Difference between revisions of "Book of Malachi" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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<blockquote>"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (4:5)</blockquote>
 
<blockquote>"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (4:5)</blockquote>
 +
 +
==Significance in Judaism==
 +
Although Malachi is not the last book of most [[Hebrew Bible]]s, it is the last of the books of the [[prophet]]s, or [[Nev'im]]. Malchi's prophecies had an important impact on the history an attitude of Judaism far greater than the size of his small book would indicate.
 +
 +
Most important was his promise of the coming of Elijah prior to the advent of the [[Day of the Lord]]. Several prophets had predicted such a day, usually associated with the coming of the [[Messiah]] and a final battle between the forces of good and evil. By tying the Day of the Lord specifically to the return of Elijah, however, Malachi provided the Jews with a definite sign by which they could know that the time was at hand. The Messiah would not appear until Elijah came again as his forerunner. This idea would be enshrined in the Jewish tradition of Passover, in which a special cup of wine is reserved for Elijah, in case he should come this year, and the door is opened to demonstrate readiness for his arrival.
 +
 +
In [[New Testament]] times, the Jewish expectation of Elijah's coming was reportedly so strong that Jesus' disciples faced frequent objections to their testimony regarding their leader because no Elijah had yet appeared: "They asked him, 'Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?' Jesus replied, 'To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things.'"
 +
(Mark 9:11-12)
 +
 +
Malachi's teaching on divorce also provided a basis for making divorce more difficult and strengthening the rights of women in [[divorce]] proceedings. His promise of the coming messenger who would act to purify the priesthood was particularly important to the [[Essenes]], who saw themselves as a preparing to replace the corrupt Temple priesthood in preparation for the final battle between the "sons of light" and the "sons of darkness" based on the predictions of Malachi and other [[prophet]]s.
  
 
==Malachi in Christianity==
 
==Malachi in Christianity==
  
−
Primarily because of its [[messiah|messianic]] promise, the book of Malachi is frequently referred to in the [[Christian]] [[New Testament]]. What follows is a brief comparison between the book of Malachi and the New Testament texts which refer to it (as suggested in Hill 84-88).
+
Primarily because of its [[messiah|messianic]] promise, the book of Malachi is frequently referred to in the [[Christian]] [[New Testament]]. The opening chapters of the [[Gospel of Luke]] tell of the priest Zechariah receiving a revelation from the Angel Gabriel and later prophesying and his miraculously conceived son would fulfill the promise of Elijah's coming to "prepare the way of the Lord." In all both Matthew and Luke, Jesus declares that John is indeed the promise Elijah. However, in John's Gospel, John himself publicly denies this.
 +
 
 +
The following is a brief comparison between the book of Malachi and the New Testament texts which refer to it.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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| "Yet I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau" (1:2-3)|| "'I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.'" ([[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 9:13)
 
| "Yet I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau" (1:2-3)|| "'I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.'" ([[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 9:13)
 
|-
 
|-
−
| "And if I am a master, where is the respect due me?" (1:6) || "Why do you call me "Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?" ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 6:46)
+
| "See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me," (3:1) || "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;" ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 1:2) (see also Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:27)
−
|-
 
−
| "the Lord's table" (1:7, 12)  || "the table of the Lord" ([[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Corinthians]] 10:21)
 
−
|-
 
−
| "For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations," (1:11) || "so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you" ([[Second Epistle to the Thessalonians|2 Thessalonians]] 1:12)
 
−
|-
 
−
|  || "Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name?" ([[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 15:4)
 
−
|-
 
−
| "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts," (2:7-8)  || "therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach" ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 23:3)
 
−
|-
 
−
| "Have we not all one father?" (2:10) || "yet for us there is one God, the Father," ([[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Corinthians]] 8:6)
 
−
|-
 
−
| "See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me," (3:1) || ""See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;" ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 1:2)
 
