Edward J. Young > Quotes

“The writing of the Old Testament is sui generis. It stands apart from all else, and hence we can discuss the question of the composition of the prophetical books only upon the basis of what those books themselves have to say.”
― Edward J. Young, My Servants the Prophets

“It has come to be almost an axiom of modern scholarly research that in the study of the prophetical books one must, before he can correctly interpret an oracle, find the situation in life - i.e., the historical situation, in which the oracle first came to expression, and which called it forth. One need but consult any recent work upon the prophets and he will discover that it is based upon this underlying fundamental.

There is, however, another way of evaluating the prophets. According to the consistent representation of the Scriptures, the prophets did not speak only to their own generation, nor were their messages called forth merely because of certain historical situations. There is of course a certain sense in which it may be maintained that an historical situation did form the background for the prophetical messages, in that the great need of the people in the promised land was for the direct voice of God.”
― Edward J. Young, My Servants the Prophets