Third Isaiah Third Isaiah Isaiah 56

Third Isaiah

Third Isaiah • Isaiah 56 -66 has long been considered the work of a third author • This author has been labeled Trito Isaiah, or Third Isaiah • We do not know the name of this author, but he seems to have been a follower of second Isaiah • Was written between 538 -516 BCE

Research on Third Isaiah • The idea of a third author or Trito Isaiah was first proposed by Bernhard Duhm in 1892 • Many believe Third Isaiah was written in Jerusalem just before the arrival of Ezra and Nehemiah • Many scholars accept that 56 -66 is dependant on 40 -55 • The two sections share many of the same concerns

Three Authors ? • Duhm • Chapters 40 -55 – in the 1200’s are mainly words Rabbi Ibn Ezra of comfort believed that 4066 was later than • While 56 -66 are made up of 1 -39 words of rebuke • Duhm believed that chapters 1 -39 are for those who comprised of have returned judgement oracles from exile written during time of Isaiah

Three Authors ? • First Isaiah (139) written during time of Isaiah of Jerusalem • Second Isaiah (40 -55) written during the exile • Third Isaiah written after the exile •

Dating of Third Isaiah • The dating of Third Isaiah is made difficult by two factors • 1) This material refers to no historical event • 2) it does not name historical individuals • There is a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and a prediction of rebuilding the “ancient ruins” (63: 18, 64: 9 -10)

Dating of Third Isaiah • This indicates that much time may have passed since the Babylonian campaign of 586 BCE.

Third Isaiah • Third Isaiah • Prof. Paul Hanson of Harvard has proposed a theory that two groups of people were present among those returning from exile • The Temple Party • The Visionary Group

Problems addressed • The relationship of those returning from exile to those who did not leave • The difference between what was the ‘real life’ experience of the people and the promises made by the prophets • Issues of rebuilding the Temple • Some of themes of 1 and 2 Isaiah are included in 3 rd Isaiah especially the idea of a time of trial followed by a time of “prosperity”(1)

Concerns of Third Isaiah • Restoration of Jerusalem (49: 18, 22 & 60: 4, ), admission of proselytes (58: 18 &44: 5)

What does Third Isaiah have to say? • Contains the • The author tried oracles of one of to encourage second Isaiah’s those who had disciples returned from captivity to • Addressed to rebuild lives those living in Jerusalem in post • Structure of -exilic period Third Isaiah trying to reestablish their lives

What does Third Isaiah have to say? • A major theme of • Chapter 61 Trito Isaiah is begins” The salvation for all Spirit of the Lord people is upon me” • ch 56 begins this • This brings to by promising mind theme salvation for all of the Suffering those previously Servant from 2 nd excluded Isaiah • chapters 61 -66 speak of the Day of the Lord

Third Isaiah - What is he telling us ? • The Suffering Servant of 2 nd Isaiah seems to show the Messiah to be just that suffering • Third Isaiah shows a different aspect of the expected Messiah • The Messiah of Third Isaiah is more of a warrior - He is coming to judge • 61: 2 -He proclaims “The day of vengeance of God • In ch. 63 He is covered in blood and will judge Israel

So, where do we go from here ? • As it seems that a • Isaiah with two angels main theme of third Isaiah is salvation, that will be the focus of the remainder of the presentation - the New Jerusalem to be effected by the Messiah

Ch 63 - 64 • 63: 7 Praise for God’s kingdom • 10: confession of sins • 15 -16: hope for mercy • 17 -19 prayer to be restored spite of past sins – return, rend the heavens and come down, quaking mountains • 64: 1 -2: awaiting God’s kingdom • 5 -7: confess unworthiness • 11: will the punishment continue – what will God do “ – What will His response to the people be ?

How it will begin • Ch 65 -66 seem to be written as a unit. They parallel each other closely • Isaiah “Swords into Plowshares

Parallels ch. 65 -66 • • • 65: 1 -10 65: 12 65: 17 65: 18 ff 65: 20 -25 66: 1 ff 66: 4 66: 22 66: 10 ff 66: 12 -14

CH 65 • verses 8 -12 - Not • In CH. 65 -the all will be wicked are destroyed since addressed there are some • They are Holy people addressed who present refused to answer Judgment will be when God called delayed for now. and offered • See Matthew unworthy 13: 24 -30 worship (vv 3 -7) parable of wheat and tares

Chapter 65 • 13 -16 - The Servants of the Lord who have been faithful will be abundantly blessed • Those who have not been faithful will be cursed • The faithful servants will be given a new name • See 62: 2 -”You shall be called by a new name” • This can be seen as indicative of a new state of happiness (Rev 2: 17)

