Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

By
Jaimee Coetzee

Assignment
BIB3127 The Old Testament Prophets
Bachelor of Theology
South African Theological Seminary

October 2020

Facilitator: David Woods

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 2
1. Interpretation of Joel 2:28-32 ................................................................................. 2
1.1. Nature of the Events .................................................................................... 2
1.2. Relation to Preceding Verses ....................................................................... 2
1.3. The New Testament Brings Clarity on these Verses .................................... 3
1.4. The Fulfilment of the Prophecy .................................................................... 4
2. Scholarly Solutions ................................................................................................. 4
2.1. Termination at Pentecost ............................................................................. 4
2.2. Eschatological View ..................................................................................... 5
2.3. Typical View ................................................................................................. 5
2.4. Continuous Fulfilment .................................................................................. 6
3. Evaluation of proposed solutions ........................................................................... 7
3.1. Evaluation of Termination View .................................................................... 7
3.2. Evaluation of Eschatological View................................................................ 7
3.3. Evaluation of Typical View ........................................................................... 8
3.4. Evaluation of Continuous Fulfilment View .................................................... 8
Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 9
Works Cited.............................................................................................................. 10

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

Introduction
Joel 2:28-32, is one of the most popular, well known and discussed minor prophets’
prophecy today. For this assignment I will be conducting an exegetical study on Joel
2:28-32. For the first part of the assignment I will provide my own interpretation of this
passage by discussing the nature of the events, how the passage relates to the
preceding verses, the clarity that the New testament brings to the interpretation of the
passage and its degree of fulfilment. I will then summarise the four different views that
various different scholars hold on this passage and critically evaluate each of them. I
will conclude by discussing my proposed solutions to the interpretation of this passage.

1. Interpretation of Joel 2:28-32

1.1. Nature of the Events
One difficulty in interpreting Joel 2:28-32 is assessing the nature of the event in relation
to the context of the people and the time that Joel prophesied, so that we can try to
understand what Joel is describing. We know that Joel is addressing the people of
Judah around 835-796 BC. The people of Judah were doing really well from a worldly
perspective, they were prosperous but they had grown complacent in their worship
and obedience to God. They lived selfish and sinful lives contrary to what God had
asked of them. Joel is warning the people of the consequences of their way of living
as God is a just God and will bring judgment on them if they do not turn from their
ways.

However, Joel seems to shift gears in Joel 2:28-3:21 and his message and warning
about the day of judgement, is not all doom and gloom. In Joel 2:28-32 Joel describes
the day of the Lord, this is when Christ will return to earth and God will reconcile his
people to him, this is a promise of hope and intimacy between God and those who
believe in Him, but for those who don’t this will be a day of doom. Joel describes an
outpouring of the Holy Spirt upon all believers, not just the Kings and the prophets,
and salvation for those who call on the Lord and turn to him.

1.2. Relation to Preceding Verses

It is imperative in any biblical exegesis to have a good understanding of the verses
that preceded the ones being studied. In the verses that precede Joel 2:28-32, Joel

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

prophecies of a devastating plague of locusts (Joel 1:1-5). Joel urges the people of
Judah to respond to this message with mourning and repentance for their wrongful
ways for if they do not they will receive God’s judgement. In Joel 2:18 we start to see
a turning point in Joel’s prophecy and instead of prophesying about the judgment of
God, Joel starts to prophecy of God’s mercy and blessing that is available to the people
if they turn to him.

This promise of God’s blessing that is available to the people of Judah if they turn to
God and truly repent seems to set up verses 2:28-32. In the preceding verse Joel
prophecies of the blessings of God to restore what the locusts destroy. Joel 2:28-32,
prophecies of the greatest blessing that we can receive from God, his Spirit and our
salvation. This is the ultimate blessing for Judah, if they choose to repent and turn to
God.

1.3. The New Testament Brings Clarity on these Verses

The New testament can help us to understand Joel 2:28-32 clearer. In 1 Corinthians
12:13 Paul tells us that we are all baptised by one Spirit into one body and have all
been given one Spirit to drink. He is telling us that the Spirit of God is for all people,
Jews, gentiles, slaves and free. In Galatians Paul also reminds us that we are one in
Christ. Here we see that Joel’s prophecy of God’s spirit being poured out onto
everyone, unifies us as the body of Christ (Joel 2:29).

