For over one hundred years International Critical Commentaries have had a special place among works on the Bible. They bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological - to help the reader understand the meaning of the books of the Old and New Testaments. The new commentaries continue this tradition. All new evidence now available is incorporated and new methods of study are applied. The authors are of the highest international standing. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought.
For over one hundred years International Critical Commentaries have had a special place among works on the Bible. They bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological - to help the reader understand the meaning of the books of the Old and New Testaments. The new commentaries continue this tradition. All new evidence now available is incorporated and new methods of study are applied. The authors are of the highest international standing. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought.
This all-purpose commentary is by the author of 'The Suffering Servant in Deutero-Isaiah'. It meets the needs of the specialist but most of it should be intelligible to preachers and teachers who know little or no Hebrew. The Introduction discusses the literary structure of the prophecy, the theology of Deutero-Isaiah (with some reference to current theological debate), and the problem of Salvation History. The exegetical notes are based on the author's own translation from the Hebrew text. The purpose of the book is to elucidate the message of the Prophet in the context of Scripture as a whole.
What is the significance of word-order variation in Isaiah 40-55? This work attempts to answer that question through the application of a functional linguistic model. A model is outlined which is drawn primarily from Functional Grammar and a metalanguage is developed which also incorporates insights and terminology from Prague School linguistics and Discourse Analysis. According to this model, all languages develop a basic functional pattern into which constituents are placed in a consistent, familiar order according to the function which those constituents serve in a discourse context. Additionaly, languages develop special positions which can be used to mark constituents with certain functions (Topic, Theme, Setting, Focus, Tail, Vocative and Parenthetical). A functional pattern (the basic pattern plus the special positions) is outlined for the language of verbal clauses in Isaiah 40-55. Also, rules are written which describe the placement of constituents in the functional pattern. Each of the functions outlined in the model and defined in the metalanguage is illustrated in the language of Isaiah 40-55. Finally, there is a chapter which outlines the many defamiliar, or poetic, patterns found in Isaiah 40-55 due to the foregrounding of the language. In conclusion, it is observed that the order of constituents in the language of Isaiah 40-55 frequently does not emulate the basic functional pattern. Two explanations are demonstrated for this phenomenon: first, Deutero-Isaiah makes frequent use of special positions to mark certain functions; and second, the language of Isaiah 40-55 is foregrounded, or poetic, and highly defamiliarizing.
Dr. Lessing shows that Isaiah 5666 is the culmination of the prophets message condemning humanitys sin and promising the Suffering Servant, who atones for that sin, rises in majesty, and prepares an eternal city for all the redeemed. Among its well-known oracles are arise, shine, because your light is coming (60:1); the Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me (61:1); and behold, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth (65:17). These chapters answer the questions Do people enjoy Yahwehs grace by birthright or by faith? Who is the true Israel? And what will happen to the Suffering Servants offspring, the church? Gods restoration of Zions glory is our future!
