Discovering Isaiah

"Abernethy's book is readable, clear, and well organized. It does indeed allow the reader to discover many aspects of the book of Isaiah. Perhaps more importantly, it encourages the reader to explore the relevance of some of the recurring themes in the book of Isaiah to modern times." --Review of Biblical Literature Themelios "If a reader wants knowledge both of the scholarly reception of Isaiah and also wants to understand what Isaiah proclaims theologically, this book is the one to consult. . . . In sum, Discovering Isaiah is worth reading because Abernethy will help you know Isaiah better, whose book, in turn, will direct you to 'behold your God' (Isa 40:9)." Religious Studies Review "An indispensable resource for introducing contemporary interpretation of Isaiah." "Isaiah is the richest book with the richest story, from its origins to the present day. Andrew Abernethy has written a rich guide to this story and to the book itself." -- John Goldingay author of The Theology of the Book of Isaiah "The first chapter in Discovering Isaiah is aptly titled 'An Enduring Word.' This prophetic book has been central to the Christian church for two millennia. Abernethy skillfully integrates careful readings of texts in their historical settings with illuminating examples of their reception across the centuries. This wonderful exploration of key themes and Isaiah's ongoing relevance make this a helpful window into research on the book and into the God and Christ of Christian faith." -- M. Daniel Carroll R. Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy at Wheaton College "This introductory study offers a balanced discussion of Isaiah with a focus on its historical setting, theology, and Christian reception. Its pedagogical style and lucid structure render it well-suited to undergraduate teaching." -- Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer professor in Old Testament exegesis at OErebro School of Theology, Sweden "Isaiah is full of famous bits, but they come in a long and complicated book that is difficult to grasp as a whole. In fact, most Bible readers don't even try. But in easily readable style and with a firm grasp of current scholarship in the background, Abernethy here shows how even the famous bits come alive in fresh ways for the Christian reader once they are set in their context in the book as well as in the history of how they have been interpreted through the centuries. Taking each of the book's most prominent themes in turn, he encouragers and challenges us all to pay greater attention to God's proclamation embedded in the prophetic word." -- H. G. M. Williamson author of the International Critical Commentary on Isaiah 1-27 "For anyone looking for a CliffsNotes-like handbook on the book of Isaiah, Abernethy's Discovering Isaiah is an updated, extensive, and accessible gem. Without getting bogged down in redactional theories or interpretive debates, the book astutely guides Isaiah readers comprehensively through history, literature, and reception history. Its interpretive approach is thorough and extensive, presenting a manual for reading Isaiah in 3D or 4D. It scans the metahistory of ancient landscapes in four phases (Assyria/Babylon, Persia under Cyrus, the suffering servant toward reconstruction, and the new world) in judicious juxtaposition with five theological themes (holiness, Zion, messianic king, suffering servant, and justice, together culminating in worship). It not only instructs readers with meticulous, erudite lectures but also invites inspirational homiletics into a journey of theological history, toward hope and healing amid despair and brokenness in the age of Black Lives Matter and the COVID-19 pandemic." -- Hyun Chul Paul Kim author of Reading Isaiah: A Literary and Theological Commentary Interpretation "Christian interpretive approaches to Isaiah will benefit greatly from this book."