'As for Prophecies,They Will Come To an End': 2 Peter,Paul and Plutarch On 'the Obsolescence of Oracles'

Abstract

Christianity began as a religious movement alive with prophetic activity. As a counterpoint to the Christian affirmation of prophecy, the issue of cessation of prophetic activity is addressed in the New Testament. Paul and the author of 2 Peter responded to a growing climate of skepticism of their day concerning the validity of prophetic speech and other forms of divination. A number of biblical texts should be read against that background, including Paul's statement about the cessation of the charismata. Despite the general approbation of the belief in divine communication, the ancient question remained whether the oracles and other forms of divination had any abiding validity.