A prophet is someone who speaks the words of God, like Moses, Samuel, or Isaiah. According to Hobbes, a “true prophet” can be known by two marks: they must perform a miracle, and they must teach only Christianity. If both of these marks are not present, the prophet is not true and cannot be trusted.
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The timeline below shows where the term Prophet appears in Leviathan. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 32: Of the Principles of CHRISTIAN POLITTIQUES
...Scripture to know what they are supposed to obey. However, it is common for one prophet to deceive another, so Hobbes offers two marks that together indicate a “true Prophet.” One...
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Chapter 36: Of the WORD of GOD, and of PROPHETS
...to reason and equity; however, such words need not be spoken by God or his prophets. For instance, the words of Pharaoh Necho, an Idolater, to King Josiah were said to...
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A prophet is someone who speaks God’s words, like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and Elijah. The Prophets made...
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Of the prophets in the Old Testament, some are “supreme” and others are “subordinate.” The supreme is Moses,...
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Everyone should consider the probability of any given prophet, which is exactly what God expects and what happens in the Old Testament. Everyone has...
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Chapter 37: Of MIRACLES, and their Use
According to this definition, a miracle is not performed by way of the prophet’s virtue but by God through the prophet. It can also be assumed from this definition...
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...says to Moses in Deuteronomy. Through Moses, God warns the people not to accept those prophets who teach religions other than that professed by “Gods Lieutenant” (Moses), and he further warns...
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Chapter 40: Of the RIGHTS of the Kingdome of God, in Abraham, Moses, the High Priests, and the Kings of Judah
In Moses’s time, there were no false prophets, as every prophet was authorized by Moses and had the “Spirit of God.” Numbers 11:25...
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Chapter 42: Of POWER ECCLESIASTICALL
...expected a Messiah in the Old Testament, which opened them up to imposters and false prophets. The word Antichrist is properly defined as someone who claims to be Christ but isn’t;...
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Chapter 43: Of what is NECESSARY for a Mans Reception into the Kingdome of Heaven
...considers whom Christians must have faith in to ensure their salvation. Moses and the other prophets had faith in God, and the Apostles and the Disciples had faith in Christ. Afterwards,...
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