Malachi
By Mary Jane Chaignot
Categories: Prophets
- Malachi has the last words of the Old Testament.
- Unlike the two previous prophets, Malachi gives no indication of time or place for his prophecies.
- Nothing is known about his ancestry.
- His name means “messenger,” so many scholars think it might have been his title and not even his name. It could be translated, “my messenger,” or “the Lord’s messenger,” which would mean that the real author remains anonymous.
- Some people think his book was originally attached to the book of Nehemiah because Josephus (a first century historian) does not mention him as a separate character when he lists all the other prophets.
- This is clearly a case where the message is more important than the messenger.
- In this writing, the message was conveyed through the use of questions and answers.
- It would be a message for all time since prophecy virtually ended with Malachi – at least for 400 years.
Bibliography
Craigie, Peter. "Twelve Prophets." Daily Study Bible Series. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1984.
Gaebelein, Frank. "Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi." Expositor's Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1985.
Mills, Watson and Richard Wilson. Mercer Commentary on the Bible. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1995.
Smith, Ralph. "Micah-Malachi." Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1984. |
