“Questions & Answers”

Question:
What reasons are there for concluding that the work of more than one man is contained in the present book of Isaiah?
Answer:
There are different theories and approaches to the question of the authorship of the book of Isaiah. Some scholars believe that the book contains the work of one prophet, Isaiah ben Amoz, who lived in the 8th century BCE and prophesied about the events of his time and the future. Others argue that the book is a composite of different authors who wrote in different historical periods and contexts, reflecting the changing circumstances of Judah and Israel. The most common division is into three sections: Proto-Isaiah (chapters 1-39), Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40-55), and Trito-Isaiah (chapters 56-66), each attributed to a different author or group of authors.

Some of the reasons for concluding that the book of Isaiah has more than one author are:

The historical discrepancies between the first and second parts of the book of Isaiah.

The first part (chapters 1-39) deals with the Assyrian threat and the fall of Samaria in the 8th century BCE, while the second part (chapters 40-55) addresses the Babylonian exile and the rise of Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE. The third part (chapters 56-66) seems to reflect the situation after the return from exile in the 5th century BCE. It is unlikely that one prophet could have foreseen such distant events with such accuracy and detail.

The linguistic and stylistic differences between the sections of the book of Isaiah.

The vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and literary devices used in each section vary significantly, suggesting different authors or schools of thought. For example, Deutero-Isaiah uses more Aramaic words and expressions than Proto-Isaiah, indicating a later date of composition.

The theological and ideological shifts between the sections of the book of Isaiah.

The first part (chapters 1-39) emphasizes God’s judgment on Judah and Israel for their sins and idolatry, while the second part (chapters 40-55) focuses on God’s comfort and salvation for his suffering people. The third part (chapters 56-66) deals with the challenges and hopes of the restored community in Jerusalem. The concept of God also changes from a national deity to a universal sovereign, and the role of the Messiah becomes more prominent in Deutero-Isaiah.