The nature and purpose of prophecy in the anchient near east. discussion

use this page to dicuss Nature/purpose

""The purpose of prophecy is to cause change". It isn't simply a prediction of the future (thats a very small element of biblical prophecy) but rather is God rebuking and challenging his people (usually the King) and warning of what will happen unless they change their ways...

Now I'd agree with this and also with the (probably stronger) statement that "all prophecy is contingent" but what do others make of this? I mean, if all prophecy is contingent because it is intended to cause people to change their ways and if they do respond appropriately things will not come to pass then don't all eschatological scenarios based upon prophecy become rather fuzzy? And doesn't trying to 'disprove Scripture' on the basis of unfulfilled prophecy become impossible...

From a less biblical and more philosophical POV simply the act of telling somebody the future changes the future, right? (Unless you believe in a very strict determinism and well, lets avoid all talk of paradoxes here)...

Now for those of you who will demand I furnish you with Scriptures to support my view (rather than just refer you to a couple of academic papers where the view is fully explained) I'd suggest that Jeremiah 18:7-10seems to suggest that prophecy isn't fixed in stone either." James Peter

Source http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?p=1352287