--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This tenet, however, ignores the primary…" description: "\"“This tenet, however, ignores the primary purpose of prophecy, which is not to give hard and fast statements about an unchangeable future, but to evoke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/david-a-desilva-35254_time_this-tenet-however-ignores-the-primary-p_857278.jpg" --- # This tenet, however, ignores the primary purpose of… ![“This tenet, however, ignores the primary purpose of prophecy, which is not to give hard and fast statements about an unchangeable future, but to evoke faithful response.” quote by David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/david-a-desilva-35254_time_this-tenet-however-ignores-the-primary-p_857278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/david-a-desilva-35254_time_this-tenet-however-ignores-the-primary-p_857278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/david-a-desilva-35254_time_this-tenet-however-ignores-the-primary-p_857278.jpg) > ““This tenet, however, ignores the primary purpose of prophecy, which is not to give hard and fast statements about an unchangeable future, but to evoke faithful response.”” [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prophecy should inspire faithful action rather than predict an unchangeable future, emphasizing purpose over certainty. **In simple terms:** Prophecy aims to inspire action, not just predict. Key Takeaway Focus on inspiring response, not certainty. Themes faith prophecy purpose inspiration Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - religious counseling - motivational speaking - strategic planning Key Concepts theology psychology future studies Questions to Reflect On - What actions does a prophecy inspire in you? - How do you handle uncertainty? A Different Perspective May be challenged by those seeking concrete predictions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Prophecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecy/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The majority of the prophets in Scripture seem to be more interested in the present than in the future. For the most part they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-daily/the-majority-of-the-prophets-in-scripture-seem-to-be-more-interested/) [Steve Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-daily/) > [As we study the Word of God rightly divided we are to understand that God has arranged His dealings with mankind into two programs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sadler/as-we-study-the-word-of-god-rightly-divided-we-are-to-understand-that/) [Paul Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sadler/) > [No matter what happen in our lives, the faithful response is to praise God, to simply trust that He knows better than us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/no-matter-what-happen-in-our-lives-the-faithful-response-is-to-praise/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“While such prophecy could include a predictive element, it was also—and perhaps primarily—a declaration of God’s action in the present or an announcement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/while-such-prophecy-could-include-a-predictive-element-it-was-also/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [It is not merely the multiplicity of tints, the gladness of tone, or the balminess of the air which delight in the spring; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/it-is-not-merely-the-multiplicity-of-tints-the-gladness-of-tone-or/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [And my fear of failure has been lifelong and deep. If you are what you do- and I think my parents may have accidentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-my-fear-of-failure-has-been-lifelong-and-deep-if-you-are-what-you/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I only know I have this power. I have always had this power. I can feel it burning within me, driving me on. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigori-rasputin/i-only-know-i-have-this-power-i-have-always-had-this-power-i-can-feel/) [Grigori Rasputin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigori-rasputin/) > [“Stomach full of jitters, little beasts that were second cousins to guacamolians—little green monsters that wreaked havoc in your stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kely-mcclung/stomach-full-of-jitters-little-beasts-that-were-second-cousins-to/) [William Kely McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kely-mcclung/) > [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Surely it becomes a wise man, at a time like this, to turn to the pages of prophecy and to inquire what is yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-lifsey/surely-it-becomes-a-wise-man-at-a-time-like-this-to-turn-to-the-pages/) [Dalton Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-lifsey/) > [“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-speak-in-the-tongues-of-men-or-of-angels-but-do-not-have-love-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In health care, as in other things, government is the high-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-kling/when-the-government-pays-health-care-s-lack-of-affordability-becomes/) [Arnold Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-kling/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by David A. Desilva > [“The cities of Asia Minor were as enthusiastic and as invested in hosting the imperial cult as modern cities are about convincing a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/the-cities-of-asia-minor-were-as-enthusiastic-and-as-invested-in/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“The greatest threat the hearers face is to be found unprepared to encounter God or God’s Christ at his coming (6:12–17), thus being exposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/the-greatest-threat-the-hearers-face-is-to-be-found-unprepared-to/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“While such prophecy could include a predictive element, it was also—and perhaps primarily—a declaration of God’s action in the present or an announcement of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/while-such-prophecy-could-include-a-predictive-element-it-was-also/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“The title “Lord of lords,” for example, was ascribed to the emperor; the