I. Life and Times – II. Message – III. Book
Amos stands at the most important turning point in the history of Old Testament prophecy (Jewish tradition: “former”/“latter prophets”; Prophets and prophecy). The words of a prophet were for the first time systematically collected and transmitted in book form. For the first time, God's people as a whole had their “end” announced to them (8:2). It is not by chance that Amos strongly influenced his followers with respect to establishing a tradition.