−
|-
 
−
|  || "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you" ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 11:10†, [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 7:27)
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" (3:2) || "for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" ([[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 6:17)
 
| "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" (3:2) || "for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" ([[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 6:17)
 
|-
 
|-
−
| "and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver," (3:3) || "so that the genuineness of your faith . . . being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire . . ." ([[First Epistle of Peter|1 Peter]] 1:7)
+
| "and he will... refine them like gold and silver," (3:3) || "the genuineness of your faith . . . being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire . . ." ([[First Epistle of Peter|1 Peter]] 1:7)
−
|-
 
−
| "against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages," (3:5) || "Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud," ([[Epistle of James|James]] 5:4)
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| "Return to me, and I will return to you," (3:7) || "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" ([[Epistle of James|James]] 4:8)
 
| "Return to me, and I will return to you," (3:7) || "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" ([[Epistle of James|James]] 4:8)
 
|-
 
|-
−
| "But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise," (3:20, 4:2) || "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us," ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1:78)
+
| "Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." (3:23, 4:5) || "he is Elijah who is to come." ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 11:14) See also Matthew 17:12; Mark 9:13.
−
|-
 
−
| "Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." (3:23, 4:5) || "he is Elijah who is to come." ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 11:14)
 
−
|-
 
−
|  || "Elijah has already come," ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 17:12)
 
−
|-
 
−
|  || "Elijah has come," ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 9:13)
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| "Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents," (3:23-24, 4:5-6) || "With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous," ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1:17)
 
| "Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents," (3:23-24, 4:5-6) || "With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous," ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1:17)
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
†There has recently arisen new information that shows it is unlikely that Matthew (verse 11:10) was quoting from Malachi in reference to the messenger. Matthew was more likely quoting a different verse of which we currently have no record.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
 
−
 
−
Although many Christians believe that the [[messiah|messianic]] prophecies of the book of Malachi have been fulfilled in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of [[Jesus|Jesus of Nazareth]], most Jews continue to await the coming of the prophet [[Elijah]] who will prepare the way for the Lord. The Latter-day Saints differ significantly in this regard as noted below.
 
−
 
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==The author==
 
−
The Book of Malachi is the last of the 12 [[minor prophets]] and the final book of the [[Old Testamet]] is commonly attributed the prophet [[Malachi]]. The word ''Malchi'', however, means simply "my messenger."  Thus, there is substantial debate regarding the identity of the author of the Book of Malachi. Early manuscripts did not inlcude book titles. The term ''malachi'' occurs in verse 1:1 and verse 3:1, but it seems unlikely that the word refers to the same character in both of these references.
 
−
 
−
The Jewish [[Targum]] actually identifies [[Ezra]] as the author of Malachi.  There is, however, no direct evidence to support this claim. Some scholars note affinities between [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] 9-14 and the book of Malachi. Zechariah 9, Zechariah 12, and Malachi 1 are all introduced as "Oracle, the word of Yahweh." Many scholars argue that this collection originally consisted of three independent and anonymous prophecies. Two were subsequently appended to the book of Zechariah (as what scholars refer to as Deutero-Zechariah) and the third became the book of Malachi. As a result, most scholars consider the book of Malachi to be the work of a single author who may or may not have been identified by the title Malachi. The present division of the oracles results in a total of twelve books of minor prophets – a number parallelling the sons of [[Jacob]] who became the heads of the twelve [[Israelite|tribes of Israel]]. The [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] asserts that "We are no doubt in presence of an abbreviation of the name Mál'akhîyah, that is 'Messenger of Yah'."
 
