Whether he owned the flocks and groves or only worked as a hired hand is not known. Apr 02, 2020 book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. They claim that this book was written for the purpose of encouraging jews who were revolting against the tyranny of antiochus epiphanes iv, who was a savage greek tyrant, intent on suppressing israel. Chiasmus in the book of mormon religious studies center. Amos was the first biblical prophet whose words were recorded in a book, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah. Amos writings or sayings, collected into a separate book, begin a wonderful literary form known as the latter prophets isaiah malachi.
Covenantal concerns are central to the yahwehs accusations e. He was unassuming, but bold and fearless when called to bear witness against the evils of his day. One hardship he had to bear was the task of proclaiming divine law and indictment to a wicked, impenitent nation. He was a contemporary of the prophet hosea, but likely preceded him. The book of amos, the third of the twelve minor prophets, has been one of the most significant and influential books of the bible from the time it was written 8th century bce down to the 20th century. Welch, chiasmus in the book of mormon, in book of mormon authorship. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. From the day the book of mormon rolled off the press in 1830, those who gave it credence asserted that it obviously read like a hebrew text. Amos was a prophet, see amos prophet, during the reign of jeroboam ben joash jeroboam ii, ruler of israel from 793 bc to 753 bc, and the reign of uzziah, king of judah, at a time when both kingdoms israel in the north and judah in the south were peaking in prosperity. Notably, he defends amos s authorship of various passages which other commentators regard as interpolations. Authorship of song of songs also known as canticles is anonymous, though the majority of scholars have historically cited solomon as the books probable author there is debate because some of the books terminology probably didnt exist. May 18, 2017 the book of amos is considered one of the earliest biblical books by scholars, as it dates to the middle of the 8th century bce. Traveled north to israel bethel to preach as one called of god 7. Only at the end of the book does he speak distinctly of restoration and blessing through the messiah and davids family amos 9.
The book of amos is a prophetic book of the hebrew bible largely dating to the 8th century bce and considered to be scripture by modernday jews and christians. In the septuagint, however, it is placed second, the book of joel coming later. He earned his living from the flock and the sycamorefig grove 1. The book of amos stands third in the order of the twelve in the hebrew bible.
The majority of biblical scholars divide the book of isaiah into multiple authorship. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos. Amos was a prophet during the reign of jeroboam ben joash jeroboam ii, ruler of israel from 793 bc to 753 bc, and the reign of uzziah, king of judah, at a time when both kingdoms israel in the north and judah in the south were peaking in prosperity. Amos made clear in his writings that he did not come from a family of prophets, nor did he even consider himself one.
Actually, all that became obvious was the failure of both believers and unbelievers to cite much specific evidence. And amos made it plain that israel would be judged severely unless the people turned from their sin and looked to the one true god for strength and guidance. They rightly think that the judgments, sermons, and visions which make up that sacred writing center in a great message of doom to israel. Notably, he defends amoss authorship of various passages which other commentators regard as interpolations. The book of amos amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b. The book of amos is an intriguing scripture from a unique individual, amos, a shepherd and fig tree farmer dwelling in southern judah who is called by god to go to bethel and announce warnings of judgment. Authorship the title of the book comes from its writer, amos. The text consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the hebrew bible in judaism and christianity, its authorship is attributed to a prophet who lived in the assyrian period and named himself in the first verse, obadiah. In the introduction of the book, the author tells us that his name is amos, as well as that he is a sheep breeder from tekoa. There are four commonly espoused views concerning authorship and dating of the epistle of james. A scientific analysis of isaiah authorship religious.
Amos exposed injustice and announced gods judgement on the people. Apart from a few recent critics, all scholars maintain the correctness of the traditional view which refers the book of amos to the judean prophet of that name. The prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town approximately ten miles south of jerusalem. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. While hosea only prophesied regarding israel amos also prophesied concerning the neighbouring nations of israel. Spoke in bethel center for idol worship in israel and then in judah. The book of obadiah is an oracle concerning the divine judgment of edom and the restoration of israel. Amos informs us that he is writing during the reigns of jeroboam ii and uzziah, both of whom are biblical kings known from the archaeological record to have reigned from the 8th century bce. Nov 06, 2016 authorship of the book of isaiah a prevalent belief exists among bible scholars that the book of isaiah was written by more than one person. Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the judean village of tekoa when god calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background.
Instead of focusing on,dare i wryly point to the obvious, the theology of amos, barton spends most of his work fixating on textual criticism questions, particularly issues regarding the validity of amos s authorship, the integrity of the book, and its dating. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and. Amos was a simple shepherd sent by god to denounce the social and economic sins of israel at a time when they were in great prosperity. He was the first of those called prophetic writers of the 8th century.
Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. There is very little difference between those christian writings included in the nt canon and those excluded. Whether amos himself committed any of his sayings to writing is not certain. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon. Authorship and date apart from a few recent critics, all scholars maintain the correctness of the traditional view which refers the book of amos to the judean prophet of that name. The theology of the book of amos old testament theology. At the heart of this message is the covenant between yahweh and his people. While most of the prophets interspersed redemption and restoration in their prophecies against israel and judah, amos. If an apology were needed for calling in question the conclusion of those scholars who deny that moses was the author of the book of deuteronomy, it is furnished by these scholars themselves. He was active c 750 bc during the reign of jeroboam ii.
The prophets name likely means burden or bearer of burden. Gods relationship with his people includes judging them in righteousness when they sin and restoring them in grace. While the book of daniel claims to be written roughly around 530 bc, critics of the ot claim that it was written in 167 bc, during the maccabean era. Form, meter, and content powerfully drive home the message of judgment. Introduction to the book of colossians learn religions.
The book is ultimately addressed to all israel hence the references to judah. The tabernacle of david, now gone, will be rebuilt see acts 15. The book of amos, the third of the twelve minor prophets, has been one of the most significant and influential books the book is a collection of individual sayings and reports of visions. The landscape of the book of colossians scholars believe colossians was penned in a prison in rome, to the church at colossae, in the lycus river valley, now modern turkey.
The words of amos, who was one of the sheep breeders from tekoawhat he saw regarding israel in the days of uzziah, king of judah, and jeroboam son of jehoash, king of israel, two years before the earthquake. The book of amos is one of the books of the neviim hebrew. The consensus has always been hosea himself, although we know little about him. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and highlights how their idolatry has led to injustice and the neglect of the. Intro to amos biblica the international bible society. Amos is the first prophet whose name also serves as the title of the corresponding biblical book in which his story is found. Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii c. They rightly think that the judgments, sermons, and visions which make up that sacred writing centre in a great message of doom to israel. The minor prophets are 12 prophets grouped together in the bible. Comprising only nine chapters of oracles, it was composed during the age of jeroboam ii, king of israel from 786 to 746 bce. Instead of focusing on,dare i wryly point to the obvious, the theology of amos, barton spends most of his work fixating on textual criticism questions, particularly issues regarding the validity of amoss authorship, the integrity of the book, and its dating.
The prophets name means burdenbearer or loadcarrier. Amos intro to amos biblica the international bible society. The disputed authorship of isaiah is one of the most popular textual biblical issues and appears to be the father of all old testament authorship problems of the same nature. Foster, there is little consensus as to the genre, structure, dating, and authorship of the book of james. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary 7. Amos with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Biblical canon authorship english bible translations other books referenced in the bible pseudepigrapha list new testament apocrypha. They were very likely contemporaries, although it appears that hoseas ministry continued after that of the others had ceased. How disappointing theology of the book of amos instead proved to be. They were very likely contemporaries, although it appears that hoseas ministry continued after that of. The unity and authorship of the book of isaiah has been a touchy subject for many christians for much of the 20th century.
Amos, whose name means, he who carries the load, was a native of the sinful people of tekoa in the hills of judah, some 16 km. Amos, like most of the prophets, told us of a bright future for gods chosen people. He also defends the authenticity of the message of hope which concludes the book. The whole land will once more be a kingdom under the house of david see amos 9. Authorship of the johannine works project gutenberg self. Rather, he was a grower of sycamore figs as well as a shepherd amos 7.
Find out what true worship looks like in the book of amos. Israel will be restored to her land and will prosper. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel. His major themes of social justice, gods omnipotence, and divine judgment became staples of prophecy. Book of amos simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The book stands first in the jewish scroll of the twelve, and this may well reflect an ancient opinion that he served chronologically before or during the time of joel and amos. The authorship of the johannine works the gospel of john, epistles of john, and the book of revelation has been debated by scholars since at least the 2nd century ad. Apart from one or two passages and small fragments, which seem to come from the compiler, and especially the small collection of exilic prophecy at the end of the book, there is little that we cannot ascribe to amos himself.
Those who were not so convinced insisted that it obviously read like anything but a hebrew text. Gods judgment is about to fall on israel key words. He lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel. Shortly after pauls letter was delivered, the entire valley was devastated by a severe earthquake, which further reduced colossaes importance as a city. As were other old testament prophets, amos was a firm opponent of religious formalism and ritual without righteousness. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. This particular issue has drawn a disproportionate amount of discussion and has usually generated more heat than light. Ancient tradition attributes all the books to john the apostle. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, 3352. Spoke in bethel center for idol worship in israel and then in judah under jeroboam. Amos identifies himself as the author of the book of amos in the first verse of this book. Authorship of the book of isaiah a prevalent belief exists among bible scholars that the book of isaiah was written by more than one person.
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