The Books of Prophecy

The Books of Prophecy are Isaiah (sometimes spelled Isaias, according to the Greek usage), Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, the four ‘great’ prophets, together with the twelve so-called ‘minor’ prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Their witness to Christ is constant, from Isaiah’s Emmanuel and Suffering Servant (Isa 7:14; 53; see Q014, Q033) to Malachi’s pure offering among the nations (Mal 1:11; see Q319, Q328).

Orthodox Christians should be aware that the Septuagint text of Jeremiah differs somewhat from the Masoretic (Hebrew) version, being shorter and differently arranged, a difference now illuminated by the discoveries at Qumran, which show that both text-forms are ancient.

The deuterocanonical books of this group are associated with Jeremiah: Baruch, written by the prophet’s scribe, and the Epistle of Jeremiah. Both are cited in this catechism: Baruch for the ‘book of the commandments of God’ which is Wisdom herself (Bar 3:9–4:2), and for prayer on behalf of the departed (Bar 3:4; see Q402); the Epistle of Jeremiah for its satire on the idols of the nations (Ep Jer [Bar 6] 44–51).

The Book of Baruch holds an honored place in the Orthodox canon as a prophetic and wisdom text closely associated with the Prophet Jeremiah. It offers a profound message of repentance, hope, and divine mercy to God’s exiled people, calling Israel (and through them, the Church) to return to the Lord with humble contrition. Of special importance is Baruch 3, which many Church Fathers, including St Athanasius, St Hilary of Poitiers, St John Chrysostom, and St Augustine, cited as a clear testimony to the Incarnation of the Divine Wisdom:

This is our God; no other can be compared to him. He found the whole way to knowledge and gave her to his servant Jacob and to Israel, whom he loved. Afterward, she [Wisdom] appeared on earth and lived with humankind. (Bar 3:36–38)

This passage powerfully proclaims that the eternal God has come to dwell among us in the Person of Jesus Christ. Thus, Baruch strengthens our faith in the mystery of the Incarnation and reminds us that even in times of spiritual exile and trial, God remains faithful and calls us back to communion with Him.