−
 
−
Nothing is known of the biography of the author of the book of Malachi although it has been suggested that he may have been Levitical (which is curious, considering that Ezra was a priest.) The books of Zechariah and Haggai were written during the lifetime of Ezra (see 5:1), perhaps this may explain the similarities in style. Although the Ezra theory is disputed, no other authorship theories are dominant.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
 
−
 
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==Period==
 
−
There are very few historical details in the book of Malachi. The greatest clue as to its dating may lie in the fact that the Persian-era term for governor (pehâ) is used in 1:8. This points to a post-exilic date of composition both because of the use of the Persian period term and because [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] had a king before the exile. Since, in the same verse, the temple has been rebuilt, the book must also be later than 515 B.C.E. Malachi was apparently known to the author of [[Sirach|Ecclesiasticus]] early in the Second Century B.C.E. Because of the development of themes in the book of Malachi, most scholars assign it to a position between [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] and [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]], slightly before [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] came to [[Jerusalem]] in 445 B.C.E.
 
  
−
==Location==
+
===Mormon beliefs related to Malachi===
−
The book of Malachi deals directly with abuses in the restored [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] system — apparently from first hand experience. Thus, the book was almost certainly written in [[Jerusalem]].
 
  
−
==Aim==
+
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] teaches that the prophet [[Elijah]] appeared to Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836 ([[Passover]]) and restored important "keys" (Priesthood authority) related to temple work and family history/genealogical record-keeping. (''Doctrine and Covenants Section 110'') This is in direct fulfillment of Malachi's prophesy at the end of chapter 4. According to LDS tradition, the angelic prophet [[Moroni (prophet)|Moroni]] appeared to Joseph in the year 1823 and told him that parts of Malachi chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 had not yet been fulfilled but soon would be. Malachi's teachings on the blessings of [[tithing]] are also considered very important in LDS doctrine, and were repeated by the resurrected Savior in the [[Book of Mormon]] (3 Nephi 24,25).
−
The book of Malachi was written to correct the lax religious and social behaviour of the [[Israelite]]s &ndash; particularly the priests &ndash; in post-exilic [[Jerusalem]]. Although the prophets urged the people of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] and [[Israel]] to see their exile as punishment for failing to uphold their covenant with [[Yahweh]], it was not long after they had been restored to the land and to [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] worship that the people’s commitment to their God began, once again, to wane. It was in this context that the prophet commonly referred to as Malachi delivered his prophecy.  
+
===Malachi in Unificationism===
 +
Malachi's prophecies are also particularly important in the teachings of the [[Unification Church]]. According to the [[Divine Principle]] Malachi's prophecy concerning the return of Elijah was supposed to be fulfilled by John the Baptist. However, John in fact denied that he was Elijah and thus failed to prepare the way for Jesus as the Messiah. Unification tradition also holds that Malachi was a very significant figure in providential history, playing a role in Judaism parallel to that of Martin Luther in the history of Christianity.
  
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In 1:2, Malachi has the people of Israel question God’s love for them. This introduction to the book illustrates the severity of the situation which Malachi addresses. The graveness of the situation is also indicated by the dialectical style with which Malachi confronts his audience. Malachi proceeds to accuse his audience of failing to respect God as God deserves. One way in which this disrespect is made manifest is through the substandard sacrifices which Malachi claims are being offered by the priests. While [[Tetragrammaton|Yahweh]] demands animals that are “without blemish” ([[Leviticus]] 1:3, NRSV), the priests, who were “to determine whether the animal was acceptable” (Mason 143), were offering blind, lame and sick animals for sacrifice because they thought nobody would notice.
+
==Critical views==
 +
===Author===
 +
The word ''Malchi'' means simply "my messenger."  Thus, there is substantial debate regarding the identity of the author of the Book of Malachi. Early manuscripts did not inlcude book titles, and since there are no capital letters in ancient Hebrew it is impossible to know for certain if "malachi" is meant as a proper name. The term ''malachi'' occurs in verse 1:1 and verse 3:1, but it fairly claer that the word doe not refer to the same character in both of these verses.
  
−
In 2:10, Malachi addresses the issue of divorce. On this topic, Malachi deals with divorce both as a social problem (“Why then are we faithless to one another ... ?” 2:10) and as a religious problem (“Judah ... has married the daughter of a foreign god” 2:11). In contrast to the book of [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]], Malachi urges the people to remain steadfast to the wives of their youth.
+
One Jewish tradition (Tosafot Yevamot 86b) identifies [[Ezra]] the Scribe as the author of Malachi. Other rabbinical authorities disagree, however; and there is no direct evidence to support this claim. Some scholars note affinities between [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]] 9-14 and the book of Malachi. Some scholars argue that the prophecies of Malachi are actually a collection of originally independent anonymous oracles.  
  
