Isaiah 40-66 (NICOT)

The second of John N. Oswalts two-part study of the book of Isaiah for the NICOT series, this commentary provides exegetical and theological exposition on the latter 27 chapters of Isaiah for scholars, pastors, and students who seek to know the perennial meaning of the text in contemporary terms.

Though Oswalts main introduction to Isaiah is found in his commentary on chapters 139, this second volume opens with an important discussion of scholarly debate over the unity/diversity of Isaiah. In this work Oswalt makes stronger his case for reading the entire book of Isaiah as written by a single authora position not common in other recent commentaries. Oswalts work stands alone, then, as an attempt to take seriously Israels historical situation at the time chapters 4066 were composed while also seeking to understand how these chapters function as a part of Isaiahs total vision written in the late 700s or early 600s BC.

Assuming the single authorship of Isaiah, the verse-by-verse commentary aims to interpret chapters 4066 in light of the book as a whole. While not neglecting issues of historical criticism or form criticism, the commentary focuses mainly on the theological meaning of the text as indicated especially by the literary structure. Building on his earlier argument that the central theme of Isaiah is servanthood, Oswalt keeps readers focused on the character of Israels sovereign Redeemer God, on the blind servant Israel, and on the ultimate work of the Suffering Servant in whom the world can find its Savior.