Unveiling the Divine Words of Isaiah: Authorship and Date Revealed
Published: 22 July 2024
Who Wrote Isaiah?
The book of Isaiah in the Bible contains many important prophecies about the coming Messiah. The prophet's name, Yeshayahu, means "salvation of YHWH" or "YHWH saves." Some scholars have attacked the authenticity of Isaiah due to its accurate predictions about the future. However, predicting the future is not impossible for a God who created time itself. Additionally, there have been claims that the book has been radically changed.
The main argument for multiple authors of Isaiah stems from the presumption that true predictive prophecy is impossible. Liberals argue that chapters 1-39 were written by the real Isaiah, while later chapters were written by "Second Isaiah" or "deutero-Isaiah" centuries later. However, this theory runs into problems with Isaiah 6, which clearly predicts events that occurred over 150 years later. The internal evidence also contradicts this theory as similar evils and themes are denounced throughout the entire book.
Furthermore, the New Testament authors and Christ Himself believed that Isaiah was a unity. They quoted passages from Isaiah and attributed them to the prophet. This belief should be decisive for any professing Christian.
How Many Authors?
The belief in multiple authors for the book of Isaiah is based on faulty reasoning. The argument that true predictive prophecy is impossible undermines this theory. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support the existence of "Second Isaiah" or "Third Isaiah." The internal consistency of the book and the New Testament references affirm that Isaiah was a unity.
Evolution of the Bible?
There have been claims that the Bible has evolved and changed throughout history. However, these claims are misplaced. Textual scholars have long been aware of the differences between older Hebrew manuscripts like the Dead Sea Scrolls and later Masoretic manuscripts. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls actually increased respect for the accuracy of copying over the centuries.
While there are textual variations, they are minor and do not affect the overall message of the book or any vital doctrines. The project to produce a "Critical Text" of the Old Testament aims to accurately represent the original autographs based on the best available manuscripts. This project should be welcomed by Christians as it brings them closer to the wording of the original texts.
Manuscript Evidence
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide strong evidence for the accuracy of copying over time. For example, a scroll of Isaiah from the Dead Sea Scrolls is word-for-word identical to later Masoretic manuscripts for 95% of the text. This demonstrates the remarkable preservation of the biblical text even with the passing of centuries.
The few textual variations that exist in Isaiah do not change the overall message of the book or any important doctrines. They are exactly what we would expect from a text that has been copied many times over.
Conclusion
Isaiah is a remarkable book that contains accurate predictions about future events and the coming Messiah. The belief in multiple authors is not supported by the internal evidence, manuscript evidence, or the testimony of Christ and the New Testament authors.
Claims that the Bible has evolved throughout history are misleading. The textual variations are minor and do not affect essential teachings. The project to produce a Critical Text of the Old Testament should be welcomed as it brings us closer to the original autographs.
Understanding the authorship and preservation of Isaiah is important for believers as it affirms the reliability and trustworthiness of God's Word. It reminds us that God has preserved His message throughout history, allowing us to place our faith in Him and His promises.
Why This Matters: Understanding the authorship and preservation of Isaiah helps us affirm our confidence in God's Word and its accuracy. It strengthens our faith in God's ability to predict future events and fulfill His promises.
Think About It: How does knowing that Isaiah accurately predicted future events impact your understanding and trust in the Bible? What does the preservation of Isaiah's text teach us about God's faithfulness and His ability to communicate with humanity?
