Peter said (Acts 10:43) that all the prophets testified about Jesus, but what about Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Obadiah who did not talk about Jesus?
Question:
Why did Peter boast about Jesus that all the prophets testified about him (Acts 10:43) although they have a meagre record of 15-16 prophets and among them Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Obadiah not talk about Jesus? What is your response?
Answer:
My response is that all the true prophets of Jehovah did in fact prophesy about Jesus. This is the latest dubious Muslim attempt to undermine the authority of the Scripture, and I am quite confident that this attack comes from a Muslim source.
First of all, Peter was an apostle. He spoke authoritatively and under the inspiration of God. Therefore, if Peter said that literally “all” the prophets testified about Jesus, then I believe it.
Second, there is a litany of dozens of prophecies about Jesus Christ in the prophets, to which this Muslim source appears to admit! Isaiah alone has dozens of prophecies about the Messiah (Isaiah 2:1-5, 7:14-16, 9:1-6, 11:1,10, 42:1-4, 49:3-5, 53:1-12 to name just a few). Zechariah has many messianic prophecies as well (Zechariah 3:8-9, 9:9-10, 11:10-12, 12:10, 13:1-3, 7-9 and more). It is ironic that the person who is trying to prove that the Bible is not inspired is, essentially, admitting that parts of it are inspired!
About the four minor prophets, in listing these four, the author is admitting that there are messianic prophecies in the other eight! Besides, we can assume that these four prophets uttered many words, and that only a very small portion of what they said and wrote is actually found in the Bible. Just because a tiny letter of 21 verses by Obadiah does not have a specific messianic prophecy does not mean that Obadiah never testified about Jesus. Lack of evidence, as they say, is not evidence of lack. Besides, there is indirect reference to the work of Jesus, even in Obadiah. For example Obadiah 1:17-21 is a prophecy about the kingdom of God which was eventually ushered in by Jesus, and the things accomplished by his Church. I am confident that these four prophets did in fact testify about the work of Jesus the Messiah, and that Peter is accurate in what he said in Acts 10:43. I cannot prove this absolutely, to be honest, but it is a very reasonable inference from what we know of the prophets, combined with the authoritative statement by the inspired Peter.
John Oakes
