7 chapters · 28 video commentaries · covered in 11 courses
Micah is a book of prophetic oracles, primarily condemning the corruption of leaders and the social injustices prevalent in Judah and Israel. It warns of imminent judgment and the destruction of Jerusalem, while also containing later additions that offer messages of hope and restoration.
AuthorThe book is attributed to the prophet Micah, though critical scholarship identifies significant later additions and redactions.
WrittenLate 8th century BCE, with later additions during and after the Babylonian exile.
GenreProphetic oracle
AudienceThe people of Judah and Israel, particularly their corrupt leaders, during a period of social injustice and political upheaval.
PurposeTo denounce social injustice, challenge complacent religious beliefs, and call for repentance in the face of impending divine judgment.
Covered inAncient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Cities of the Bible · Did the Christmas Story Really Happen? The Birth of Jesus in History and Legend · Earliest Christian Heresies · Face to Face on the Bible: The Birth of Jesus · The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems +5
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on Micah explores how the prophet's message, like that of other Old Testament prophets, emphasized social justice and an imminent apocalyptic judgment, a theme Bart Ehrman notes was amplified by Jesus. You'll see how Micah directly challenges 'Zion theology,' the belief in Jerusalem's inviolability, prophesying its destruction due to corrupt leadership. We also examine the textual complexities, such as later additions that contradict earlier prophecies, and how translation choices, as seen in Micah 7:11-13, can drastically alter a passage's meaning. A major focus will be Micah 5:2, which prophesies a ruler from Bethlehem; Bart Ehrman and other scholars discuss how Matthew's Gospel uses this verse to construct Jesus' birth narrative, even while acknowledging Jesus' historical association with Nazareth, and how this highlights Matthew's theme of Gentile acceptance versus Jewish rejection.
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
Christian anti-Judaism stemmed from differing interpretations of scripture. Christians believed Jewish scriptures predicted Jesus as the Messiah, citing passages like Isaiah 53 (suffering servant), Isaiah 7 (virgin birth), and Micah 5 (Messiah from Bethlehem). Jews, however, disagreed, leading to conflicts that intensified when Christianity gained imperial power, resulting in anti-Jewish legislation.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Why Early Christians Kept the Old Testament · watch the clip
Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah
Many evangelical and fundamentalist Christians interpret Old Testament passages as prophecies of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah is seen as predicting a virgin birth, Micah a birth in Bethlehem, and Hosea a return from Egypt. These fulfillments are used to prove the truth of Christianity.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · How Did Prophets Predict the Future? Daniel Gives It Away. · watch the clip
Courses that cover Micah
Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years
Cities of the Bible
Did the Christmas Story Really Happen? The Birth of Jesus in History and Legend
Earliest Christian Heresies
Face to Face on the Bible: The Birth of Jesus
The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems
The Dark Side of Christmas
The Genius of the Gospel of Matthew: What Scholars Say About the First Gospel
The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel
