As I examined the claims of the speaker, I organized my investigation using several detective principles. First, I gave clear evidence (prophecies) priority over cloaked. As I read the passages scholars have identified as messianic, I asked myself the question, “If I were reading this prior to the arrival of Jesus, would I clearly understand this as a description of the coming Messiah?” If I could answer yes, I placed it in the “clear” collection. Second, I gave reliable informants (prophets) priority over the others, even though I collected every messianic prediction, placing them in a
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