Prophetic understanding of sin and punishment

A paper Presentation
submition to
Mrs. Amongla Jamir

In Partial Fulfillment of
the requirement for the course
Introduction to Prophetical Literature

By
Mr. Nihimia Hajowary, (M.Div III- 347/20)
Miss. Yanola Lomou, (M. Div II- 366/22)
Miss. Sepchina R. Marak, (M.Div II- 356/21)
Miss. Arpita Shill, (M.div III- 360/21
Calcutta Bible College

15th February, 2023

 Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
1. Definition of Sin.......................................................................................................................2
2. Definition of Punishment.........................................................................................................2
3. Prophetic understanding of Sin and Punishment:.....................................................................2
4. Sin and Punishment in 8th Century prophets...............................................................................3
4.1. Isaiah.....................................................................................................................................3
4.2. Amos:....................................................................................................................................4
4.3. Hosea:....................................................................................................................................4
4.4. Micah:...................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................6
Introduction

Sin and Punishment is two sides of a coin. In today’s paper we will tell about this two
sides Sin and Punishment according to Prophetical understanding. In this paper we will give our
attention on the definition of sin and Punishment according to Scripture and 8 th century prophetic
understanding on sin and Punishment.
1. Definition of Sin
Sin according to the Bible, disobedience of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion
against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18) and Sin had its beginning with Lucifer, he thought
his position, he desired to be higher than God, and that was his downfall and that downfall was
the beginning of sin (Isaiah 14:12- 15). Lucifer, he brought sin to the human race in the Garden
of Eden, where he tempted Adam and Eve with the same temptation, "you shall be like God."
Genesis 3 describes Adam and Eve's rebellion against God and against His command. Since that
time, sin has been passed down through all the generations of mankind. Romans 5:12 tells us that
through Adam and Eve sin entered the world, and so death was passed on to all men because "the
salary of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).1
2. Definition of Punishment
Punishment is the payment for crime or sin. Punishment of sin is one of the basic truths
of the Old Testament. Mosaic Law spelled out the proper punishment for each sin. The
punishments generally took the form of justice, “eye for eye” (Exodus 21:24) and other
punishment in kind being the most memorable.2 In Old Testament we find many events where
God Himself gave punishment to disobeyed people, such like, Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:14-19),
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:12-29), Israelites wandering in the wilderness (Number
14:26-35), Moses was not allowed to entered into the promised Land (Number 20:1-13).
3. Prophetic understanding of Sin and Punishment:
By far the most important stage in the history of the OT doctrine of sin is that which is
marked by the teaching or understanding of Prophets. The love of money, with its attendant evils
of injustice, and robbery of the poor by the wealthy, is inveighed against by both Amos and
Hosea as deserving the wrath of God. (Amos 3:2; Hosea. 3:5; etc. terrible, however, as were
denunciations, the declaration by prophets against the vices of greed, oppression, and lust, the
1
F.F. Bruce, R.K. Harrison and R. Youngblood edc. Illusirated Bible Dictionary (New York: Thomas
Nelson Publishers,1975), 994.
2
Ibid., 888.

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prophetic teaching was largely confined to national sin and national repentance, they understand
the soul sinneth, it shall die (Ez.18:4.3
Judgment is certain. A holy God cannot tolerate sin. Unless the people repent, destruction
of the kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, is coming judgment for their Sins (Isai. 1:27)
judgment for those who sinned and transgressed. 4
4. Sin and Punishment in 8th Century prophets

God used many Prophets to bring His people in the right path. And in Bible we find many
prophets who were prophesied according to God’s will. The first crucial period of classical
prophecy in Israel is the second half of the 8 th century BCE. The prophets of this period are
Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah; they lived and carried out their mission during an exciting
period in history of Palestine.5

4.1. Isaiah

Sin: The book of Isaiah gives clear picture on sin which “social injustice, lack of faith in
Yahweh rather they were alliance with super powers of this time. Being a people of God who
denies His mighty power and doing injustice in society is sin this has been seen in Isaiah’s
message.6
Punishment: Isaiah’s message with warning, judgment and damage he was the spoke
person and he spoke about the punishment for those who were against the people those who
disobey God’s word and disrespect God (Chapters 13-23). Beginning with Babylon, the future
enemy that would destroy Judah (13:1-14:23), prophet Isaiah goes onto prophesy of Judgment on
Assyria (14:24-27), Philistia (14:28-32), Moab (15:1-16:14), Syria and Israel (17:1-11), all
nations (17:12-18:7), Egypt (19:1-20:6), Babylon and her followers (21:1-16), Jerusalem and her
unfaithful leaders (22:1-25) and the city of Tyre (23:1-`8).7

3
James. Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible( New York:Charles Scribner’s sons, 1938), P. 858.
4
Samuel J. Schultz, The prophets Speaks ( New York: Harper &Row Publishers, 1968), P. 105.
5
R.L. Hnuni, The people of God in the Old Testament (New Delhi: Lakshi Publisher ‘s & Distributors,
2012), P. 261.
6
Ibid., P. 265.
7
Thomas Nelson, bible maps & charts (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1993), p. 208.