Chapter 65 • 17 -25 - Creation • This distinction of a New Heaven can be see in and New Earth looking at 2 nd • There is a Isaiah distinction drawn • See 43: 18 -19 between the Old creation and the new. • Old creation was spoiled - the New will set all things right

Chapter 65 • Jerusalem will still be part of the New Jerusalem (see rev 21: 1 -2) • A long life will be restored, just as in the first creation • Verse 20: No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

Chapter 65: 24 -25 • The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent--its food shall be dust! • There will be a close relationship now - The people will call and God will hear, even • This goes back to before they call 1 st Isaiah (11: 6 • In the New 9) in a creation, nature description of the will come harmony of the together also coming age of the Messiah

Chapter 66 • While ch 65 is addressed to the unfaithful, 66 is addressed to those who believe and “tremble at His word” (66: 5) • 65: 12: “When I called you did not answer • 66: 4: When I called no one answered • There is a different message for faithful and unfaithful

Chapter 66 • 18 -24 - the universal worship of God is brought about • “I am coming to gather all nations and tongues and they shall come and see my glory • V 19 - follows by promising a sign • The faithful will be gathered God’s enemies will lie dead outside of the New Jerusalem • See Rev 21: 1

Ch. 65 -66 genre • This material has some of the characteristics of the Day of Yahweh • The servant of 65 -66 is more of a warrior - coming in vengeance • God is angry about unfaithfulness • God will come and destroy sinners- God will come in a fire, like a whirlwind to judge • God is coming and this will be final

Day of the Lord • While the term “Day of the Lord” is not specifically used it is clear God is coming to judge and gather the faithful into the New Creation • In this section we see a number of references used in Revelation - as we learned earlier Apocylyptic literature is based on the Day of the Lord Genre

Genre: • Apocalyptic images of Isaiah • Some authors • God as a warrior believe that the (59: 16 -17, 63: 1 roots of 6) apocalyptic • He will battle the writing are found forces of evil in Isaiah 65 -66 • the cosmos will • previously it had be transformed been thought that (65: 17 -18) this type of • Heaven and earth literature are to be recreated originated in and suffering eliminated about 200 BCE

Isaiah’s vision of Heaven

Genre: Apocalyptic • It is also thought that apocalyptic literature surfaced during times of difficulty. • This would make sense in Isaiah 56 -66 as the people were returning from exile and relations were tense in the community.

Trito Isaiah in early Christianity • The servant passages of Isaiah give clues as to the identity of Jesus • In Mark Jesus begins his public career with reading of Isa. 61: 1 -3 • Thus, Jesus could then be referred to as the “anointed one” see: Acts 4: 27, 10: 38)He is also called the “righteous one” in Acts 7; 52, 1 John 2: 1 (see: Isa 53: 1)

Third Isaiah in early Christianity • In the Gospels, • The anticipation Jesus’ of Jesus return in description of a Matt. 24: 3, 1 Cor disciple, closely 15: 23, 2 Thess resembles this 2: 8, parallels the teaching material in Third Isaiah (59: 19 -20, • The Beatitudes 60: 1, 62: 11, (Matt. 5: 3 -12, Lk. 63: 1…) 6: 20 -26) use the • The entry into same theme of Jerusalem can also reversal as Isa be seen in 62: 11 65: 13 -15

Third Isaiah in early Christianity • The Gospels tell • Apocalyptic us of Jesus themes are also twofold mission: paralleled first to the Jews, • The idea of a then the gentiles; transformation of same as in nature, a new Isa. 49: 6 and the heaven and new ‘Servant of the Earth as seen in Lord’ Revelation 21, are all seen in the third section of Isaiah (Day of the Lord)

Third Isaiah in early Christianity • In Matthew 24: 14 Jesus speaks of the need to proclaim the Gospel to all nations • This is necessary for salvation • Perhaps the most important contribution of Third Isaiah • See Isa 56; 1 -8, 66: 18 -19, 21

Bibliography Isaiah, available on the web at: http: //georgeplasterer. tripod. com/BIISAIAH. html Jones, D. R. Isaiah 56 -66, and Joel. London: SCM Press LTD, 1964. Leupold, H. C. Exposition of Isaiah: Volume II, Chapters 40 -66 Grand Rapids: Baker Book House (1971) Miller, John, W. Meet The prophets: A Beginners Guide to the Books of the Biblical Prophets New York: Paulist Press (1987) Polan, Gregory, J. “Salvation in the Midst of Struggle. ” TBT 23(1985) 91 -94 http: //www. trinity. toronto. edu/Divinity/Reference/Isaiah 2. ppt

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