Book of Isaiah

Known as the (fifth) evangelist to Christians and the prophet of consolation to Jews, Isaiah has occupied a place of prominence for the two and a half millennia since it was written. The four Gospels, Paul, Acts, and Revelation quote it more than any other book, and it is among the most quoted Old Testament books in early Jewish literature. It is the best preserved of all the biblical Dead Sea Scrolls, and has inspired prophetic acts, millennial movements, and politics through the modern day. This course explores the beauty and wonder of this world-changing prophetic book through a literary, theological, and ethical study of the book of Isaiah. We will pay attention to the insights of poetic analysis, and to Isaiah’s overarching theological aims. From a deep immersion in the book’s literary-theological matrix, this course will also consider key social and ethical issues concerning violence, justice, and imperialism. In addition to close analysis of key texts throughout the book of Isaiah, the course will also explore the impact of Isaiah on early Judaism and Christianity.