Isaiah 1-33, Revised Edition (Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 24 | WBC)
Overview
The Word Biblical Commentary series provides an exceptional resource for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.
Dr. Watts has revisited this work he produced almost twenty years ago, with a view to updating it in light of current scholarship. He continues to hold to the unity of Isaiah, rather than ascribing it to two or three composers or schools.
Dr. Watts' discussion includes:
- the book's composition;
- its significance as literature and as theology;
- its plot, characterization, style, and motifs;
- the religious, political, and social nature of its earliest audiences;
- the changing role of prophecy in Israel's society; and
- its influence in early Judaism and the New Testament, in church history, and in Western literature
This is the updated edition of Joel Watt’s original commentary on Isaiah. For the first edition, check out Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 24: Isaiah 1–33.
Top Highlights
“But also included are figures of things nearer home: ‘mountains’” (Page 58)
“So throughout the Vision, the writer depicts his role as extending and applying Isaiah’s words and work. The book is properly named ‘Isaiah’ because it applies his prophecies to three centuries of Israel’s history with God.” (Page xlii)
“the passage turns to the gifts, attributes, and acts of God that make survival and revival possible” (Page 209)
“These words resonate with Isaiah’s own name, which means ‘Yahweh will save.’” (Page xxxix)
“The core of the Vision’s theological message, however, is that YHWH is the Lord of History. He calls and dismisses the nations. He determines their destinies. He divides the ages and determines the eventual courses of humanity. When the people of Israel in exile doubt God’s ability to help them, he cites his role in creation. He contrasts his own immense capacities with the minuscule size of planets and stars, which are but dust. He reduces time by citing his control of all time. And he insists that he, the Creator, the Lord of History, and Israel’s God who calls to it, are one and the same (chaps. 40–44).” (Page cxvii)
Reviews
4 ratings
Matthew
3/2/2024
MDD
4/5/2017
Bradley Cowie
1/21/2017
Still the same weird interpretive paradigm. The Isaiah volumes are my biggest disappointment with the Word series. I really wish Word would replace them (but I'm not holding my breath).Ray Mills
2/25/2016
