Analysis Of Isaiah 65: 17-25
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
In Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah mentions the citation of YHWH that He is about to “create new heavens and new earth” and gives some details of the things that will occur in the new creation. One of the things that YHWH will do is that “the youth will die at a hundred years” (Isa 65:20). Isaiah reiterated this declaration of a new creation in 66:22-23. Isaiah‘s statement in Isaiah 65:20 has received a considerable amount of debate among scholars. Scholarship is divided on the interpretation of the creation of “new heavens and new earth,” where death will re-appear a phrase which is found in the Old Testament only in the book of Isaiah. The death in the “new heaven and new earth” in Isaiah can be seen to be contrary to John’s …show more content…
The polarization of views on Isa 65:20 seems to result from the divergence of scholarly opinions regarding the nature of Isaianic eschatology, particularly that of the closing chapters of the book. Accordingly, any meaningful study of these verses must take the eschatology of the book into consideration. Therefore, another look at this issue pervading the book of Isaiah is justified. Several questions of relevancy in this direction include the following: Will there be death in the “new heaven and new earth? Is Isaianic eschatology to be understood in an apocalyptic sense or in a postexilic sense? Is the statement literal or figurative? These questions basically provide the contour of the discussion that follows in search of satisfactory answer to this problem.
Purpose and Significance of the study
The purpose of this is to determine the meaning of “death in the new heaven and new earth” in the context of the Book of Isaiah and the Old Testament, and to consider the context of Isaiah‘s prophecy to the people of Judah. This study will help a better understanding of the expression in the Book of Isaiah. …show more content…
Where and when was the book written? Politically, According to Isaiah 1:1, the prophet Isaiah’s career extended through the reigns of four kings in the southern kingdom of Judah: Uzziah (792-740 BC), Jotham (750-732 BC), Ahaz (735-715 BC), and Hezekiah (715-686 BC). Isaiah beginning his ministry after the prophetic call around 740 BC was when the Assyrian empire was in decline, in the year that King Uzziah died (chap. 6). There is no historical record of Isaiah's death. Jewish tradition held that he suffered martyrdom under King Manasseh (697-642 B.C.) because of his prophesying. The early church father Justin Martyr (ca. A.D. 150) wrote that the Jews sawed him to death with a wooden saw (cf. Heb. 11:37). Another ancient source says he took refuge in a hollow tree, but his persecutors discovered and extracted him. This may account for the unusual method of his
INTRODUCTION
In Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah mentions the citation of YHWH that He is about to “create new heavens and new earth” and gives some details of the things that will occur in the new creation. One of the things that YHWH will do is that “the youth will die at a hundred years” (Isa 65:20). Isaiah reiterated this declaration of a new creation in 66:22-23. Isaiah‘s statement in Isaiah 65:20 has received a considerable amount of debate among scholars. Scholarship is divided on the interpretation of the creation of “new heavens and new earth,” where death will re-appear a phrase which is found in the Old Testament only in the book of Isaiah. The death in the “new heaven and new earth” in Isaiah can be seen to be contrary to John’s …show more content…
The polarization of views on Isa 65:20 seems to result from the divergence of scholarly opinions regarding the nature of Isaianic eschatology, particularly that of the closing chapters of the book. Accordingly, any meaningful study of these verses must take the eschatology of the book into consideration. Therefore, another look at this issue pervading the book of Isaiah is justified. Several questions of relevancy in this direction include the following: Will there be death in the “new heaven and new earth? Is Isaianic eschatology to be understood in an apocalyptic sense or in a postexilic sense? Is the statement literal or figurative? These questions basically provide the contour of the discussion that follows in search of satisfactory answer to this problem.
Purpose and Significance of the study
The purpose of this is to determine the meaning of “death in the new heaven and new earth” in the context of the Book of Isaiah and the Old Testament, and to consider the context of Isaiah‘s prophecy to the people of Judah. This study will help a better understanding of the expression in the Book of Isaiah. …show more content…
Where and when was the book written? Politically, According to Isaiah 1:1, the prophet Isaiah’s career extended through the reigns of four kings in the southern kingdom of Judah: Uzziah (792-740 BC), Jotham (750-732 BC), Ahaz (735-715 BC), and Hezekiah (715-686 BC). Isaiah beginning his ministry after the prophetic call around 740 BC was when the Assyrian empire was in decline, in the year that King Uzziah died (chap. 6). There is no historical record of Isaiah's death. Jewish tradition held that he suffered martyrdom under King Manasseh (697-642 B.C.) because of his prophesying. The early church father Justin Martyr (ca. A.D. 150) wrote that the Jews sawed him to death with a wooden saw (cf. Heb. 11:37). Another ancient source says he took refuge in a hollow tree, but his persecutors discovered and extracted him. This may account for the unusual method of his