Daily Divinity Questions and Answers with Witness Dingani

QN. "8th Century prophets were loners" Examine the validity of this statement. To what extent do Zimbabwean prophets deserve the same title ?(25) - pt 65

DIVINITY REVISION QUESTIONS | 05 JULY 2016

COMMENT OVERVIEW

 - In order for one to execute the above question, he/she must have enough knowledge concerning the 8th century prophets .The 8th Century prophets include Amos ,Hosea,Isaiah,Micah,Jonah.

The word loner simply means being lonely or lacking accompanying. The above prophets were lonely to a certain degree ,this can be supported by Amos and Hosea.

 - The Pre-Canonical prophets cannot be regarded as loners because throughout their ministries they were not lonely .Some had prophetic guilds who assisted them [we all know examples ] G.Von Rad coined this statement after closely analyzing the 8th Century prophets .

ANSWERS

 - Amos can be regarded as a loner ,this is due to his personal background which is not mentioned in the bible, he wasn't under any school of prophets, his marital status is silent and he was isolated in Israel. This can be well supported by Amos 7:11.There are so many reasons why Amos was a loner [isolated ].This is due to his message which had elements of destruction ,attacking the elite and kings [we all know the examples and biblical references].

Amos was even expelled by Amaziah the priest of Bethel .This is recorded in Amos 7:11-14.All this shows us that Amos deserve the title "loner" .

HOWEVER PART

 - In as much as 8th Century prophets deserve the title loners ,one should consider the view that they don't necessarily deserve the title as some were not loners .Considering the definition of a loner [One avoiding/lacking accompanying]. Isaiah of Jerusalem was not a necessarily a loner as he was accompanied by the disciples [sons of prophets ],just like the Pre-Canonical prophets. This is recorded in Isaiah 8:16,B.W. Anderson suggested that Micah the rural prophet was also the disciple of Isaiah who experienced incubation under Isaiah. As such this indicates that 8th Century prophets were not necessarily loners.

N.B [Number of so many examples can be added]


ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT

 - As much as 8th Century prophets can be regarded as loners ,Zimbabwean prophets deserve the same title to a certain degree. Considering the colonial prophets the likes of Samuel Mutendi, Johane Masowe and Johane Marange .They were loners as they were not accompanied by any group of prophets and isolated by the Smith Regime .There are so many reasons why the above named prophets were loners, this include their mission which was too political citing number of authors and authoress who summited that Samuel Mutendi was commissioned to criticize the oppression of the blacks by the whites .This might have led Samuel Mutendi to lack support. His message which was against the existing government "Smith Regime" this led him to experience expulsion just like Amos by Amaziah .

HOWEVER PART OF ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT

 - Zimbabwean prophets do not necessarily deserve to be regarded as loners considering the view that they have individuals who accompany them this include ,Uebert Angel "Provovo the man of style" Magaya the man of cloth[we all know the examples] .Some of the Zimbabwe Church leaders operate as a sect for instance the Vapostori sect who are stationed in Budiriro 1 "the sect is well known of dealing with enemies as a group" [recently as a group they dealt with a police officer for trespassing".

QUESTION DEMANDS
 - justify the view

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