Isaiah (Westminster Bible Companion) (Volume 2, Chapters 40-66) (Paperback)

by Walter Brueggemann (Author) "The book of Isaiah is like a mighty oratorio whereby Israel sings its story of faith..." (more)
Key Phrases: salvation oracle, torah obedience, poetic unit, Holy One of Israel, God of Israel, Old Testament (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664257917
• ISBN-13: 978-0664257910
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,395 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A recommended addition to any biblical library., March 28, 1999

By	Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Isaiah (Westminster Bible Companion) (Volume 1, Chapters 1-39) (Paperback)

Judgement and Promise - the book of Isaiah is pregnant with both and Walter Brueggemann is the textual midwife. Brueggemann (Professor of Old Testament Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta) is first and foremost a theologian of the text, and his theology emanates from scripture. After a lifetime of devotion as a scholar of Biblical text, Brueggemann sees God living and flowing through, in and under the scripture.

Throughout the Old Testament, and clearly in Isaiah, Brueggemann's God is an entangled God. A God who purposely embroils Himself in the affairs of a despairing and divergent world. Isaiah is God's ordained messenger, sent to challenge, critique and criticize the false security and faith in Israel's society. Isaiah begs them to realize their doomed destiny. He is calling out relentlessly to Judah, plaintively petitioning them to beware of the impending apocalypse. Yet, the people, steeped in religion, and mesmerized by the glitter of their materialistic well being is no longer capable of scrutinizing the incongruities, ambiguities and contradictions that shackles them and leads them towards captivity.

In Bruggemann's commentary Isaiah saw a time of darkness and despair, where doom was inevitable and the eyes of the people of Israel, especially the religious and political leaders of Judah, were blind. This was a time when the people called by God, redeemed by God, actively rejected God. Death and destruction were to follow. Jerusalem would fall. The temple would be leveled in 587 B.C.E. Yet for all of this Isaiah did not leave the people without hope (Isaiah 40-66); for he saw a time when promise would follow judgement. He prophecies of a time for the people of God when peace, spiritual prosperity and a new beginning would come.

Walter Brueggemann excels in his ability to illuminate the text and truth for his readers. As he exegetes the scripture, laying bear its truth and its relevancy to us today, he calls for the reader to draw their own conclusions about the application of the text to today's world. His commentary on Isaiah is scholarly, but not densely academic. It breaths new life into ancient texts. Isaiah 1-39 by Walter Brueggeman is a recommended addition to any biblical library, and a must for any student of Isaiah.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Isaiah Commentary out there!, March 28, 2008

By	ckw (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews

Brueggeman is excellent as usual in this Isaiah commentary that stands out among the other Westminster commentaries. This commentary has more interesting ideas, helpful information, and a very clear, logical outline for the layperson to follow. Much more accessible than the Isaiah commentaries put out by Interpretation and Word.