Interpreting Isaiah: Issues and Approaches

Ever since the first century, Christians have regarded Isaiah as a high point in the Old Testament prophetic literature. Its themes of messiah and suffering servant, deliverance from exile and new creation--to name a few--have been viewed as reaching particular fulfillment in the gospel. Then too, the impact of Isaiah on the church's language of worship and hymnology, and on the Western tradition of art and literature, is beyond measure. The book of Isaiah has also received more than its fair share of scholarly examination, with various theories of its origin and composition proposed.

Originating in a 2008 Tyndale Fellowship conference on Isaiah, Interpreting Isaiah presents some of the most significant evangelical scholarship on Isaiah today. Essays on recent scholarship and the theology of Isaiah offer valuable overviews that bring readers abreast of current understanding. And more sharply focused studies in particular Isaianic themes and texts explore issues and exercise methodologies that will interest and reward diligent teachers and preachers of the Old Testament.

• Contributors
• Abbreviations
• Introduction: David G. Firth and H. G. M. Williamson
  
  
• Part 1: Orientation
• 1 Recent Issues in the Study of the Book of Isaiah H. G. M. Williamson, Christ Church, Oxford
  
  
• Part 2: Themes, Theology and Text
• 2 Monotheism and Isaiah Nathan MacDonald
• 3 Too Hard to Understand? The Motif of Hardening in Isaiah Torsten Uhlig
• 4. Isaiah and Politics David J. Reimer
• 5. Faith in Isaiah Philip S. Johnston
• 6 Nationalism and Universalism in Isaiah Richard L. Schultz
• 7 Wisdom in Isaiah Lindsay Wilson
• 8 The Theology of Isaiah John Goldingay
• 9 The Text of Isaiah at Qumran Dwight Swansons
• 10 Isaiah in the New Testament Rikk E. Watts
  
  
• Part 3: Studies in Selected Texts
• 11 What's New in Isaish 9:1-7? Paul D. Wegner
• 12 A Structural-Historical Exegesis of Isaiah 42:1-9 S. D. (Fanie) Snyman
• 13 An Inner-Isaianic Reading of Isaiah 61:1-5 Jacob Stromberg
  
  
• Index of Names
• Index of Scripture References
• Index of Qumran Literature References