acclamations of God and Christ as “worthy” (4:11; 5:9) echo the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/the-title-lord-of-lords-for-example-was-ascribed-to-the-emperor-the/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“John exposes Pax Romana and Pax Augusta to be bald-faced lies. He does not allow his hearers to ignore the fact that a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/john-exposes-pax-romana-and-pax-augusta-to-be-bald-faced-lies-he-does/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“John would have disciples in every age understand—and live like they understand—that they exist to do God’s bidding, because God created all things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/john-would-have-disciples-in-every-age-understand-and-live-like-they/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“A grounded and responsible reading of Revelation begins with reading it first as we would read Paul’s Letters to the Galatians or Philippians or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/a-grounded-and-responsible-reading-of-revelation-begins-with-reading/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“In John’s vision of the cosmos, there is no room for gathering around God’s throne at one time as one’s cosmic center and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/in-john-s-vision-of-the-cosmos-there-is-no-room-for-gathering-around/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“Thus apocalypses set an audience’s space within the context of a larger, invisible world, and they set the audience’s time in the context of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/thus-apocalypses-set-an-audience-s-space-within-the-context-of-a/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“We have sought to read Revelation less as a coded text to be interpreted, and more as a text that imposed a Christ-centered interpretation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/we-have-sought-to-read-revelation-less-as-a-coded-text-to-be/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“In many instances, however, I would expect such instances of discomfort to draw our attention to the ways in which we have drunk deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/in-many-instances-however-i-would-expect-such-instances-of-discomfort/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) > [“Like Jonah’s word, Revelation as prophecy seeks mainly to stimulate faithful response among John’s audience, not to provide an absolute blueprint for an uncertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-desilva/like-jonah-s-word-revelation-as-prophecy-seeks-mainly-to-stimulate/) [David A. Desilva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) [Explore all 13 David A. Desilva quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-desilva/) ## More Prophecy quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In health care, as in other things, government is the high-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-kling/when-the-government-pays-health-care-s-lack-of-affordability-becomes/) [Arnold Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-kling/) > [“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-speak-in-the-tongues-of-men-or-of-angels-but-do-not-have-love-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Surely it becomes a wise man, at a time like this, to turn to the pages of prophecy and to inquire what is yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-lifsey/surely-it-becomes-a-wise-man-at-a-time-like-this-to-turn-to-the-pages/) [Dalton Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-lifsey/) > [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Stomach full of jitters, little beasts that were second cousins to guacamolians—little green monsters that wreaked havoc in your stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kely-mcclung/stomach-full-of-jitters-little-beasts-that-were-second-cousins-to/) [William Kely McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kely-mcclung/) > [I only know I have this power. I have always had this power. I can feel it burning within me, driving me on. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigori-rasputin/i-only-know-i-have-this-power-i-have-always-had-this-power-i-can-feel/) [Grigori Rasputin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigori-rasputin/) > [And my fear of failure has been lifelong and deep. If you are what you do- and I think my parents may have accidentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-my-fear-of-failure-has-been-lifelong-and-deep-if-you-are-what-you/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [It is not merely the multiplicity of tints, the gladness of tone, or the balminess of the air which delight in the spring; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/it-is-not-merely-the-multiplicity-of-tints-the-gladness-of-tone-or/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [We were young, and we had no need for prophecies. Just living was itself an act of prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-were-young-and-we-had-no-need-for-prophecies-just-living-was/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [PROPHECY, n. The art and practice of selling one's credibility for future delivery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/prophecy-n-the-art-and-practice-of-selling-one-s-credibility-for/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [It is not till it is discovered that high individual incomes will not purchase the mass of mankind immunity from cholera, typhus, and ignorance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/it-is-not-till-it-is-discovered-that-high-individual-incomes-will-not/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [“Oh, one more thing,' Thor calls out. 'If I know my prophecy, and I do, you beautiful ladies had best start looking for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keidl/oh-one-more-thing-thor-calls-out-if-i-know-my-prophecy-and-i-do-you/) [Daniel Keidl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keidl/) [Browse all 657 Prophecy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This tenet, however, ignores the primary purpose of prophecy, which is not to give hard and fast statements about an unchangeable future, but to evoke faithful response.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David A. 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