the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we probably come up short. 

Quote
Psalm 110:1 I don't get why you think this refers to Jesus. "Lord" is a term for royalty.  It's more likely referring to David or Solomon.  Plus I don't think Jesus would want his enemies as his footstool. He'd want to have a drink with them sometime.

This is and Isaiah 53 are good examples.  I understand where you could be coming from here but why depend on our own guesses when Jesus actually says this is about himself in Matt. 22:41-46 (and Mark and Luke)?  This is no offense to you but I'm certain that Jesus is better at interpreting this passage then you or I.  There are so many cross references for Isaiah 53 that I can't list them all but Acts 8:26-39 is a fairly good one. The eunuch with only the O.T. to study was uncertain of Isaiah's meaning but Phillip with the knowledge of the gospel and Christ's teachings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit was able to explain it to him. 

I've seen references to the interpretations of the Jewish people, Jewish scholars, etc as sources that deserve respect and are valid but the N.T. is not a valid source?  I'll trust Paul the apostle (or Peter, John, etc.) as reliable, credible experts on the topic far more than any of those others.  This is not even getting into my position as a believer in Christ and my trust in His Word. 

Quote
.....the proof from the OT you posted was insufficient for Jewish scholars examining the same evidence to come to that same conclusion.

First of all the evidence posted is far from all the evidence available but regardless this view is misleading.  There have been plenty of scholars, Jewish and otherwise, who have studied the Scriptures and come to the conclusion that Jesus is God the Savior.  Secondly there are examples like Herod and his experts that clearly understood the Scriptures to prophesy the savior being born in Bethlehem but still rejected Jesus and tried to kill him.  Contrary to there being insufficient evidence, Herod seemed convinced enough to think it worth the effort to slaughter many innocent children to try and stop this new king. 

Just because some don't understand, disagree, or reject the Scriptures doesn't mean they are not clear and true in what they say. The insufficiency could be in the minds and hearts of the readers/listeners.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2015, 05:29:56 AM by galadgawyn »

kariusvega

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #22 on: May 09, 2015, 10:37:38 AM »
-1
Quote
Not when the original question specified only looking at the old testament

The original question did not specify that, it just asked whether it accurately predicted Jesus as God, which it did.  The question of whether you could or would understand the prophecy of the Old Testament by only looking at the Old Testament is a different question. 

Quote
There's a reason Jewish people don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, nor that he was God, and that's because it's not conclusive.
 

That is false. The issue is pride and a lack of faith, not a lack of evidence. This was pretty explicitly demonstrated in the gospels and Acts with the Pharisees and priests not contesting the facts of the miracles but refusing to accept Christ anyway.

Quote
Throwing out the N.T. takes a way a lot of arguments for Jesus being God himself, and if you're looking at the O.T. alone, I don't think I'd come up with the Messiah being God himself.

Maybe and if I looked at the N.T. alone, a lot of that wouldn't make sense either. They are separate parts but they are meant by God the author to be understood as one whole.  You can of course study individual parts but they are never in isolation from the rest. Throwing out part of the Bible or looking at it as a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, scientologist, etc. is probably just going to lead to bad interpretation.  In fact if we try to interpret Scripture in any way as a human without the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we probably come up short. 

Quote
Psalm 110:1 I don't get why you think this refers to Jesus. "Lord" is a term for royalty.  It's more likely referring to David or Solomon.  Plus I don't think Jesus would want his enemies as his footstool. He'd want to have a drink with them sometime.

This is and Isaiah 53 are good examples.  I understand where you could be coming from here but why depend on our own guesses when Jesus actually says this is about himself in Matt. 22:41-46 (and Mark and Luke)?  This is no offense to you but I'm certain that Jesus is better at interpreting this passage then you or I.  There are so many cross references for Isaiah 53 that I can't list them all but Acts 8:26-39 is a fairly good one. The eunuch with only the O.T. to study was uncertain of Isaiah's meaning but Phillip with the knowledge of the gospel and Christ's teachings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit was able to explain it to him. 

I've seen references to the interpretations of the Jewish people, Jewish scholars, etc as sources that deserve respect and are valid but the N.T. is not a valid source?  I'll trust Paul the apostle (or Peter, John, etc.) as reliable, credible experts on the topic far more than any of those others.  This is not even getting into my position as a believer in Christ and my trust in His Word. 

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.....the proof from the OT you posted was insufficient for Jewish scholars examining the same evidence to come to that same conclusion.

First of all the evidence posted is far from all the evidence available but regardless this view is misleading.  There have been plenty of scholars, Jewish and otherwise, who have studied the Scriptures and come to the conclusion that Jesus is God the Savior.  Secondly there are examples like Herod and his experts that clearly understood the Scriptures to prophesy the savior being born in Bethlehem but still rejected Jesus and tried to kill him.  Contrary to there being insufficient evidence, Herod seemed convinced enough to think it worth the effort to slaughter many innocent children to try and stop this new king. 

Just because some don't understand, disagree, or reject the Scriptures doesn't mean they are not clear and true in what they say. The insufficiency could be in the minds and hearts of the readers/listeners.

Precisely.

Warrior_Monk

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #23 on: May 09, 2015, 09:04:14 PM »
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I don't like splitting up posts.

This is basically semantics. Still, a better way to phrase the question would be "Does the old testament accurately predict the Messiah as God?"  The fact that it specifies Jesus already makes the assumption that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.  There are a few problems with this assumption.  While Christians will agree with it, what's the point of asking the question if you're only asking it to people who have obviously already picked an answer?  Problem 2 is that Christians agree with it largely because of the interpretations of the OT by the NT (as evidenced by this thread), which is looking at it through biased glasses.  This is why I've been stressing looking at it from the OT only.  So getting back to what I was talking about, saying "Messiah" instead of "Jesus" eliminates this bias, which is necessary. Or simply throw out the NT like I was doing from the beginning.  Either way, it's pointless to take the NT into account.

If you think that Jewish people are still like the Pharisees of old, then it's pointless to discuss this with you. In actuality most Christians are far closer to Pharisees than they'd like to admit.

Once again, this is just assuming you're speaking only to Christians, which is pointless.  Until we agree on what the question exactly is and why it's being asked, I'm not sure we can proceed because we're coming at it with a different premise.

And again, I'm not looking at Mark, I'm looking at the prophecies. The question is not whether Jesus was indeed God, but whether the prophecies predicted the Messiah to be God.

Finally, it sounds like you're saying that all rational people believe that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and is indeed God. I'm sure you don't actually believe that every rational person is a Christian, but it comes across that way when you make statements like "The insufficiency could be in their hearts and minds" and " In fact if we try to interpret Scripture in any way as a human without the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we probably come up short." and "The issue is pride and a lack of faith, not a lack of evidence."  Be careful of your demeanor, it can very easily turn people away from Christianity. Zeal is not always a boon.
« Last Edit: May 10, 2015, 12:16:13 AM by Westy »

Offline YourMathTeacher

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Re: Discussion of Messianic prophecy in the OT
« Reply #24 on: May 10, 2015, 12:09:30 AM »
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In actuality most Christians are far closer to Pharisees than they'd like to admit.

I admit that I wish I was more like Joseph of Arimathea, at least from a financial standpoint.  ;)
My wife is a hottie.

 


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