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Isaiah. Dating and authorship. Isaiah. The “Fifth Evangelist”. Isaiah. The Fifth Evangelist Most quoted OT book in the NT (140+). Isaiah. The Fifth Evangelist Most quoted OT book in the NT (140+) Possibly the most beautiful poetry in the OT. Isaiah. The Fifth Evangelist
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Isaiah Dating and authorship
Isaiah • The “Fifth Evangelist”
Isaiah • The Fifth Evangelist • Most quoted OT book in the NT (140+)
Isaiah • The Fifth Evangelist • Most quoted OT book in the NT (140+) • Possibly the most beautiful poetry in the OT.
Isaiah • The Fifth Evangelist • Most quoted OT book in the NT (140+) • Possibly the most beautiful poetry in the OT (in your instructor’s objective, unbiased, carefully-considered opinion).
Title and authorship • 1:1 – Uzziah to Hezekiah • Uzziah dies 739. • Hezekiah takes the throne in 716 and dies in 686. • Sennacherib dies in 681 (37:38). • Isaiah’s ministry may have lasted nearly 60 years.
Title and authorship • Isaiah is named as author again in 2:1, 7:3, 13:1, 20:2, 37:2, 6, 21; 38:1, 4, 21: 39:3, 5, 8. • Isaiah is not named in 40-66. • No other author is named anywhere in the book or elsewhere.
Title and authorship • Isaiah is named as author again in 2:1, 7:3, 13:1, 20:2, 37:2, 6, 21; 38:1, 4, 21: 39:3, 5, 8. • Isaiah is not named in 40-66. • No other author is named anywhere. • The NT: John 12:37-41
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701)
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) • 605-539 (Captivity in Babylon)
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) • 605-539 (Captivity in Babylon) • 539-400 (Return)
Background Chapters 1-39: Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) Chapters 40-55: Captivity in Babylon) Chapters 56-66: the Return (539-400)
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) • Policy shift from pro-Assyria (Ahaz) to anti-Assyria (Hezekiah)
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) • Policy shift • Destruction of the North (722)
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) • Policy shift • Destruction of the North (722) • Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem (701)
Background • During Isaiah’s own lifetime (739-701) • Policy shift • Destruction of the North (722) • Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem (701) • Chapters 1-39.
Background 2. Captivity in Babylon (605-539)
Background 2. Captivity in Babylon (605-539) • Swift end to Assyria (609)
Background 2. Captivity in Babylon (605-539) • Swift end to Assyria (609) • Destruction of Jerusalem 586
Background 2. Captivity in Babylon (605-539) • Swift end to Assyria (609) • Destruction of Jerusalem 586 • Rise of Cyrus 550-539
Background 2. Captivity in Babylon (605-539) • Swift end to Assyria (609) • Destruction of Jerusalem 586 • Rise of Cyrus 539 • Chapters 40-55
Background 3. Return (539-400) • Under Jeshua and Zerubbabel
Background 3. Return (539-400) • Under Jeshua and Zerubbabel • Temple finished 516
Background 3. Return (539-400) • Under Jeshua and Zerubbabel • Temple finished 516 • Under Ezra and Nehemiah
Background 3. Return (539-400) • Under Jeshua and Zerubbabel • Temple finished 516 • Under Ezra and Nehemiah • Strange mix of zeal with complacency
Background 3. Return (539-400) • Under Jeshua and Zerubbabel • Temple finished 516 • Under Ezra and Nehemiah • Strange mix of zeal with complacency • Chapters 56-66.
Background 3. Return (539-400) • Under Jeshua and Zerubbabel • Temple finished 516 • Under Ezra and Nehemiah • Strange mix of zeal with complacency • Chapters 56-66 (Sort of).
Authorship The difficulty:
Authorship questioned Reasons : • Radical change of style (40-66). • “Cyrus” (45:1)--130 years later. • A message for whom? • 1-39: Isaiah’s time (739-686) • 40-55: exiles (586-539) • 56-66: returnees (539-400)
The question: Can a prophet deliver messages that will have meaning for 3 different historical periods...
The question: Can a prophet deliver messages that will have meaning for 3 different historical periods... ...2 of which are long after he is dead?
Authorship Short anwer:
Authorship Short anwer: Why not?