At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Malachi ("my messenger", may be title) |
| Date | ~430 BC (final OT prophet) |
| Audience | Post-exilic Judah ~100 years after return |
| Genre | Prophecy |
| Purpose | Confront half-hearted worship and announce coming Day and Elijah |
| Chapters | 3 (Hebrew) / 4 (English) |
Outline
Six disputations with priests and people on:
- Priests' corruption
- Mixed marriages and divorce
- Tithing
- Coming Day of LORD
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Priestly corruption | Half-hearted offerings and worship |
| Marriage covenant | Malachi 2:14-16, God hates divorce |
| Tithing and giving | Malachi 3:10, "bring the full tithe" |
| Coming Day | Refining fire and righteousness |
| Elijah to come | Malachi 4:5-6 (fulfilled in John the Baptist; cf. Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13) |
Key passages
- Malachi 1:6-14, corrupt offerings
- Malachi 2:14-16, marriage covenant and divorce
- Malachi 3:6, "I the LORD do not change"
- Malachi 3:10, tithing promise
- Malachi 4:5-6, Elijah coming
Closing of OT
Malachi closes the OT with anticipation of Elijah figure → fulfilled in John the Baptist → ushers in NT era of Messiah.