This contest is for FUN only! I'll let this question run for the full period of time (three days), so you have lots of time to research - and you'll need to. If anyone can provide a quotation I can't answer, they win. If nobody can, I'll just pick the most eloquently stated or convincing answer. I'm an atheist and I'm asking Christians, but I still promise to be fair - the best answer will NOT be an answer I agree with, but the BEST answer.
Whew. Sorry that part took so long! Okay, so here's the question:
The New Testament repeatedly says that Jesus' appearance is the fulfillment of prophecy. Find me the passages in the Bible that are prophesying the advent of God's son, specifically. You can quote from the Hebrew Bible (that would actually be preferable, because it is the most accurate), but please quote in English rendering of Hebrew, because my browser can't handle the Hebrew script. :)
2007-04-12T17:32:12Z
Okay, I'm looking for Old Testament, because the New Testament says Jesus fulfills the prophesy of the Messiah found in the Old Testament.
The Hebrew Bible means the original, untranslated version of the Old Testament. I just meant that I can read Hebrew, so people can answer in Hebrew if they want. Sorry for any confusion. :)
2007-04-14T16:03:14Z
AnswerQueen - I'm not asking people who can't answer in Hebrew to do so, I just meant if anyone is more familiar with the Hebrew version of the Old Testament they can use it. I would hope that Christians WOULD learn Hebrew, because it is the original language the Old Testament was written in, which is part of the Christian faith, too. But, I suppose it's not really my concern if Christians choose not to do so - I just really enjoy linguistics. :)
ATWolf2007-04-12T18:03:48Z
Favorite Answer
OK, I'll try. To save space, I'm gonna give you references and explain them as concisely as I can. You should get a Bible so you can look them up yourself. If you don't wanna do that, go to www.biblegateway.com and look up these references. But it would be easier to have a Bible on hand. The version I used is NIV- New International Version. I can't read Hebrew, so obviously I can't give you a Hebrew translation. Sorry. :-) Oh yeah, feel free to read the verses before and after the references I give you, so that you can understand their context better.
JESUS' BIRTH Isaiah 7:14---> He would be born to a virgin. Genesis 21:12, Genesis 22:18, Genesis 49:10, Numbers 24:17, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5---> All prophecies about Jesus' lienage. You can double-check those verses with Jesus' geneaology in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Micah 5:2---> He would be born in Bethlehem.
JESUS' MINISTRY Malachi 3:1---> He would be preceded by John the Baptist. Isaiah 9:1---> He would teach first in Galilee. Isaiah 35:5-6---> He would perform miracles.
JESUS' DEATH Isaiah 53 is a famous example. If you read about Jesus' crucifixion in the latter part of the Gospels, you will see parallels. For example:
Isaiah 53:2---> Likely refers to the severity of the torture Jesus went through before being crucified (think "Passion of the Christ"). *Might* also refer to the fact that he came into this world without pomp and ceremony- he was born to an unwed woman in a smelly, dirty stable. Isaiah 53:3---> Again, refers to the severity of the torture- both physical and mental- that Jesus went through before being crucified. Isaiah 53:4---> Check out Matthew 8:17. Isaiah 53:7---> When Jesus was brought before Pilate, he said nothing to defend himself. Isaiah 53:9 ---> He was crucified between two criminals
Although Psalms 22 is in first person, it also talks about Jesus' death. It is very interesting to see how verses 14-17 describe Jesus' physical condition leading to death, since they can be affirmed from a medical and historical standpoint.
Psalms 22:1---> The words here are exactly the same ones that Jesus uttered during his last hours on the cross. Psalms 22:2-13---> Generally talks about the physical torture, mental humilation and degradation that Jesus went through. Psalms 22:14---> Says that "all my bones are out of joint." After crucifying their victims, Roman soldiers would throw the cross into a pit, to make it jostle around. This caused the victim's limbs to dislocate, and it was extremely painful. (Roman crucifixions were designed to be as humilating and as excruciating for as long as possible.) "His heart is melted like wax" After extreme stress on the heart, caused by suffocation, hypoxia, and acidosis, fluid builds up in the lungs and (this is one theory) the pericardium fills up with fluid also. The heart is compressed and forced to work harder. Oxygen flow to the blood is restricted, and hence it becomes thick and sluggish, forcing more work on the heart. So in a sense, His heart did "melt." Psalms 22:15---> obviously refers to dehydration; Jesus went through several hours of torture, and this excaberated his thirst. Psalms 22:16---> Obviously refers to the actual crucifixion. Psalms 22:18---> The soldiers divided up Jesus' clothes among them.
Go to http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/crucifixion.htm for more info on this; if you really want to, you can cross check with medical journals and history records on Roman crucifixions.
I know I gave an extremely long answer, but I hope this helped.
I have read the Bible three times front to back and studied it and other 'holy' books for many years both as a student and an individual. I can assure you there are no 'specific' prophecies that foretell the coming of Jesus. The idea of a 'messiah' comes from many obscure passages in the Torah and it's ancient commentary, the Talmud. What is particularly troubling is the fact that Jewish tradition holds that the 'messiah' will not be a spiritual leader but rather a military one who will lead the Hebrew people to victory over their enemies. This is why Judas, the Zealot, an advocate of military action against the Romans condemns Jesus for not fulfilling the prophecy that the 'Lion of Judah' will rise up against the oppressors and take his rightful place as the true heir to the throne of David. So, not only did Jesus not fulfill the prophecy then, no matter how you twist Scripture, he fails still today.
Don't you think it is a little hard for a Christian to give you an answer from the Hebrew Bible, considering they are Christian, and probably can not read Hebrew.
If you really are an Atheist, then why are you re-enacting Christian control-type behavior & philosophy? Sorry, but I don't get the reasoning behind mind game questions that are worded as a personal challenge. Invest in a smaller mirror or a larger crystal ball & think about life while you sit upon your American Standard throne! Better yet, buy a Bible & do your own research!