Introduction to Rev. W. James Mckenzie, Facilitator

1 Introduction of Malachi THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK—“ Malachi” I. Since the word Malachi means “my messenger” A. Many Scholars believe it refers to a title vs the personal Name of the Author. B. Some believe Ezra wrote the book and called it Malachi as “His” Official Title. C. It’s best to believe that the books author is a named “Malachi” since all of the other prophetical books “named” it’s author.

2 Introduction of Malachi THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK—“ Malachi” I. What do we know about Malachi A. We know nothing about the personal Life and history of Malachi. B. We do Know: 1. He was one of three post captivity (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi) 2. He was the last of the writing prophets.

3 Introduction of Malachi THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK—“ Malachi” I. What do we know about Malachi B. We do Know: 3. He was the author of the closing book of the Old Testament. 4. Some believe he was a because of how much it referenced priest in the book.

4 Introduction of Malachi Who was the book addressed?

The book is addressed to the descendants of the Jewish remnant who returned to Palestine from Babylon in 536 B.C. It is addressed to the Jews living in the Jewish homeland in the second half of the Fifth Century, B.C.

5 Introduction of Malachi The time of the writing of the book

The time of the writing of the book is not stated in the book and so is a matter of conjecture and debate among the scholars.

The internal evidence indicates that the book was written either just before, or during, the time of Nehemiah’s second reformation in Jerusalem and Judea, which reformation took place around 430 B.C. Nehemiah’s second reformation seems to have partially and temporarily corrected some of the religious and moral evils condemned by Malachi in his book.

6 Introduction of Malachi The Classification of the Book

This book is one of seventeen prophetical books of the Old Testament: Old Testatment division: 17 Historical, (5 Law, 12 History) 5 Poetic, 17 Prophetical (5 Major, 12 Minor Prophets)

7 Introduction of Malachi The Classification of the Book

This book is one of 12 Minor prophets books of the Old Testament: 5 Major Prophets (Isaiah – Daniel) 12 Minor Prophets (Hosea – Malachi)

8 Introduction of Malachi The Classification of the Book

It is one of the three post captivity prophetical books

The Old Testament has three post-captivity (Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther) and it has three post-captivity prophetical books (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

The three post-captivity historical books must be studied before the three post-captivity prophetical books are studied if the three prophetical books are to be fully understood and appreciated for the historical books give us the background for the prophetical books.

9 Introduction of Malachi Canonicity of the Book

It appears that The found its place in the canon soon after its composition. Its right to a place in the canon has never been seriously questioned from that day until the present day.

10 Introduction of Malachi The unique place of the book

Malachi is called “The last of the prophets” and “The seal of the prophets.” His book closes the Old Testament canon, being the final production of the Old Testament writing prophets. The book urges its readers to keep the Old and to anticipate the advent of a new and a better covenant.

11 Introduction of Malachi The Historical background of the book.

605-536 B.C. – the upper class Jews were in captivity in Babylon.

In the year 536 B.C. a Jewish remnant of 42,360 led by Zebrubbabel and returned to the Jewish homeland and rebuilt the alter of the destroyed temple and later laid the foundation to restore the temple.

12 Introduction of Malachi The Historical background of the book.

They later met opposition from the pagan people around them and quickly became discouraged and ended the rebuilding of the temple to follow their own selfish pursuits. 15 years later in 520 B.C. Haggai and Zechariah encouraged them to continue the rebuilding of the temple of which they did eventually finish 4 years later in 516 B.C.

13 Introduction of Malachi The Historical background of the book.

During the years 516– 458 B.C., the religious fervor of the remnant became cool and they became lax in both religious and moral matters.

In 458 B.C. Ezra, a scribe who had prepared his heart to seek, do, and teach God’s laws, came up from Babylon to teach God’s laws to the Jewish remnant in Judah and Jerusalem and to carry out certain religious and moral reforms. His reformation movement was outwardly successful but it could never bring about the inward and permanent changes that were needed until the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt to keep out the corruption coming from the pagan peoples round about.

14 Introduction of Malachi The Historical background of the book.

In 445 B.C., Nehemiah came up from Babylon to be the governor of the restored remnant. During his twelve years’ governorship, 445– 433 B.C., he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, repopulated Jerusalem, carried out certain civil and social reforms and helped Ezra in carrying out the religious and moral reforms that he (Ezra) had begun several years earlier.

15 Introduction of Malachi The Historical background of the book.

In 433 B.C., Nehemiah returned to Babylon and the reforms that he and Ezra had promoted in Jerusalem and Judah were soon forgotten and the Jewish remnant returned to their former spiritual and moral laxity and waywardness.

A short time later (we do not know the exact date), Nehemiah returned to Judah to again do a reformation work there. When he arrived in Jerusalem, he found the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem and Judah guilty of the sins denounced in the book of Malachi.

16 Introduction of Malachi The Historical background of the book.

Probably it was at this time, the time of Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem, or shortly before this return, that Malachi wrote his book. If this be true, then Malachi bears the same relationship to Nehemiah that Isaiah had to Hezekiah, that Jeremiah had to Josiah, and that Haggai and Zechariah had to Zerubbabel and Joshua.

17 Introduction of Malachi The Purposes for the writing the book.

1. To rebuke the Jewish remnant for their sins 2. To correct the Jewish remnant concerning “The Day of the Lord” 3. To teach the Jewish remnant the way to 4. To assure the Jewish remnant of the eventual triumph of the righteous 5. To exhort the Jewish remnant to remember and do the law of 6. To promise the Jewish remnant the coming of a better day

18 Introduction of Malachi The Value of the Book

Malachi’s reproofs and exhortations have application to the church today for many of the church’s ministers today are guilty of the sins of the in Malachi’s day (irreverence, profaneness, perverted teaching, loose living, etc.) and many of the church’s members today are guilty of the sins of the people in Malachi’s day (sinful divorce, unequal , robbery of God, skepticism concerning God’s justice, etc.)

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