Lecture 3_Isaiah Flashcards
When was the book of Isaiah written?
between 742 BC until at least 701 BC
What was Political Situation?
- The Assyrians are in power and threatening Israel.
2. The Babylonians are also a looming power.
What are the arguments for multiple authors for Isaiah?
- The historical perspective
- The literary style of chapters 40-66 is seen to be different than 1-39,
- The theological ideas differ in 1-39 to be identified with Isaiah.
What are the arguments for multiple authors for Isaiah?
1. The historical perspective
- the mention of Cyrus in 45:1;
- different geographic orientations:
- Assyria in 1-39; Babylon in 40-55
What are the arguments for a single author for Isaiah?
- Historical Perspective
- The book is to be taken as a unity:
- The Problem of an Anonymous Prophet
- Intertestamental Evidence
- The NT cites all 3 and references Isaiah
What are the arguments for a single author for Isaiah?
1. Historical Perspective
- Cyrus is not the only name mentioned in prophecy
2. Palestine is more probable than Babylon
What are the arguments for a single author for Isaiah?
2. The book is to be taken as a unity:
- The Vision of Isaiah
- The book begins and ends on a similar motif:
- The Hezekiah narrative in 36-39 is the pivot of the book.
- Many Overlapping Literary Themes
What are the arguments for a single author for Isaiah?
- The book is to be taken as a unity:
- The book begins and ends on a similar motif:
- The heavens and earth are summoned in 1:2;
2. the heavens and the earth are radically transformed at the end of the book.
What are the arguments for a single author for Isaiah?
- The book is to be taken as a unity:
- The Hezekiah narrative in 36-39 is the pivot of the book.
- Perfectly balanced structure
- three defined sections preceding it (1-12, 13-27, and 28-35)
- and three defined sections following it (40:1-51:11, 51:12-55:13, and 56-66).
What are the arguments for a single author for Isaiah?
4. Intertestamental Evidence
- Ben Sirach / Ecclesiasticus (180 BC)
- The Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaa; cp XII Murabba’at) contain a three line break, intended to divide up sense units of one literary work
Main theme of Isaiah?
The Restoration of Jerusalem from a perverse and unjust city to a new and faithful city
What are the interpretive keys for Isaiah?
- Isaiah 1
- Sin and Experience
- How Israel will go from judgment to restoration
What is the outline for Isaiah 1?
I The National Situation 2-9
II The Religious Situation 10-20
III The Social Situation 21-26
IV Explanation: Tensions between Threat and Hope Resolved 27-31
Where are the Judgements against/pertaining to the nations at in Isaiah)
Isaiah 13-27
How are the judgments against the nations structured?
- Near Future (ch 13-19)
- Distant future (ch 21-23)
- Apocalyptic literature (ch 24-27)
