Author: © Christian National Church of Christ

Question:
What linguistic arguments are there for believing that the work of more than one man in Isaiah is bound up in this role?
Answer:
The style of 1 Isaiah has been described as “Condensed, lapidary, and plastic,” while that of 2 Isaiah is referred to as “gentle” and “Joy,” 1 Isaiah engages “Force” and “Glory,” 2 Isaiah relies upon “Persuasion” and “Sadness.” This difference in style can be observed even in translation. In addition, 2 Isaiah has a special vocabulary, with a considerable number of frequently recurring words not found at all in 1 Isaiah. Among these are “to choose” {41:8; 43:10; 44:2;} and “My chosen” {43:20; 45:4; 65:9,15,22} “PRAISE” {42:8,10,12; 43:21; 48:9; 60:18; 61:3,11; 62:7,9; 63:7; 64:11}”Shoot” or Spring up like grass” {44:4; 55:10;61:11 (twice); 45:8; 58:8; 42:9; 43:19} “Break forth into singing” {44:23; 49:13; 52:9; 54:1; 55:12} “Favor” in the sense of “Good will” or “Acceptance” {49:8; 56:7; 58:5; 60:10; 61:2}.

Question:
What are the historical reasons for believing that not all parts of Isaiah’s book date from the same era?
Answer:
Another widely held view is that parts of the first half of the book (chapters 1–39) originated with the historical prophet, interspersed with prose commentaries written in the time of King Josiah 100 years later, and that the remainder of the book dates from immediately before and immediately after the end of the exile in Babylon, almost two centuries after the time of the historical prophet, and perhaps these later chapters represent the work of an ongoing school of prophets who prophesied in accordance with his prophecies. The book of Isaiah provides us with the most comprehensive prophetic picture of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. It includes the full scope of His life: the announcement of His coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), His virgin birth (7:14), His proclamation of the good news (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:13–53:12), and His return to claim His own. Who knew?

Question:
What is the date of 2nd Isaiah?
Answer:
Isaiah received his call “in the year that King Uzziah died” (742 B.C.), and his latest recorded activity is dated in 701 B.C. Only chapters 1–39, however, can be assigned to this period. Chapters 40–66 are much later in origin and therefore known as Deutero-Isaiah (Second Isaiah). Second Isaiah (40-55) probably dates to the Babylonian exile (ca 545 B.C.E.). (549-537B.C.)

Question:
What title is given to the second part of the book of Isaiah?
Answer:
Deutero-Isaiah, or 2nd book of Isaiah, has come to be the conventional designation for Chapters 40-66. Some scholars discern further refinements, confining 2nd book of Isaiah to Chapters 40-48, with Chapters 49-55 regarded as a post-exilic appendix, and Chapter 56-66, sometimes called Trito-Isaiah, or 3rd Isaiah, as belonging to the age of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Question:
What reasons in the book of Isaiah itself for speaking of a school of prophets under the leadership of Isaiah?
Answer:
Isaiah 8:16 says, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” According to some commentaries, this verse is spoken by God the Father and refers to the word of God, especially the doctrine of the Messiah. The expressions “bind up” and “seal” are understood prophetically, meaning that the doctrine shall be bound up and sealed. This can be interpreted as meaning that the doctrine will be secure and preserved among Isaiah’s disciples, but also kept secret and hidden from others until its fulfillment.

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.

Question:
When did Isaiah live?
Answer:
About 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Isaiah was born in the 8th century BC in Jerusalem, Israel. Isaiahs prophetic years spanned between 740 and 700 B.C., based upon the kings reigning during the time he prophesied. The best we can put in a nutshell is he died sometime in the sixth century B.C.

Question:
Who was Isaiah?
Answer:
Isaiah was a prophet of God who lived in Jerusalem about 700 years before Jesus Christ. He saw a vision that made him a prophet and prophesized the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ. (The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah was the son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Isaiah 1:1 NIV) Isaiah, the son of Amoz, was a member of the royal family. He made his first public appearance as the Divinely inspired prophet in the year of Uzziah ‘s affliction with leprosy. That was in the year 3142 (Jewish year) after Creation. He wrote the book of Isaiah in the Bible, which has 66 chapters and is a key message of God’s covenant with Israel. Isaiahs’s name means “Salvation of the Lord” “the Lord saves”. He was a significant contributor to Jewish and Christian traditions and was quoted by Jesus and others in the New Testament.

Question:
What are some remarkable passages in Romans, and it sustains the child of God?
Answer:
It reads in Romans 14:23 NIV.
But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
It reads in Romans 15:1 NIV.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
The book of Romans is a book to be of obedience and knowledge of being a child of God. The book of Romans is carefully constructed summary of Christian theology. Paul’s explanation of God’s plan of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans provides the fundamentals about the Gospel and the plan of God that are essential for every Church Age believer to master. Assisting us to comprehend the basic tenants of the faith we believe and is important to base everything we do as Christians around the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Question:
What are some remarkable passages in Romans?
Answer:
It reads in Romans 14:7 NIV.
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
It reads in Romans 14:19 NIV.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.