−
Malachi also criticizes his audience for questioning God’s justice. He reminds them that God is just, exhorting them to be faithful as they await that justice. Malachi quickly goes on to point out that the people have not been faithful. In fact, the people are not giving God all that God deserves. Just as the priests have been offering unacceptable sacrifices, so the people have been neglecting to offer their full [[tithe]] to the Lord. The result of these shortcomings is that the people come to believe that no good comes out of serving God.
+
Nothing is known of the biography of the author of the book of Malachi although it has been suggested that his concerns make it likely that he was a Levite.
  
−
Malachi assures the faithful among his audience that in the [[eschatology|eschaton]], the differences between those who served God faithfully and those who did not will become clear. The book concludes by calling upon the teachings of [[Moses]] and by promising that [[Elijah]] will return prior to the [[Last Judgement|Day of the Lord]].
+
===Date and place ===
 +
There are very few historical details in the book of Malachi. The greatest clue as to its dating may lie in the fact that the Persian-era term for governor (''pehâ'') is used in 1:8. This points to a post-exilic date of composition both because of the use of the Persian period term and because [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] had a king before the exile. Since, in the same verse, the temple has been rebuilt, the book must also be later than 515 B.C.E. Malachi was apparently known to the author of [[Sirach|Ecclesiasticus]] early in the second century B.C.E.. Because of the development of themes in the book of Malachi, most scholars assign it to a position between [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] and [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]], slightly before [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] came to [[Jerusalem]] in 445 B.C.E..
  
 +
The book of Malachi deals directly with abuses in the restored [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] system —apparently from first hand experience. Thus, the book was almost certainly written in [[Jerusalem]].
  
−
===Mormonism Beliefs about Malachi and Elijah===
 
  
−
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] teaches that the prophet [[Elijah]] appeared to Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836 ([[Passover]]) and restored important "keys" (Priesthood authority) related to temple work and family history/genealogical record-keeping. ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/110 Doctrine and Covenants Section 110]) This is in direct fulfillment of Malachi's prophesy at the end of chapter 4. As recorded in [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1 Joseph Smith's history], [[Moroni (prophet)|Moroni]] appeared to Joseph in the year 1823 and told him that parts of Malachi chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 had not yet been fulfilled but soon would be. Malachi's teachings on the blessings of [[tithing]] are also considered very important in LDS doctrine, and were repeated by the resurrected Savior in the [[Book of Mormon]] ([http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/24 3 Nephi 24,25]).
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 02:59, 9 July 2007


Books of the

Hebrew Bible

Malachi (or Malachias, מַלְאָכִי, Malʾaḫi, Mál'akhî) is a book of the Bible Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh, written by the prophet Malachi. Possibly this is not the name of the author, since Malachi means 'my messenger' or 'my angel' in Hebrew.

Themes

The Book of Malachi is composed of of six fairly distinct prophecies. These consist of a series of disputes between Yahweh and the various groups within the Israelite community. Implicit in the prophet’s condemnation of Israel’s religious practices is a call to keep Yahweh’s statutes. The book draws heavily upon various themes found in other books of the Bible.

