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[[Image:Zephaniah manuscript.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A 14th century manuscript showing the beginning of the Book of Zepheniah.]]
[[Image:Zephaniah manuscript.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A 14th century manuscript showing the beginning of the Book of Zepheniah.]]
The '''Book of Zephaniah''' is a book in the [[Old Testament]], and the ninth of the [[Minor Prophets]]. It has been called "the compendium of all prophecy", containing as it does many elements found in other prophets' work,<ref>Pawson, J. David ''Unlocking The Bible'' p.544 (London, Collins; 2003) ISBN 978 0 00 716666 4</ref> such as [[Isaiah]], [[Amos]], [[Joel]] and [[Micah]]. This parallelism has been called the thread of "Godly harmony", visible "in the prophecies of such different men who have lived at totally different times but who always presented the one goal of God: the glory of the [[Messiah]] and His earthly people in the [[Millennium]], as well as the events leading up to it."<ref>Remmers, Arend ''Zephaniah and the Other Prophets'' [http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_40_ot_zephaniah.htm Zephaniah] (2006) biblecenter.org. Retrieved 29 July 2008.</ref> The book is concerned with [[judgement]], and stands as "a powerful reminder for [[Christians]] that they also should expect God's discipline."<ref>Pawson, p.553</ref> It warns against foreign religious practices, [[idolatry]], and those who doubt the threat of the Lord's wrath. The Day of Judgement is the key concept, with the possibility for deliverance if the people repent. The judgment will leave a "humble remnant that will seek its refuge in the Lord."<ref>Eaton, J. H. ''Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah'' (London: SCM Press; 1961)</ref><ref>Soggin, J. A. ''Introduction to the Old Testament'' (rev ed; London; 1980)</ref>
The '''Book of Zephaniah''' is a book in the [[Old Testament]], and the ninth of the [[Minor Prophets]]. It has been called "the compendium of all prophecy", containing as it does many elements found in other prophets' work,<ref>Pawson, J. David ''Unlocking The Bible'' p.544 (London, Collins; 2003) ISBN 978 0 00 716666 4</ref> such as [[Isaiah]], [[Amos]], [[Joel]] and [[Micah]]. This parallelism has been called the thread of "Godly harmony", visible "in the prophecies of such different men who have lived at totally different times but who always presented the one goal of God: the glory of the [[Messiah]] and His earthly people in the [[Millennium]], as well as the events leading up to it."<ref>Remmers, Arend ''Zephaniah and the Other Prophets'' [http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_40_ot_zephaniah.htm Zephaniah] (2006) biblecenter.org. Retrieved 29 July 2008.</ref> The book is concerned with [[judgement]], and stands as "a powerful reminder for [[Christians]] that they also should expect God's discipline."<ref>Pawson, p.553</ref> It warns against foreign religious practices, [[idolatry]], and those who doubt the threat of the Lord's wrath. The Day of Judgement is the key concept, with the possibility for deliverance if the people repent. The judgment will leave a "humble remnant that will seek its refuge in the Lord."<ref>Eaton, J. H. ''Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah'' (London: SCM Press; 1961)</ref><ref>Soggin, J. A. ''Introduction to the Old Testament'' (rev ed; London; 1980)</ref>
==Provenance==
==Provenance==
Sweeney<ref>Sweeney, Marvin A. ''Zephaniah'' (Hermeneia/Logos 2003)</ref> dates Zephaniah to the early sixth century B.C. based upon the often subtle differences between the [[Masoretic Text]], [[Septuagint]], [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], and [[targums]]. The oldest surviving copy was written in 75 B.C.
==To whom written==
The book is directed towards the people of Judah and neighbouring states.
==Structure==
==Structure==
The book is structured around 8 major themes, which serve:
*To proclaim judgment on the entire world
*To proclaim the Day of the Lord as a time when God will come to judge the wicked (including the wicked of Judah) and deliver His own
*To proclaim judgment on the nations which surrounded Judah: Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Assyria and Egypt
*To proclaim hope for the remnant of Judah
*To expose the unfaithfulness of Judah's rulers
*To encourage Judah to accept correction by hearing of the judgment on her neighbors
*To expose Juda's unwillingness to accept correction from Yahweh
*To describe the ultimate changes which God will bring about as the nations become worshippers of Him and He becomes Judah's King/Defender<ref>Malick, David [http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=942 ''An Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah''] Bible.org. Retrieved 19 November 2008.</ref>
==Message==
==Message==
The message of the book can be concisely summarized as judgment of the wicked and hope for the faithful. "Zephaniah reminds us that God is offended by the moral and religious sins of His people. God's people will not escape punishment when they sin willfully. Punishment may be painful but its purpose may be redemptive rather than punitive. The inevitability of the punishment of wickedness gives comfort in a time when it seems that evil is unbridled and victorious. A person has the freedom to disobey God but not the freedom to escape the consequences of that disobedience. Those who are faithful to God may be relatively few, but He does not forget them."<ref>[http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Zephaniah.html ''Book of Zephaniah''] (2008) Got Questions Ministries. Retrieved 19 November 2008.</ref>
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/mhc-com.cgi?book=zep&chapter=001 ''Zephaniah''] Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706). Hosted at Crosswalk. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
*Keathley, Hampton IV [http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=976 ''Study on Zephaniah''] (Biblical Studies Foundation 1993). Hosted at Bible.org. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
==References==
==References==
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