Although writing systems have long been around, and religious texts seem to have often formed the core of a culture’s written records, the establishment of an agreed-upon scriptural canon has often been somewhat in dispute. Add to that the fact that it is only within the past three or four centuries that literacy has become a fairly common practice for “the masses,” and we quickly understand why a prophet was so critical in maintaining doctrinal purity and consistency prior to that time. Because a set scriptural canon was not often established, and because the average person did not have access to it anyway, the non-cleric needed to have access to the heavens for seeking answers beyond his own personal prayers. The prophet served that role.
The prophet petitioned God on behalf of His children, and God spoke to His children through the prophet. This uniform system was very effective, especially for small populations conducive to communication via oral means. The challenge grew, as prophets of every age learned, as the population of the children of God grew. Close contact with the prophet of God-both for discipline as well as inspiration-became less regular, and with that distance, the communities of followers became more fragmented. Note the growth of the Christian church in the New Testament record, for example. While Jesus was alive, he taught all those who wanted to become disciples of His way. After His death, as the apostles spread the Good News throughout the surrounding countries, differences of opinion, administration, and belief began to show up everywhere. Letters to the various branches of the Church were sent to shore up the weak spots until apostles and seventies could get there and restore lost or corrupted truths and practices.
Though this example comes from the New Testament era, it follows a general pattern of the prophet seeking God’s direction, teaching that direction to his community, and writing it down for future reference. Subsequent prophets both relied on that scriptural record and understood the need for expanding the canon as new social situations were encountered and as God’s direction for his children of each time and place brought logical extensions and enhancements. In fact, revelation is a hallmark of a prophetic call as much as is the ability to interpret and apply the revelations contained in existing prophetic writings.
The proper relationship between current revelation and recorded revelation of former days is perhaps best explained by Papias, one of the earliest Christian bishops: “If ever someone who had accompanied the presbyters should come, I examined carefully the words of the presbyters, [to learn] what Andrew, Peter, Philip, Thomas, John, Matthew, or any other of the disciples of the Lord said and what things Aristion and the presbyter John, disciples of the Lord, are saying. For I did not suppose the contents of books would profit me so much as the words and the living voice” (as quoted in Where Have All the Prophets Gone? Scott M. Petersen, p. 65).
Sources:
Where Did All the Prophets Go? Scott M. Petersen
Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. Mircea Eliade, s.v. “Prophecy”