Esau and Jacob

Malachi appeals to the story of the rivalry between Jacob and Esau and of Yahweh’s preference for Jacob contained in Genesis 25-28. Malachi reminds his audience that, as descendants of Jacob (Israel), they have been and continue to be favored by God as His chosen people. The aspiration of the Edomites, Esau's descendants, are specifically disparaged, while Israel's right to dominion of Edomite territories in affirmed:

Edom may say, "Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins." But this is what the Lord Almighty says: "They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!' (1:4-5)

Acceptable offerings

In the second prophecy, Malachi draws upon the Levitical Code (eg. Leviticus 1:3) in condemning the priests for offering unacceptable sacrifices, such as blind or crippled animals. He fathermore pronounces a curse on those who have healthy cattle and yet offer diseased or otherwise unaacceptable beasts to be sacrficed. (1:6-2:9) The passage is remarkable for its contrast with the Book of Amos, which emphasized social justice as the crucial qualification for a true priesthood, rather than the quality of the animals being sacrificed by the priests. The prophet reaffirms God's special covenant with the Levite priesthood, but threatens priest who make unacceptable offerings: "I will spread on your faces the offal from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it." (2:3)

Divorce

The third prophecy is a dramatic condemnation of divorce:

Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel... So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.(2:15-16).

The exact meaning of the oracle, however, is not so clear-cut. In one verse, the prophet clearly refers to Judah's collective faithlessness in marrying foreign wives and adopting their idolatrous practices. The more specific condemnation in the 2:15-16, however, could be interpreted as disagreeing the instistence of Ezra and Nehemiah that Judah's leaders divorce any non-Jewish wives among them.

The coming messenger

The fourth condemns those who question God's justice, promising the coming of the "messenger (malachi) of the covenant," who “is like refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap . . .” (3:1-2). He will carry out the promised purification of the Levite priesthood, so that "offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years." (3:4) Echoing the classical prophets, the author predicts that God will testify against "sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice." (3:5)

Tithes

Following this, the prophet turns to issue of tithes. Malachi quotes God as declaring, "You rob me." God commands: “Bring the full tithe... [and] see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down on you an overflowing blessing” (3:10).

The return of Elijah

Malachi's most famous prophecy, is contained in his sixth and final oracle. This is the prediction of the "great and terrible day of the Lord," when evil will be burned away, and the righteous will "trample down the wicked." Malachi calls his readers to recall the great prophet Moses and obey "all the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel." (4:4) In conclusion God promises:

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (4:5)

Significance in Judaism

Although Malachi is not the last book of most Hebrew Bibles, it is the last of the books of the prophets, or Nev'im. Malchi's prophecies had an important impact on the history an attitude of Judaism far greater than the size of his small book would indicate.

Most important was his promise of the coming of Elijah prior to the advent of the Day of the Lord. Several prophets had predicted such a day, usually associated with the coming of the Messiah and a final battle between the forces of good and evil. By tying the Day of the Lord specifically to the return of Elijah, however, Malachi provided the Jews with a definite sign by which they could know that the time was at hand. The Messiah would not appear until Elijah came again as his forerunner. This idea would be enshrined in the Jewish tradition of Passover, in which a special cup of wine is reserved for Elijah, in case he should come this year, and the door is opened to demonstrate readiness for his arrival.

In New Testament times, the Jewish expectation of Elijah's coming was reportedly so strong that Jesus' disciples faced frequent objections to their testimony regarding their leader because no Elijah had yet appeared: "They asked him, 'Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?' Jesus replied, 'To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things.'" (Mark 9:11-12)

Malachi's teaching on divorce also provided a basis for making divorce more difficult and strengthening the rights of women in divorce proceedings. His promise of the coming messenger who would act to purify the priesthood was particularly important to the Essenes, who saw themselves as a preparing to replace the corrupt Temple priesthood in preparation for the final battle between the "sons of light" and the "sons of darkness" based on the predictions of Malachi and other prophets.

Malachi in Christianity

Primarily because of its messianic promise, the book of Malachi is frequently referred to in the Christian New Testament. The opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke tell of the priest Zechariah receiving a revelation from the Angel Gabriel and later prophesying and his miraculously conceived son would fulfill the promise of Elijah's coming to "prepare the way of the Lord." In all both Matthew and Luke, Jesus declares that John is indeed the promise Elijah. However, in John's Gospel, John himself publicly denies this.

The following is a brief comparison between the book of Malachi and the New Testament texts which refer to it.

