Responding to Allegations of Fabricated Jesus Prophecies
Responding to Allegations of Fabricated Jesus Prophecies
The accusation that Jesus' prophecies were fabricated is an ancient one, with roots in the earliest days of Christianity. Critics have long challenged the authenticity of biblical prophecies, particularly those related to Jesus Christ. To address this issue, it's essential to examine the biblical understanding of prophecy, the nature of false prophets, and the evidence supporting the prophecies concerning Jesus.
The Bible provides clear guidance on the characteristics of true and false prophets. According to Jeremiah, false prophets speak lies in God's name, claiming to have received visions and messages from God when they have not [3]. In contrast, true prophets are those who are sent by God, speak on His behalf, and are guided by the Holy Spirit [6].
The New Testament writers, including Peter, emphasize that the prophecies concerning Jesus were not fabricated or concocted by humans. Peter states that the apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus' majesty and did not follow "ingeniously concocted myths" when proclaiming the power and coming of Jesus Christ [4]. This assertion underscores the historical and eyewitness basis of Christian prophecy.
The prophecies concerning Jesus are numerous and specific, covering various aspects of His life, death, and resurrection. For example, the prophecy that Jesus would be born of a virgin is cited in Matthew 1:22-23 as a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. Other prophecies include Jesus' descent from Abraham and David, His birthplace, and the manner of His death [7].
One of the key arguments against the fabrication of Jesus' prophecies is the presence of fulfilled prophecy. The Bible contains many examples of prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus' life, demonstrating the divine origin of these prophecies. For instance, the prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) was fulfilled, as recorded in Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-6.
The early Christian apologists, such as Flavius Josephus, also addressed the issue of fabricated prophecies. Josephus defended the Jewish scriptures and the prophetic tradition, arguing that the Jewish people had a long history of receiving and recording divine revelations [2, 5].
In response to allegations of fabricated prophecies, Christian theologians and apologists have long pointed to the internal consistency and historical reliability of the biblical text. John Gill, one theologian, argued that the prophecies concerning Jesus were not "cunningly devised fables" but rather a genuine expression of God's revelation to humanity [8]. Similarly, Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, emphasized the importance of understanding the prophecies concerning Jesus as a key aspect of Christian doctrine [9].
The biblical text itself provides a robust response to allegations of fabricated prophecies. The apostle Paul notes that if Christ had not been raised from the dead, the apostles would be "false witnesses of God" [1]. This statement underscores the integral connection between the prophecies concerning Jesus and the historical events of His life, death, and resurrection.
Sources
- 1 Corinthians “Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. -- 1 Corinthians 15:15”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Against Apion, Introduction, section 1: Produced by David Reed AGAINST APION. [1] By Flavius Josephus Translated by William Whiston BOOK 1. 1. I Suppose that by my books of the Antiquity of the Jews, most excellent Epaphroditus, [2] have made it evident to those who peruse them, that our Jewish nation is of very great antiquity, and had a distinct subsistence of its own originally; as also, I have therein declared how we came to inhabit this country wherein we now live. Those Antiquities contain the history of five thousand years, and are taken out of our sacred books, but ar”
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 14:14 (BSB) — “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.”
- II Peter “II Peter 1:16 (LEB) — For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by following ingeniously concocted myths, but by being eyewitnesses of that one’s majesty.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 3, section 2: order to be heard by the whole multitude, and said, "O Lord of the creatures that are in the heaven, in the earth, and in the sea; for thou art the most authentic witness to what I have done, that it has all been done by thy appointment, and that it was thou that affordedst us assistance when we attempted any thing, and showedst mercy on the Hebrews in all their distresses; do thou come now, and hear all that I say, for no action or thought escapes thy knowledge; so that thou wilt not disdain to speak what is true, for my vindica”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecy — Is the foretelling of future events -- Ge 49:1; Nu 24:14. God is the author of -- Isa 44:7; 45:21. God gives, through Christ -- Re 1:1. A gift of Christ -- Eph 4:11; Re 11:3. A gift of the Holy Spirit -- 1Co 12:10. Came not by the will of man -- 2Pe 1:21. Given from the beginning -- Lu 1:70. Is a sure word -- 2Pe 1:19. They who uttered Raised up by God. -- Am 2:11. Ordained by God. -- 1Sa 3:20; Jer 1:5. Sent by God. -- 2Ch 36:15; Jer 7:25. Sent by Christ. -- Mt 23:34. Filled with the Holy Spirit. -- Lu 1:67. Moved by the Holy Spirit. -- 2Pe 1:21. Spoke by ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecies Respecting Christ — As the Son of God -- Ps 2:7. Fulfilled. -- Lu 1:32,35. As the seed of the woman -- Ge 3:15. Fulfilled. -- Ga 4:4. As the seed of Abraham -- Ge 17:7; 22:18. Fulfilled. -- Ga 3:16. As the seed of Isaac -- Ge 21:12. Fulfilled. -- Heb 11:17-19. As the seed of David -- Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5. Fulfilled. -- Ac 13:23; Ro 1:3. His coming at a set time -- Ge 49:10; Da 9:24,25. Fulfilled. -- Lu 2:1. His being born a virgin -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23; Lu 2:7. His being called Immanuel -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23. His being born i”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:16: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,.... Such as Jewish fables, cautioned against Tit 1:14 which their traditionary and oral law, their Talmud, and other writings, mention; as concerning the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, the sumptuous feast, and carnal pleasures and entertainments, of that state, with many other things; some of which indeed are not very cunningly put together, but weak enough: or Gentile fables concerning the theogony and exploits of their deities; and which may be meant by fables and endless genealogies in Ti1 1:4, and especially re”
- 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:19: In these words the apostle lays down another argument to prove the truth and reality of the gospel, and intimates that this second proof is more strong and convincing than the former, and more unanswerably makes out that the doctrine of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a mere fable or cunning contrivance of men, but the wise and wonderful counsel of the holy and gracious God. For this is foretold by the prophets and penmen of the Old Testament, who spoke and wrote under the influence and according to the direction of the Spirit of God. Here no”