Breaking Down the Book of Isaiah

The book of Isaiah, 66 chapters of an array of topics and themes that have so much controversy around them.  Now it is widely believed in our Protestant churches that Isaiah is all written by one author.  However as Intellectual Christians we need to read as scholars do, understand as scholars do, and open up our mind like scholars do. 

The book of Isaiah covers over 200 years of time.  It spans from pre exile Judah, to the destruction of Israel and Syria, to the destruction and return to Jerusalem.  Now it is widely taught that Isaiah lived in the first part of the book (chap. 1-39) and prophesied the rest (40-66).  But there are a few problems with that theory.  One Prophets in the Old Testament did not function in this manner.  Prophets were sent as energizers or criticizers to the sitting authority.  When God sent Isaiah to King Ahaz in Chapter 7, what good did it bring to King Ahaz for Isaiah to prophecy about Jesus 735 years down the road?  It doesn’t!  After all the little we know about the 1^st author of Isaiah or the author of chapters 1-39, it all plays to the immediate theme.  For example the name of his sons Shear-jashub (a remnant will return) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (Hasten the Plunder, Hurry the Spoil).  Now this isn’t to say Isaiah did not do this but maybe, just maybe it was not the original point.   Plus not to mention the prophecies in the second part (if they are one author) never came to pass. 

I simply contend as many do, the book had three authors.  Now if we divide the book into three like most do, it has a lot of common themes.  But let us look at the differences that tally up.  Below explains why Theologians think three authors wrote three different sections of the book.   Remember we are doing this to expand our minds, never to undercut the religion of Christianity that this book /books helps to serve.   I hope you find this helpful, if there are any questions I will be happy to answer them and if I don’t have the answer I will find it for you.

1^st Isaiah                                   2^nd Isaiah                                 3^rd Isaiah

            Isaiah of Jerusalem                         Isaiah of Exile                    Isaiah post exile

1-39 chapters                                     40-55                                                56-66

                                          Historical Theme

A   a.  Assyria is the dominant threat                a.  Cyrus of Persia is historical             a.  No rulers mentioned

b.      b.   Syria and Israel are also mentioned       b.  Babylonia is still in existent             b.  People are in Israel

c.   c.   Judean kings Ahaz, and Hezekiah          c.   Going back to Egypt                    c. Lang. of temple rebuild

                

 Theological Theme

a.       a.  Oracles of Judgment                               a. Oracles of Salvation                    a. Ethics/religious practice       

b.       b.    Interests in Zion and David line              b. Exodus is often mentioned           b. Structured leadership

c.        c.   Nothing of The Exodus                          c. Emergence of monotheism           c. Insider/outsider policy

                                                                       d. Emphasis on creation/chaos         d. Questions of worship

                                                                                                                              e. Ritual interests

Literary Theme

a.       a.  Narratives and poetry                          a. Poetry texts only                         a.  Israel has come home

b.     b.   Autobiographical verses                      b. Anticipated homecoming             b.  More of a wisdom

c.     c.    Babylon is just a threat                        c. Creation/nature as witness           c.  Ethical concerns