Recipient of a Christianity Today 1994 Critics Choice Award! Among Old Testament prophetic books no other equals Isaiah's brilliance of style and metaphor, its arresting vision of the Holy One of Israel and its kaleidoscopic vision of God's future restoration of Israel and the world. Now, after over three decades of studying and teaching Isaiah, Alec Motyer presents a wealth of commentary and perspective on this book. His emphasis is on the grammatical, historical, structural, literary and theological dimensions of the text. Though based on the Hebrew text, his exposition easily accomodates readers without a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew. And he writes with an interest in Isaiah's meaning for Christians today. Along the historical timeline on which the Isaianic prophecies are strung, Motyer finds three central and recurring themes: the messianic hope, the motif of the city and the theology of the Holy One of Israel. Moreover, he argues, the Isaianic literature is organized around three messianic portraits: the King (Isaiah 1-37), the Servant (Isaiah 38-55) and the Anointed Conqueror (Isaiah 56-66). Preachers, teachers and serious Bible students of all types will find this commentary a wise, winsome and welcome guide to the prophecy of Isaiah. It may easily be the best one-volume evangelical commentary on Isaiah available today.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's amazing how much solid exegesis and theology Motyer packed into this one volume commentary on Isaiah. Motyer is more willing to come out and say that certain prophecies in Isaiah were fulfilled by Jesus. He is also quite good at discerning the structure of the text. For example, he expounds Isaiah 66:19-26 and makes a nice diagram of the blessings associated with living under God's kingdom of justice and righteousness.
This commentary is not quite as elegantly written as the single volume masterpiece penned by Brevard Childs, but Motyer is a reliable guide through the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Jothan, Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1-2). I highly recommend this commentary.
Rev. Marc Axelrod
This commentary is not quite as elegantly written as the single volume masterpiece penned by Brevard Childs, but Motyer is a reliable guide through the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Jothan, Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1-2). I highly recommend this commentary.
Rev. Marc Axelrod
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As I work through Isaiah, I have come to appreciate this work more and more. Motyer observes and explains literary artistic value in the text with a minimum of words. He also gives bits on textual criticism, but I find they are sometimes harder for me to grasp what he is referring to unless I have dug into the textual problem already.
But the heart of this commentary is not about literary design or textual criticism. The heart of this commentary is about explaining in a well reasoned way the basic exegetical idea paragraph after paragraph with references to related issues sprinkled throughout the commentary.
One negative is that the format of the text is condensed in my view and therefore a little less comfortable to read than say the NICOT or NIVAC formats.
This past Sunday I worked on Isaiah 38-39. Motyer sees that as the beginning of a new section that ends in Isaiah 55. His outline is interesting and his explanations defending his outline are good. In Isaiah 38-39 he deals with Hezekiah's predicatment and outlines the passage with a Chiastic structure that points to Hezekiah's deeper challenge that seems to underlie the text. I found that in this passage at least, Motyer's comments were more illuminating than even the excellently written NIVAC by Oswalt or the NICOT by Oswalt. Motyer sees the Chiasm in Isaiah 38-39 as pointing to Hezekiah's difficulty in obeying the point of the law where Judah is not to make alliances with foreign nations.
The poetic structure with an emphasis on the dedication of Hezekiah in 38:8-22 and the defection of Hezekiah in 39:1-2 is a fresh and preaching alliterated point that I actually ended up using in my sermon on Hezekiah.
My respect for this author has been on the rise the more I look into his work. He packs a lot into every page. Excellent book, well worth the shekels.
But the heart of this commentary is not about literary design or textual criticism. The heart of this commentary is about explaining in a well reasoned way the basic exegetical idea paragraph after paragraph with references to related issues sprinkled throughout the commentary.
One negative is that the format of the text is condensed in my view and therefore a little less comfortable to read than say the NICOT or NIVAC formats.
This past Sunday I worked on Isaiah 38-39. Motyer sees that as the beginning of a new section that ends in Isaiah 55. His outline is interesting and his explanations defending his outline are good. In Isaiah 38-39 he deals with Hezekiah's predicatment and outlines the passage with a Chiastic structure that points to Hezekiah's deeper challenge that seems to underlie the text. I found that in this passage at least, Motyer's comments were more illuminating than even the excellently written NIVAC by Oswalt or the NICOT by Oswalt. Motyer sees the Chiasm in Isaiah 38-39 as pointing to Hezekiah's difficulty in obeying the point of the law where Judah is not to make alliances with foreign nations.
The poetic structure with an emphasis on the dedication of Hezekiah in 38:8-22 and the defection of Hezekiah in 39:1-2 is a fresh and preaching alliterated point that I actually ended up using in my sermon on Hezekiah.
My respect for this author has been on the rise the more I look into his work. He packs a lot into every page. Excellent book, well worth the shekels.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have not finished this book, however I am well into it and am thoroughly enjoying it. Of all the theologies/commentaries I've read on Isaiah this is either the best or one of them. He interacts with a lot of Rikki Watt's material, Kaiser and a little F.F Bruce. He is a conservative scholar whose work should not be overlooked.
I am a senior at a biblical university with plans to go on to seminary. This book will not leave my side as I study Isaiah in the future. Often times conservative scholars are looked down upon for poor scholarship, but Motyer's work is certainly erudite. Isaiah is rich in vocabulary and fond of metaphor which Motyer captures well. In addition, one does not need a working knowledge of Hebrew grammar/vocabulary to keep up with his teaching. I would recommend this book for the pastor, adult sunday school teacher or serious student. Enjoy!
I am a senior at a biblical university with plans to go on to seminary. This book will not leave my side as I study Isaiah in the future. Often times conservative scholars are looked down upon for poor scholarship, but Motyer's work is certainly erudite. Isaiah is rich in vocabulary and fond of metaphor which Motyer captures well. In addition, one does not need a working knowledge of Hebrew grammar/vocabulary to keep up with his teaching. I would recommend this book for the pastor, adult sunday school teacher or serious student. Enjoy!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Conservative, sane, but not necessarily the best
Alec Motyer writes an excellent and sensible commentary on the text of Isaiah. He is conservative on the unity of the book but does not waste large amounts of space dealing with... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Tertius
The Prophecy of Isaiah
This is a good commentary on the book of Isaiah. However it is not easy for the average person to fully grasp its contents. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Marvin L. Miller
The Prophecy of Isaiah
J. Alec Motyer [For years I pronounced his name to myself as "mot-yer", but I have subsequently been told that it is pronounced "mo-teer". Read more
Published on March 17, 2010 by J. C. W. West
One of the two best Isaiah commentaries out there
In seminary I had access to numerous commentaries but I continue to find Motyer and Brevard Childs's commentaries on Isaiah to be the most helpful and most insightful. Read more
Published on April 25, 2009 by Quentin D. Stewart
Limited Value
This book has limited usefulness for non-denominational students of Isaiah. The author pays lip service to alternative interpretations, but his obvious Christian biases and... Read more
Published on November 3, 2008 by Earl Arnett
Well done critical commentary
Motyer's commentary is well-written and thorough. It is lacking in a Christological view of the entirety of Isaiah's text. Read more
Published on October 28, 2008 by Christopher R. Gillespie
Isaiah Prophesized God's Son and the Resurrection.
Isaiah's Teachings Need To Be Observed Today.,
We need some of Isaiah's preachings and teachings in today's society as there are too many frauds around to stir up... Read more
We need some of Isaiah's preachings and teachings in today's society as there are too many frauds around to stir up... Read more
Published on November 10, 2006 by Betty Burks
J.A Motyer, student of Isaiah!
A massive masterpiece. Motyer, who is a life long student of Isaiah produces this evangelical commentary that will remain the standard. Read more
Published on November 24, 1999 by Rick Aguirre
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
The fact that the call of Isaiah to be a prophet is not recorded until chapter 6 requires explanation. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
interim fulfilment, reaping shame, undated future, parallel oracle, interpretative addition, divine hostility, announcement formula, simple waw, person singular feminine, professing people, ten stairs, divine reaction, emphatic pronoun, universal proclamation, world remnant, divine restraint, shadowy ones, eschatological day, lofty city, exodus motif, dire vision, individual resurrection Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Old Testament, Anointed One, God of Israel, Holy One of Israel, Lord Jesus, Red Sea, Servant Song, Mount Zion, Second Isaiah, New Testament, Israel's God, Assyrian Empire, Tyndale Press, Anointed Conqueror, Day of Atonement, God the Creator, Holy Spirit, Dead Sea, Isaiah's Hebrew, Lord God, Spirit of God, Lord's Spirit, Song of Solomon New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The fact that the call of Isaiah to be a prophet is not recorded until chapter 6 requires explanation. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
interim fulfilment, reaping shame, undated future, parallel oracle, interpretative addition, divine hostility, announcement formula, simple waw, person singular feminine, professing people, ten stairs, divine reaction, emphatic pronoun, universal proclamation, world remnant, divine restraint, shadowy ones, eschatological day, lofty city, exodus motif, dire vision, individual resurrection Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Old Testament, Anointed One, God of Israel, Holy One of Israel, Lord Jesus, Red Sea, Servant Song, Mount Zion, Second Isaiah, New Testament, Israel's God, Assyrian Empire, Tyndale Press, Anointed Conqueror, Day of Atonement, God the Creator, Holy Spirit, Dead Sea, Isaiah's Hebrew, Lord God, Spirit of God, Lord's Spirit, Song of Solomon New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 49
books:
See all 49 books this book cites
- Second Isaiah (T&T Clark Study Guides) by Norman R. Whybray in Front Matter, page 346, and page 375
- Zephaniah: A Prophetic Drama (JSOT Supplement) in Front Matter, page 206, and page 419
- Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, Vol 15 by G. Johannes Botterweck on page 158, and page 345
- Unity of the Twelve (JSOT Supplement) by Paul R. House in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Book of Common Prayer (1979, Personal Size Economy, Black) by The Episcopal Church in Front Matter, and page 230
See all 49 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
