Controversy has raged since the late 1700s over whether the Book of Isaiah is the work of one, two, three, or even more prophets. In his 'Essays in Satire' Roman scholar Ronald Knox (d.1957) made fun of this as: 'turning Moses into a syndication of press cutting agencies & Isaiah into the goodly fellowship of the prophets'. While this might be amusing, the passage of time, with the increasing knowledge it has brought scholars, has shown both accusations to be more true than less! In the end, though, does it matter whose name is on the cover of a book if the contents have the authentic stamp of God's authority on them?
What one can say is that at the moment there's fairly wide agreement that two different Prophets writing at quite different times produced IS 1-55. A common view is that a Prophet named Isaiah - whom for the purpose of these studies & hopefully, for clarity, we'll call '1st Isaiah' (1st IS)- exercises the role of Prophet & writes from c.740BC & is responsible for 1-39. However, even within this body of work there are possible additions, maybe by his close followers. We're introduced to 1st IS in 1:1, & hear of his very personal call to be Prophet in 6:1+ [1]. A few scholars still consider this Isaiah 'kept going', though far more believe his work was continued by a second Prophet - name unknown but coming to be known also as 'Isaiah'. Scholars tell us there is a lot of linguistic evidence from within the book that tells us 40-55 date from the later Exile in Babylon & could not therefore be the work of the original Isaiah. This second Prophet, commonly referred to as 'Deutero'-Isaiah (Deutero meaning second' as in Deuteronomy: Second Law) is then credited with 40-55 (or to the end of the book in the view of some [2]). We'll call this Prophet DT IS for short. The view that yet a third ('Trito') 'Isaiah' (TR IS) was responsible for 56-66 seems to be not so strong now. The NJB notes (p.1170) suggesting these chapters are more likely a composite work from a band of DT-IS' followers is a helpful way of looking at things without getting bogged down in technicalities! In the end, if we are led by God's Spirit to accept the contents as YHWH God speaking to the Hebrew people of those days about issues that matter to Him & to them, & in their footsteps us in our day, that's more important than questions of authorship, interesting though they may be! Hebrew sources regard IS as second only to Moses as Prophet. Though Christians see Jesus as 'a second Moses' He is immensely influenced by IS. Though parts of 'Isaiah' will certainly differ in value to us, there will be 'stand-outs' where their eternal value is obvious. This should also & always remind us to be on the look-out & to listen-in for the genuine voice of God in our own day, too. There are many false small 'p' prophets around peddling their wares. Beware!
We are told in 1:1 that 1st IS exercises the office of Prophet during the reigns of four kings of Judah, from 740BC when King Uzziah dies. We have no evidence about when Isaiah dies, though legend has it he dies at the hands of the evil apostate king, Manasseh, who reigns from 687-642 BC. Though the term 'Judah' usually refers to the southern part of what had formerly been one kingdom under David & Solomon but then split into two parts - Israel in the north, & Judah (Judea) in the south - Isaiah's messages don't stop at any border. They often apply to north & south (the old northern kingdom of Israel is destroyed by the Assyrians during Ist IS' time) & beyond borders to neighbouring nations. 'Isaiah' is profound, challenging, & very relevant still today. As this 'Bringing the Living to Life' series is only intended as brief Introductions to the books of the Hebrew Bible, to keep 'Isaiah' within bounds, we'll focus mainly on words from 'Isaiah' that pass into the Gospels, & then only on their first occurrence there. But that's another story...53: 1st Isaiah - Called, Chosen, Sent.
NOTES: [1] Biblical prophecy is not a matter of foretelling the future or second-guessing it, but 'seeing through God's eyes' that if a person or people act like 'this', then the consequences will be 'that'! This judgment is more often national than personal, but with strong personal implications. Jesus was referred to by many as 'a, or the, Prophet' though He was rejected as Messiah. [2] John Scullion, S.J., takes this view (p.147, 'Isaiah 40-66', Glazier, Delaware, 1982).
Q. Do we always base the choices we make on what we prayerfully (& consultatively) discern God wants for us?
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