In Mark 13:24-27 and Luke 21:25-33, Jesus speaks about his return, which would be
considered the day of the Lord. In Mark 13:24 he mentions a darkened sun and a
lightless moon, like Joel prophesied in Joel 2:31. In Luke 10 Jesus says that when we
return there will be great signs from heaven, as Joel prophesied in Joel 2:30. This
helps us to understand that the day of the Lord that Joel prophesied about would be
the day of Jesus’s return to earth.

In Romans Paul speaks about our salvation and how we first have to believe in our
hearts and then confess with our mouths and we will be saved (10:9-10). In verse
10:13, Paul tells us that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Which is
what Joel Prophesied in Joel 2:32. This helps us to understand that when we call on
the Lord and are saved, it is from a place of true repentance and obedience to God,
this is what Joel was telling the people of Judah.

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

1.4. The Fulfilment of the Prophecy

In my opinion, Joel 2:28-32, is partially fulfilled but has not yet reached final fulfilment.
In verse 2:28, Joel prophecies of the spirit of God being poured out onto all people,
this outpouring of the spirit was fulfilled at the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:17-21, Peters
cites Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28 at the day of Pentecost, this fulfils Joel 2:28. The
Holy Spirit was poured out on God’s people and they saw signs and wonders, here all
believers were given access to the Spirit of God, it is available for all who believe not
only the Kings and the prophets as it was in Joel’s day.

However, I believe that verses 2:30-32 are yet to be fulfilled. I believe that the events
that Joel is describing in these verses are the final day of judgement when Jesus
returns to earth and everyone who calls on his name and believes in him will be saved,
but those who do not will face judgment.

2. Scholarly Solutions
There are various different scholarly solutions regarding the fulfilment of Joel’s
prophecy in Joel 2:28-32, it is helpful to analyse how different scholars interpret Joel’s
prophecy and its degree of fulfilment in relation to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at
the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2. I will discuss and summarise four different
scholarly solutions below.

2.1. Termination at Pentecost

This view holds that Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 was in fact fulfilled by events that
had occurred during Joel’s time and that the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2 is in
fact the conclusion of Joel’s prophecy (Morgan 2013). Chisholm (1985), says that the
deliverance that the people of Judah would experience foreshadows that of the end
times, suggesting that Joel’s prophecy was for the people of Judah who were yet to
be delivered and established in the land promised to them. Chisholm says that the ‘all
people’ that Joel refers to in Joel 2:28 is referring specifically to the people of Judah.
Chisholm (1985), Ogden and Deutsch (1987:38) interpret Joel’s use of ‘blood’, ‘fire’,
‘darkness’ and ‘smoke’, to be symbolic of warfare that has already taken place during
Joel’s time (Joel 30-31).

Ogden and Deutsch (1987:38) argue that Joel’s original intention of the prophecy and
the early church’s interpretation of it in Acts 2 are not the same, Peter was not saying

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

that this was the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy but rather illustrating to the people that
the God of Judah has not changed. That just as God moved in the old testament, he
would move among them in an even mightier way as Jesus is God’s new way of
communicating with humanity. According to this view, the day of Pentecost could be
seen as the termination of Joel’s prophecy as God was starting a new work through
Jesus, that is similar but not the same as the days of Joel.

2.2. Eschatological View

This view holds that no part of Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost (Morgan
2013). Gaebelein (1909:136) argues that when the Holy Spirit came on the Day of
Pentecost in Acts 2, it was in no way a fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy. He argues that
Joel’s prophecy begins with the word “afterward” (Joel 2:28), which refers to the time
the Lord will redeem his people on earth, which he says has not yet happened as the
church is still being formed. Gaebelein believes that we will only see Joel’s prophecy
begin to be fulfilled in the last days just before Jesus returns to earth. He also argues
that Peter’s quotation of Joel’s prophecy in Acts 2:17-21 was not to say it was being
fulfilled but rather to illustrate to the people that what happened on that day of
Pentecost in Acts 2 is similar to what Joel described in Joel 2, however he did not
claim its fulfilment.

Constable (2003) and Weirsbe (1996:60), hold this same view. They agree with
Gaebelein that the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2, was not the fulfilment of Joel’s
prophecy but rather a foreshadow of what was to come. Constable (2003) argues that
this event could not have been a partial fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy as it is unnatural
to separate Joel’s prophecy into two events. And since the darkened sun and blood
moon had not occurred, Joel’s prophecy had not been fulfilled. These scholars believe
that Joel’s prophecy was not fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 but will only see
fulfilment in the very last days.

2.3. Typical View

The Typical view holds that Joel’s prophecy was mostly fulfilled at the day of Pentecost
with the outpouring of the Holy spirit as described in Acts 2. Scholars who support this
view see this event as a harbinger for the second advent and believe we will see the
prophecies climatic, final fulfilment just before Jesus returns to earth (Morgan 2013).

