 
Book Reviews The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary By J. Alec Motyer, Reviewed by Robert P. Mills Friday, February 12, 1999 |
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released by InterVarsity Press, J. Alec Motyer's commentary summarizes
30 years of studying and teaching the book of Isaiah. While his depth
and breadth of scholarship is evident throughout, Moyter's clear,
concise writing makes his work as accessible as it is informative. Addressing claims that the book of Isaiah was the work of different authors widely separated by time and place, Motyer shows that such assertions owe more to presuppositions about predictive prophecy than to any evidence within Isaiah itself. His approach to the canonical text is organized around "three Messianic portraits:" The King (1-37), The Servant (38-55) and The Anointed Conqueror (56-66). Themes that unify these sections include Israel's history and faith, the messianic hope, the motif of the city, and the Holy One of Israel. Although using the NIV as his text, Motyer is not shy about critiquing the translation (or rebuking the translators) and offering alternatives. His detailed knowledge of Hebrew affords insights that most of us would miss in our reading of the text. However, as fits the commentary's intended audience of "preachers, teachers and serious Bible students," all Hebrew references are transliterated and the more technical discussions are relegated to the footnotes. Always faithful to the text's historical context, Motyer consistently highlights Isaiah's immediate relevance to the lives of contemporary Christians. Generous cross references to Old and New Testament texts help readers connect Isaiah's work to the overarching themes of Scripture. The frequent analyses of poetic structure further illumine the sheer literary beauty of Isaiah's prophecies. The result is a highly readable, thoroughly evangelical (and at less than $20 for more than 500 pages, surprisingly moderately priced) guide to the extraordinary work of Isaiah the prophet. |
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