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4.2. Amos:

Sin: The message of prophet Amos comes to the northern kingdom of Israel for a short
period during the reign of Jeroboam (786-746 BCE). He oppose to the breach of law, luxury of
the upper class, and oppression and exploitation. The mosaic law through which God remind
them what he wants from his people but in Amos they fail to do towards his own neighbor rather
oppress to the poor. The man who did not keep the formal law was a sin. 8

Judgments: when people keep disobeying the Lord. In Amos God warning to the people
through prophet against Judah, against Israel, “ the have spurned the word of the Lord and failed
to keep his commandments, 2:4-8). God judgment was also understood as holy anger of God
upon sinners and it was sometime immediate and foretold as well.9

4.3. Hosea:

Sin: Hosea was a native of Israel and writes from within the situation which Amos so
terribly foretold. Here we see “the sin of unfaithfulness and corruption of Israel” because of
Israel broken relation between Yahweh and his people metaphor of marriage (Hosea. 3:1; 9:15;
14:4; 4:; 6:6). The broken relation with God and it has become disloyal, therefore, Hosea has to
proclaim judgment.

Punishment: the prophetical book of Hosea indicates “salvation through judgment” here
the judgment remind (2:11-13) For I will put a stop to her pleasures; her feast, her new moons,
her Sabbaths, and all her ceremonial feast. I will blast her vines and her fig trees, of which she
used to say, this is what I have earned, these are the gifts which my lovers gave me. I will turn
them into a jungle and wild beast shall devour them. 10

4.4. Micah:

He was contemporary of Isaiah, who was at work during the reign of Ahaz and Hezekiah
(Micah 1:1).
Sin: socially and morally Judah presented a dark picture during the letter part of the eight
century. The wealthy coveted the land (2:1-2) and robbed the poor (2:8), casting woman out of
their possessions (2:9) corrupt business ethics were practiced (6:11) control under false prophets
(2:11)in the book of Micah such a sin the people of God did unacceptable before him. That how

8
Ibid., p.264.
9
J.B. Phillips, Four Prophets (New York: The Machillan Company, 1963), P. 13.
10
Ibid., P. 31.

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sin being clear in his prophecy here “Micah oppose to the breach of law and corruption of
priests, prophets and political leaders. 11
Punishment: The prophet warning of judgment from the Lord “listen, you peoples, all of
you! Let the earth and all that is in it pay heed. For the Lord God speaks against you, yes, God
from his Holy temple. See, the Lord leaves his dwelling-place. 12 The Judgment is made
necessary by the arrogance and corruption of the rulers. These would add their sins by forbidding
the true prophets to prophecy.13

Conclusion

Sin is a transgression of the law of God. Generally we can see from the Greek word
Parabasis means “overstepping transgression. Sin originated from the Lucifer and later from the
fallen human in the Garden of Eden through disobedience of God.
Punishment is payment which oppression, and robbery, injustice is the sin and it deserved
the wrath of God. Judgment is certain, A holy God cannot tolerate sin. Sin and judgment in 8 th
century prophet they proclaimed and condemn the sin of people which was, socially,
economically, and politically, unfaithfulness, murder, idolatry is sin and brings judgment of God.

11
Op., cit. P. 265.
12
J.B. Philips, Four prophets (New York: The Machillan Company, 291963(, p. 47.
13
Homer. Hailey, A commentary on the Minor prophets (Michigan: Baker book house, 1972), P. 197.

4
Bibliography

Bruce, F.F. R.K. Harrison and R. Youngblood edc. Illusirated Bible Dictionary. New York:
Thomas Nelson Publishers,1975.
Hailey, Homer. A commentary on the Minor Prophets. Michigan: Baker book house, 1972
Hastings, James. Dictionary of the Bible( New York:Charles Scribner’s sons, 1938), P. 858.
Hnuni, R.L. The people of God in the Old Testament . New Delhi: Lakshi Publisher ‘s &
Distributors, 2012.
Phillips, J.B. Four Prophets .New York: The Machillan Company, 1963
Samuel J. Schultz, The prophets Speaks. New York: Harper &Row Publishers, 1968.
Nelson, Thomas. bible maps & charts. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1993.