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

Garret (1997:371) and Treier (1997:18), argue that Peter citing Joel 2:28-32 after the
out pouring of the Spirit at the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, is him implying that the
outpouring of the spirit signified the start of the eschatological era. This is deduced
from Peter’s use of the words “in the last days” (Acts 2:17), as opposed to Joel’s words
“and afterwards” (Joel 2:28). Peter’s words symbolise the messianic era, which was
inaugurated through the outpouring of the spirit at the day of Pentecost.

The scholars argue that we are now living in that ear, as the church. The Spirit has
been poured out and we are already seeing signs and wonders on earth (Joel 2:28-
30), this part of Joel’s prophecy is being fulfilled and the second part of Joel’s prophecy
in Joel 2:31 regarding the darkened sun and blood moon, are eschatological signs that
are yet to be fulfilled and Joel’s prophecy will only find its climatic, final fulfilment just
before Christ returns (Treier 1997:21) (Garret 1997:373).

2.4. Continuous Fulfilment

This view holds that the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-32, began at the day
of Pentecost as described in Acts 2 with the out pouring of the Spirit. It will continue to
be fulfilled, as the Spirit is poured out onto new believers, until the start of the
eschatological ear. The prophecy will reach final fulfilment, with signs and wonders,
just before Christ returns (Morgan 2013). Scholars argument for this view is similar to
the typical view, however they do not see the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 as a harbinger
for the day of the Lord prophesied by Joel in Joel 2:28-32, but rather an event that
signified the beginning of the eschatological era (Morgan 2013) and will see fulfilment
before the second advent.

Scholars believe that in the period between the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and the
second advent, Joel’s prophecy will find continuous fulfilment each time someone is
saved as they too partake in the Spirit (Morgan 2013) (Kaiser 2011). Unlike Treier
(1997:16), Morgan (2013) and Kaiser (2011), interpret Joel’s prophecy to be intended
for both Jews and gentiles, therefore finding continuous fulfilment each time someone
is saved and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

3. Evaluation of proposed solutions

3.1. Evaluation of Termination View
The Termination view holds that Joel’s prophecy had already been fulfilled during
Joel’s day and that it saw completion, or was terminated at the day of Pentecost
described in Acts 2 as the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the people. Scholars who
support this view often considered the literary aspects of prophecy and the tendency
of Old Testament prophets to use imagery or poetic language to delay their message,
this was common among Old testament prophets (Guns 2012:10). Chisholm (1985),
Ogden and Deutsch (1987:38), see most of Joel’s prophecy as symbolic of events that
had already taken place, and believe that Pentecost was the termination of this
prophecy as God began a new work through Jesus and the Holy Spirit at that day of
Pentecost.

According to these scholars, the first half of Joel’s prophecy was literal and the second
part symbolic. Many Old Testament scriptures used symbolic language to describe
present and future events, however, it is unlikely that Joel’s prophecy is intended to
be divided like this (Osborne 2006:272). This can be deduced as Peter cites Joel’s
prophecy in Acts 2:17-21. Scholars have proven that it is clear that Peter, under the
influence of the Holy Spirit, viewed Joel’s prophecy eschatologically (Trier 1997:19).
Thus, making it clear, that Joel’s prophecy could not have been terminated at the day
of Pentecost as it will only find final fulfilment upon Jesus’s return.

3.2. Evaluation of Eschatological View

The eschatological view holds that Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-32, has not yet seen
any degree of fulfilment, but will only see fulfilment in the very last days before Jesus’s
return. Scholars who support this view believe that Peters citing of Joel’s prophecy
was not him stating the fulfilment of the prophecy but rather drawing a similarity
between that event and what was to come. Scholars claim that it is unnatural to
separate the events of the outpouring of the Spirit and the darkened sun and blood
moon that Joel speaks about (Constable 2003).

As discussed previously, we can concur that Joel’s prophecy was pertaining to the
eschatological era. However, if we put too much emphasis on this era, without
acknowledging the significance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the day of

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

Pentecost we are minimising the work that God already began. This creates a gap
between what God did at Pentecost and what he has prophesied for the future
regrading the blackened sun and blood moon (Trier 1997:14). One cannot reject the
day of Pentecost aa part of a fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy simply because all of what
Joel described in Joel 2’28-32 did not take place, this is not unnatural, but common
among Old Testament prophecies (Garret 1997:374).

