OBST 661 Book Analysis
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINAR
BOOK ANALYSIS: The Gospel According to Isaiah 53
Submitted to George Carraway; Professor of Biblical studies
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
OBST 661
Isaiah
By
Stephanie Hatfield
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CONTENTS
I.
Introduction
3
II.
Individual Servant and His Mission
4
III.
Individual and Corporate Servants
4-5
IV.
Key Passages
5
V.
Book Contributions
5
VI.
The New Testament and Individual servant
6
VII.
Bibliography
7
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Introduction
Isaiah 53 is one of the subjects of controversies in the Bible because of the mysterious
identity of the described servant. The different interpretations of the chapter prompt further contextual and historical exploration to determine whether Isaiah refers to Jesus or the Nation
of Israel. However, the puzzle is yet to be solved because each interested camp has different interpretations. On one hand, the Jewish interpretation rejects Jesus as the despised and excluded servant of God. On the other hand, Christians interpret the chapter as a reference to Jesus because he is tortured and afflicted because of the sins of the world. Even though the Jewish and Christianity differ on the identity of the savior in Isaiah 53, Jesus appears to fit with the description because he is arrested, tortured, and crucified by Roman authorities in collaboration with the Jewish leadership. There is ample evidence to support the identity of the primary identity of the servant being Jesus Christ. The purpose of this book analysis is to identify the servant in Isaiah 53 and to shed light on the relationship between the Messiah and
the servant. The Corporate Servant
The corporate servant in Isaiah 53 is the Nation of Israel because God constantly refers to it as its tender plant that he must ensure it blossoms. Therefore, the early Jewish community expected God to send a servant who would assist them in overcoming their enemies, who were threatening their lives constantly.
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It was the same with the early church, according to the Book of Act 8:30-35, because it believed the servant in Isaiah 53 was a messiah for the Nation of Israel. The early Jewish and Christian communities agreed on the identity of the servant, but with further interpretation of the chapter, new ideas emerged. In the 12th century, the interpretation of Isaiah 53 refers to the Nation of Israel because it was 1
Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, The Gospel According to Isaiah 53: Encountering the Suffering Servant in Jewish and Christian Theology (Kregel Academic, n.d), 26.
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despised and afflicted by surrounding nations, such as Babylon, Assyria, and Philistines. However, God promises to lift his corporate servant and use it as the salvation of the world. Individual Servant and His Mission
The interpretation of Isaiah 53 by Christians emphasizes the individual servant is Christ. In Isaiah (53:1-3), the individual servant has no beauty, is despised and excluded, and is afflicted with relentless sorrows. Christians have no other explanation because the description fits the events of Jesus Christ when he was on earth. Jesus suffered under the hands of the Roman government and their Jewish collaborators. Before then, the verses promise that God would ensure the individual servant grows as a tender plant that must blossom amid all the sufferings. According to Luke (2:52), Jesus grew as a physically fit young man respected and honored by God and men in equal measure. Therefore, Christians have no other way to interpret Isaiah chapter 53 but maintain it refers to Jesus. However, Christians struggle to explain the appearance of Jesus as ugly and unappealing since no record of such an image appears in the New Testament. Individual and Corporate Servants
The individual servant is Jesus, as identified by Christians and theologists, while the corporate one is the Nation of Israel as emphasized by the Jewish community. According to Isaiah (53:4-6), the individual servant is unlike the corporate servant because he bears the transgression of the many without complaint. Therefore, he endures physical torture and punishment to carry the sins of the entire world. The individual servant suffers whipping, but God guarantees to heal them. Mark (15:15) confirms that the Roman and Jewish authorities arrested Jesus and subjected him to whipping before resolving to crucify him. But before the event, Mathew (8:16-17) suggests the wounds will heal, while I Peter (2:24-25) stresses spiritual healing rather than physical recovery of the suffering. The scriptures associate the
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individual servant with the redemption of the masses, while Isaiah associates with stray sheep
as the Nation of Israel because it used to disregard the will of God and indulge in sin. Key Passages
“The opening lines (52:13) have pointed us toward this largest question— See, my servant, will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. The natural question is, “Why will the servant be highly exalted?”.
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This passage of the book provokes the consideration of how a servant is treated. In most cases, a servant is never treated as a family member because the goal is served and receives a reward. Therefore, the passage influences the thinking that Isaiah chapter 53 is about Jesus as the prophesied redeemer. Another passage confirms the servant’s life matches Jesus' existence, “Beyond these explicit references, you could also show that the whole of Jesus’ life parallels the circumstances of the servant”.
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The passage concurs that Isaiah 53 is about Jesus Christ because he is despised,
excluded, and crucified together with criminals, but the healing hand of God resurrects him and welcomes him to glory. Books Contribution
“The Gospel According to Isaiah 53” opens the eyes of a reader because it deepens understanding of the controversial chapter. In this case, it explains how individuals and corporations differ and the consequences. For instance, the Jewish community disparages the suffering of Christ because he was not the Messiah anticipated to save the Nation from the Roman Empire. On the contrary, Christians revere the passion of Christ because it is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies.
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The book helps to understand the two perspectives and guides the readers in making appropriate interpretations. Readers understand the individual 2
Richard E. Averbeck, Christian Interpretations Of Isaiah 53 (n.d), 30.
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Ibid. 30 4
Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, The Gospel According to Isaiah 53: Encountering the Suffering Servant in Jewish and Christian Theology (Kregel Academic, n.d), 78.
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servant’s life parallels the life of Jesus and the unfortunate events surrounding his life during the Roman Empire’s domination of the Nation of Israel. The New Testament and Individual servant
Isaiah (53:7-9) describes the suffering of the individual servant as matching with the ones explained in the New Testament. For instance, Isaiah says that the servant will be placed
next to the wicked people, and Luke (23:32-33) confirms Jesus was placed in the same location with evil-doers. Moreover, Isaiah prophesies that the servant will be buried in a rich man’s grave. Mathew (27:57-60) confirms the prophecy because one of the wealthy men took
Jesus' body and laid it to rest in the prophesied tomb. The similarities between the life of Jesus and the described servant prove Isaiah talked of Christ.
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Therefore, the rational option ought to be the suffering servant is none other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In conclusion, even though the Jewish and Christianity differ on the identity of the savior in Isaiah 53, Jesus appears to fit with the description because he is arrested, tortured, and crucified by Roman authorities in collaboration with the Jewish leadership. The New Testament records, especially the Gospels, confirm that Jesus was prophesied in the chapter. Jesus suffered many persecutions before being guided to the cross without having committed any sin. However, the suffering was intended for the salvation of the world because God healed the wounds and raised Jesus to significant glory. The Jewish and Christian interpretations are rational. Therefore, it is recommended to research further to discover more
reasons why the two camps maintain their stance. Bibliography
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EW, "Enduring Word Bible Commentary Isaiah Chapter 53," Enduring Word, last modified March 13, 2023, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-53/.
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Averbeck, Richard E.
Christian Interpretations Of Isaiah 53.
n.d.
Bock, Darrell L., and Mitch Glaser.
The Gospel According to Isaiah 53: Encountering the Suffering Servant in Jewish and Christian Theology
. Kregel Academic, n.d.
EW. "Enduring Word Bible Commentary Isaiah Chapter 53." Enduring Word. Last modified
March 13, 2023. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-53/.