Use of the book of Malachi in the New Testament (NRSV)
Malachi New Testament
"Yet I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau" (1:2-3) "'I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.'" (Romans 9:13)
"See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me," (3:1) "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;" (Mark 1:2) (see also Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:27)
"But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" (3:2) "for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17)
"and he will... refine them like gold and silver," (3:3) "the genuineness of your faith . . . being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire . . ." (1 Peter 1:7)
"Return to me, and I will return to you," (3:7) "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (James 4:8)
"Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." (3:23, 4:5) "he is Elijah who is to come." (Matthew 11:14) See also Matthew 17:12; Mark 9:13.
"Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents," (3:23-24, 4:5-6) "With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous," (Luke 1:17)


Mormon beliefs related to Malachi

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the prophet Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836 (Passover) and restored important "keys" (Priesthood authority) related to temple work and family history/genealogical record-keeping. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 110) This is in direct fulfillment of Malachi's prophesy at the end of chapter 4. According to LDS tradition, the angelic prophet Moroni appeared to Joseph in the year 1823 and told him that parts of Malachi chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 had not yet been fulfilled but soon would be. Malachi's teachings on the blessings of tithing are also considered very important in LDS doctrine, and were repeated by the resurrected Savior in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 24,25).

Malachi in Unificationism

Malachi's prophecies are also particularly important in the teachings of the Unification Church. According to the Divine Principle Malachi's prophecy concerning the return of Elijah was supposed to be fulfilled by John the Baptist. However, John in fact denied that he was Elijah and thus failed to prepare the way for Jesus as the Messiah. Unification tradition also holds that Malachi was a very significant figure in providential history, playing a role in Judaism parallel to that of Martin Luther in the history of Christianity.

Critical views

Author

The word Malchi means simply "my messenger." Thus, there is substantial debate regarding the identity of the author of the Book of Malachi. Early manuscripts did not inlcude book titles, and since there are no capital letters in ancient Hebrew it is impossible to know for certain if "malachi" is meant as a proper name. The term malachi occurs in verse 1:1 and verse 3:1, but it fairly claer that the word doe not refer to the same character in both of these verses.

One Jewish tradition (Tosafot Yevamot 86b) identifies Ezra the Scribe as the author of Malachi. Other rabbinical authorities disagree, however; and there is no direct evidence to support this claim. Some scholars note affinities between Zechariah 9-14 and the book of Malachi. Some scholars argue that the prophecies of Malachi are actually a collection of originally independent anonymous oracles.

Nothing is known of the biography of the author of the book of Malachi although it has been suggested that his concerns make it likely that he was a Levite.

Date and place

There are very few historical details in the book of Malachi. The greatest clue as to its dating may lie in the fact that the Persian-era term for governor (pehâ) is used in 1:8. This points to a post-exilic date of composition both because of the use of the Persian period term and because Judah had a king before the exile. Since, in the same verse, the temple has been rebuilt, the book must also be later than 515 B.C.E. Malachi was apparently known to the author of Ecclesiasticus early in the second century B.C.E. Because of the development of themes in the book of Malachi, most scholars assign it to a position between Haggai and Zechariah, slightly before Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in 445 B.C.E.

The book of Malachi deals directly with abuses in the restored Temple system —apparently from first hand experience. Thus, the book was almost certainly written in Jerusalem.


References
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  • The original version of this article was prepared in 2005 for the course BIBL5023 at Acadia Divinity College
  • Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897.
  • Hill, Andrew E. Malachi: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. The Anchor Bible Volume 25D. Toronto: Doubleday, 1998.
  • LaSor, William Sanford et al. Old Testament Survey: the Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1996.
  • Mason, Rex. The Books of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. The Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1977.
  • Singer, Isidore & Adolf Guttmacher. "Book of Malachi." JewishEncyclopedia.com. 2002.
  • Van Hoonacker, A. "Malachias (Malachi)." Catholic Encyclopedia. Transcribed by Thomas J. Bress. 2003.

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