1.1 Prophecy regarding the Messiah

Question 1

what are the 7 expectations regarding the messiah according to the prophecies

Answer 1

1. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
2. The Messiah would descend from the Davidic line
3. The Messiah will unite all nations/ gather those exiled from Israel
4. The Messiah would be followed by men of all nations
5. The Messiah would bring peace/end war
6. The Messiah would end death
7. The Messiah would bring about Christianity

Question 2

What is the Sadducees and Essenes view on the purpose of the promised Messiah

Answer 2

To bring upon Religious purity –> destruction of the Judah to the house of David was a punishment for sins, Jew need to return to the pure worship of God so a son of David can lead them

Question 3

What is the Zealots and Pharisees view on the purpose of the promised Messiah

Answer 3

What is the Zealots and Pharisees view on the purpose of the promised Messiah

Question 4

Which scholar came up with the grouping of four servant songs

Answer 4

Bernard Duhm

Question 5

Who is the suffering servant

Answer 5

The suffering servant is a figure that keeps appearing in the prophecies of Isaiah who is sent from God to lead the nations but is rejected but the people, suffer at their hands and is killed. However, God raises the servant to live and he is vindicated (proven right)

Question 6

What is the first servant song (quote)? Explain what it means and how does this relate to Jesus’ life?

Answer 6

• “Here is my servant, whom I uphold my chosen one in whom I delight” (Isaiah 42:1)
• God appoints the servant who will bring justice to earth. The servant is a kingly Messiah and a prophetic Messiah who brings about God’s will to Earth
• This is very similar to Matthew’s account of the words spoken by God at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:13 - 17) where God is please with delights in Jesus and puts the spirit in him

Question 7

What is the second servant song (quote)? Explain what it means and how does this relate to Jesus’ life?

Answer 7

• “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach the ends of the Earth”
• This is written from the servant’s point of view. He describes how he was called by God to lead not just the Jews but all nations. The servant will not be political or military ruler but ‘a light to the gentiles’ as well as a source of inspiration and a leader
• Similar to great commision in Matthew “go and make disciples of all nations”

Question 8

What is the third servant song (quote)? Explain what it means and how does this relate to Jesus’ life?

Answer 8

What is the third servant song (quote)? Explain what it means and how does this relate to Jesus’ life?

Question 9

What is the core description of the fourth servant song (isaiah 53)

Answer 9

It describes the suffering servant as a man of sorrows. He does not suffer himself but takes upon other people’s pain and suffering but no one appreciates it

Question 10

Was Jesus the suffering servant? What are the different interpretations

Answer 10

1. Traditional christian understanding –> Jesus saw himself as the suffering servant eg in Mark 10.45 he seems to directly quote isaiah 53 “numbered with the transgressions”
2. Morna Hooker –> Analysis of Isaiah and the Gospels show no deliberate connection snf the servant represents the Jewish nation collectively not the future Messiah. The Jewish interpretation at the time did not refer to the atoning death of Servant’s death this was emphasised later in Paul’s letters