Second Isaiah

Context of Second Isaiah

Purpose: exhortation to return

Interpretation of exile (40:1-5)

1. payment for sin
2. demonstration to nations

Persian period: 538-333

Suffering servant (52:13-53:12)

Original intent: represents exiled community

• Appeared to be forsaken
• Paid for the sins of the people
• Allows a fresh start
• Witness to the whole world of God’s power

Theodicy: vicarious suffering — suffering on behalf of others

Influence on Christianity

Covenant of David reinterpreted

Pure monotheism and its implications (Isaiah 42:8; 44:8; 45:5-6, 14, 18, 21-22; 46:9)

Cyrus is God’s anointed (44:28—45:2)

Israel is king of nations, upgrade from descendent of David is king of Israel (55:3-5)

Background to reading from Daniel

Apocalypses

In the Bible: Daniel 7-12, Apocalypse of John/Revelation

Theodicy: the righteous suffer now because of cosmic evil but judgment day will radically reward the righteous and punish the wicked

Three characteristics of apocalypses

Revelation

• A God’s eye view of the world
• Encrypted

Spatial axis

• Angels and demons
• Heaven and hell

Temporal axis

• Justice deferred to a future day of judgment
• Eschatology next class