Prophecy classification chart

MJ. Smith

One annoyance I have with Logos is its tendency to choose a single option that stresses one particular aspect and present it without mention of the alternative. For example, I would like to see multiple ways of classifying the prophecies. Some of the options (from Perplexity):

Jewish Classifications

Talmudic Classification
The Talmud categorizes prophecies into:

1. Prophecies for their own time
2. Prophecies for future generations
3. Prophecies for the Messianic era

Maimonides' Classification
Maimonides, in his "Guide for the Perplexed," proposed:

1. Allegorical Prophecies
2. Literal Prophecies
3. Vision Prophecies
4. Auditory Prophecies

Modern Jewish Scholarship
Contemporary Jewish scholars often classify prophecies as:

1. Oracles of Judgment
2. Oracles of Salvation
3. Symbolic Actions
4. Apocalyptic Visions

Christian Classifications

Patristic Classification
Early Church Fathers like Origen and Augustine categorized prophecies as:

1. Messianic Prophecies
2. Ecclesiological Prophecies
3. Eschatological Prophecies
4. Moral Prophecies

Dispensationalist Classification
Popularized by scholars like John Nelson Darby:

1. Fulfilled Prophecies
2. Partially Fulfilled Prophecies
3. Unfulfilled Prophecies
4. Typological Prophecies

Historical-Grammatical Approach
Used by many evangelical scholars:

1. Near Prophecies (fulfilled in the prophet's lifetime)
2. Far Prophecies (fulfilled long after the prophet's time)
3. Dual Fulfillment Prophecies
4. Typological Prophecies

Historical Classifications

Medieval Classification
Medieval Christian scholars often used a fourfold sense of scripture:

1. Literal Prophecies
2. Allegorical Prophecies
3. Moral Prophecies
4. Anagogical Prophecies (relating to future events or afterlife)

Reformation Era Classification
Reformers like Luther and Calvin emphasized:

1. Law Prophecies
2. Gospel Prophecies
3. Church Prophecies
4. End Times Prophecies

Contemporary Scholarly Approaches

Form-Critical Classification
Based on the literary form of the prophecy:

1. Judgment Oracles
2. Salvation Oracles
3. Woe Oracles
4. Symbolic Action Reports

Socio-Historical Classification
Categorizing prophecies based on their historical context:

1. Pre-Exilic Prophecies
2. Exilic Prophecies
3. Post-Exilic Prophecies
4. Intertestamental Prophecies

Rhetorical Classification
Focusing on the rhetorical strategies employed:

1. Persuasive Prophecies
2. Declarative Prophecies
3. Interrogative Prophecies
4. Performative Prophecies

Thematic Classification
Based on the primary themes addressed:

1. Covenantal Prophecies
2. Ethical Prophecies
3. Political Prophecies
4. Cosmic Prophecies

David L. Petersen's Classification

David L. Petersen, in his work "The Prophetic Literature: An Introduction," proposes:

1. Announcements of Judgment
2. Announcements of Salvation
3. Reports of Visions
4. Symbolic Actions
5. Disputation Speech

Marvin A. Sweeney's Approach

Sweeney, in "The Prophetic Literature," suggests a classification based on rhetorical function:

1. Oracles of Accusation and Judgment
2. Oracles of Assurance and Salvation
3. Prescriptive Oracles
4. Narrative Prophecies
5. Apocalyptic Visions

John J. Collins' Apocalyptic Classification

Collins, focusing on apocalyptic literature, proposes:

1. Historical Apocalypses
2. Otherworldly Journeys
3. Political Apocalypses
4. Cosmic Apocalypses

Walter Brueggemann's Theological Classification

Brueggemann classifies prophetic utterances based on their theological function:

1. Prophecies of Orientation
2. Prophecies of Disorientation
3. Prophecies of New Orientation

Robert R. Wilson's Sociological Approach

Wilson categorizes prophecies based on the prophet's social role:

1. Central Prophecies (from established prophets)
2. Peripheral Prophecies (from marginal prophets)
3. Intermediary Prophecies

Ehud Ben Zvi's Literary-Rhetorical Classification

Ben Zvi focuses on the literary and rhetorical aspects of prophetic texts:

1. Didactic Prophecies
2. Mnemonic Prophecies
3. Identity-Forming Prophecies
4. World-Constructing Prophecies

Yes, prophecies raise an additional question as to which scriptures are considered prophecy. To the degree possible, let each classification select its own set of scripture