Messianic Prophecy

Biblical Passages

Messianic prophecy is a collective term for Old Testament passages understood to point to the coming deliverer, the Messiah. These passages are not gathered in one place but are scattered across many books. Passages commonly cited in Christian tradition include the following:

• Genesis 3:15: The declaration that the seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's head. Christian tradition calls this verse the protoevangelium (the "first gospel").
• 2 Samuel 7:12-16: The promise to establish David's throne forever (the Davidic covenant).
• Psalms 2, 22, and 110: These depict an anointed king, a suffering righteous one, and a figure who is both priest and king.
• Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-10: These speak of Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, and the branch springing from the stem of Jesse.
• Isaiah 52:13-53:12: A servant who suffers, bearing the sins of others (the Suffering Servant).
• Micah 5:2: A ruler over Israel will come forth from Bethlehem.
• Zechariah 9:9: A humble king comes riding on a donkey.
• Daniel 7:13-14: "One like the Son of man" comes with the clouds of heaven (see Son of Man).

Background

The word "Messiah" comes from the Hebrew mashiach, meaning "anointed one." It was rendered in Greek as Christos, that is, Christ. In the Old Testament, anointing was a rite performed when installing a king or a priest. After Israel lost its kingdom and went into the Babylonian exile, hope grew for an ideal king who would restore the Davidic dynasty. Messianic expectation within Judaism during the intertestamental period is known to have taken several forms, including hopes for a Davidic king and for a priestly figure.

Reception in the New Testament

The New Testament regards these passages as fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Luke, the risen Jesus says that all things written concerning him in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44-46). The Gospel of Matthew repeatedly uses the formula "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet," citing the Old Testament in connection with one event after another (Matthew 1:22-23). In Acts, Philip begins with Isaiah 53 and preaches Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, who had been reading that passage (Acts 8:32-35).

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• Mode of fulfillment: Some interpreters read these passages as direct prophecies of Jesus. Others hold that the passages first carried a primary meaning within their own historical setting and were later fully fulfilled in Christ (double fulfillment, typology). For example, in its context Isaiah 7:14 was given as a sign to King Ahaz.
• The translation of "virgin": The Hebrew word almah in Isaiah 7:14 refers to a young woman of marriageable age. The Septuagint rendered this word as "virgin" (parthenos), and Matthew quotes the Septuagint text. Interpreters are divided between those who see the verse as a prophecy of the virgin birth and those who hold that the original text itself does not explicitly specify virginity.
• Jewish interpretation: Judaism generally reads the servant of Isaiah 53 as the community of Israel and does not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
• Future fulfillment: Dispensationalism holds that some prophecies, such as the promise concerning David's throne, will yet be literally fulfilled for Israel. Covenant theology tends to regard these prophecies as fulfilled in Christ and the church.
• A common embellishment: The claim that "the Old Testament contains more than 300 messianic prophecies" is widely circulated. However, the number varies greatly depending on which verses are counted as prophecies, and it is not a figure given by Scripture itself.

In the Korean Church

During Advent and at Christmas, passages such as Isaiah 9 and Micah 5 are frequently read and preached. During Holy Week, Isaiah 53 is widely read. Around Christmas, many churches have their choirs perform Handel's oratorio Messiah, especially the "Hallelujah" chorus.