3.3. Evaluation of Typical View

This view holds that Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 was mostly fulfilled at the day of
Pentecost with the outpouring of Spirit, that this event was a harbinger to the day of
the Lord and Joel’s prophecy will only see its climatic, final fulfilment before Jesus’s
second coming (Morgan 2013). Scholars who support this view have made a clear
argument that Peter’s citing of Joel 2:28-32 in Acts 2:17-21, and use of the words ‘in
the last days’ as opposed to Joel’s words ‘and afterwards’, is a clear indication, that
the day of Pentecost was a harbinger to the eschatological era.

Treier (1997:16), also argues, that the ‘all flesh’ referred to in Joel 2:28 denotes
specifically to Israel. While this might have been Joel’s intention when he prophesied,
when we view the bible as a whole, it is unlikely that this promise of the Spirit and
judgment to come was just for Israel. Throughout the New Testament we see that
God’s plan is not just for Jews but Gentiles too (Eph 2:13). In Acts 10:1-11:8, Paul
ministers at a Gentiles house and the gift of the Holy Spirit is poured out onto Gentiles,
similarly to that at the day of Pentecost. Making it apparent that the ‘all flesh’ that Joel’s
includes in his prophecies is both Jew and Gentile.

3.4. Evaluation of Continuous Fulfilment View

The continuous fulfilment view holds a similar view to that of the typical view. Both
views believe that Peter’s citation of the prophecy at the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:17-
21, indicates that this out pouring of the Holy Spirit marks the start of the last days and
will see its final fulfilment with the blackened sun and blood moon, just before Jesus’s
return. However, it differs in the extent of fulfilment that Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28-
32 sees at the day of Pentecost in Acts in regards to Joel’s intention for the prophecy
being for Jews and Gentiles.

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 Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

Kaiser argues that Joel was never referring specifically to Israel, but this prophecy was
intended to include Gentiles and therefore would find continuous fulfilment between
the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and the day the Jesus returns. He claims that each time
a new believer is saved they partake in this gift of the Spirit that Joel prophesied about
in Joel 2:28-32 (Kaiser 2011) (Morgan 2013).

Conclusion
It is clear that Joel 2:28-32 is a complex passage of scripture. The four different views
and solutions to understanding this passage, help to understand and question what
the actual intention of the prophecy is. I appreciate the termination view as well as the
eschatological view, however I do not think that they are an accurate interpretation of
the prophecy. The day of the Lord that Joel refers to is clearly the second advent and
since this has not yet occurred it is impossible, as the termination view suggests, that
Joel’s prophecy has already occurred. Likewise, the eschatological view seems far
fetched as Peter’s citation of the passage in Acts 2:17-21 cannot be overlooked.

I believe that the two most accurate interpretations of Joel 2:28-32 are the Typical and
Continuous fulfilment views. I agree with both views that Joel’s prophecy saw fulfilment
with the out pouring of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and will only see
its final fulfilment before the second advent. However, I lean more towards the
continuous fulfilment view as I agree that the ‘all flesh’ that Joel refers to, includes
Jews and gentile, therefore although the initial fulfilment may have been the day of
Pentecost, the prophecy will continue to find fulfilment each time a person is saved
and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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 Works Cited

Chisholm RB 1985. In Walvoord JF and Zuck RB (eds), The Bible knowledge

commentary: An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton: Victor Books.
Constable T 2003. Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible. Electronic edition:
Galaxie Software.
Gaebelein AC 1909. The prophet Joel. An Exposition. The Annotated Bible. New York:
Our Hope.
Garret DA 1997. Hosea, Joel. The New American Commentary, vol. 19a. Nashville:
Broadman and Holman.
Guns GV 2012. The key to understanding Old Testament prophecy. Norfolk, Virginia:
Second Calvary Baptist Church.
Kaiser WC Jr 2011. Preaching and Teaching the Last Things: Old Testament
Eschatology for the Life of the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Morgan KJ 2013. Introduction to Joel. Online article. Accessed from
https://rediscoveringthebible.com/IntroJoel.pdf, 2018-12-13.
Ogden GS, Deutsch RR 1987. A promise of hope—a call to obedience: commentary
on the books of Joel and Malachi. International Theological Commentary.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Osborne GR 2006. The hermeneutical spiral: A comprehensive introduction to
biblical interpretation (2nd ed., revised and expanded). Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press.
The new international version. 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Treier DJ 1997. The Fulfilment of Joel 2:28–32: A Multiple-Lens Approach. Jets 40/1
Wiersbe WW 1996. Be amazed. Wheaton: Victor Books.

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