Obadiah: Introduction

I. Who Wrote the Book: Obadiah
A. The Claim of the Book
B. The Basic Unity
C. Early Jewish Tradition

II. When Was the Book Written
A. The Options
1. Pre-Exilic Date: 845 B.C.
2. Exilic Date: 586 B.C.
3. Post-Exilic Date: 460 B.C.

B. The Arguments
1. The Canonical Position
2. Historical Allusions (vv. 10-14)
a. Two Historical Possibilities
i. 2 Chronicles 21:4-10, 16-17
ii. 2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Psalm 137:7
b. Why the Early Date is Best
i. No Reference of Chaldeans (Babylon)
ii. No Reference of Temple Destruction
iii. No Reference of Destruction of Jerusalem
3. The Nations Mentioned (vv. 19-20)
4. The Absence of Aramaic Expressions
5. The Literary Similarities
a. vv. 1-4 and Jeremiah 49:14-17
b. v. 5 and Jeremiah 49:9

III. To Whom Was the Book Written

IV. Why Was the Book Written
A. The Historical Purpose
1. Pronounce Doom of Edom
2. Predict Deliverance of Judah
B. The Doctrinal Purpose
1. Declare the Judgment of God
2. Declare the Faithfulness of God
3. Declare the Perils of Pride
C. The Christological Purpose
1. Declare the Deliverer