The Book of Isaiah and God's Kingdom: A Thematic-Theological Approach

2016 | Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences

The book of Isaiah has nourished the church throughout the centuries. However, its massive size can be intimidating; its historical setting canseem distant, opaque, varied; its organization and composition can seem disjointed and fragmented; its abundance of terse, poetic language can make its message seem veiled - and where are those explicit prophecies about Christ? These are typical experiences for many who try to read, let alone teach or preach, through Isaiah.Andrew Abernethy's conviction is that thematic points of reference can be of great help in encountering Isaiah and its rich theological message. In view of what the structure of the book of Isaiah aims to emphasize, he employs the concept of 'kingdom' as an entry point for organizing the book's major themes. In many respects, Isaiah provides a people living amidst imperial contexts with a theological interpretation of them in the light of YHWH's past, present and future sovereign reign.Four features of 'kingdom' frame Abernethy's study: God, the King; the lead agents of the King; the realm of the kingdom and the people of the King.

While his primary aim is to show how 'kingdom' is fundamental to Isaiah when understood within its Old Testament context, interspersed canonical reflections assist those who are wrestling with how to read Isaiah as Christian Scripture in and for the church.

Andrew T. Abernethy (Author)