Isaiah is a remarkable book, renowned for its rhetorical power, vivid imagery, sweeping historical vision, stinging rebuke of injustice and glorious vision of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah is quoted extensively in the New Testament, and it has continued to captivate Christian interpreters in every generation since. Jerome called Isaiah “not only a prophet, but an evangelist and apostle.”

This summer I’m teaching a class on Isaiah. It’s part of Talbot’s new MA in Classical Theology degree. Each week we’ll listen to a chorus of major expositors, who will tune our ears to the voice of Isaiah as he speaks by the Holy Spirit.

We’ll listen in particular to:

  1. Scholar-translator Jerome (c. 342-420)
  2. Champion of orthodox Christology Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444)
  3. Dominican mastermind Thomas Aquinas (1225-74)
  4. Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546)
  5. Leading evangelical expositor Alec Motyer (1924-2016)

We’ll also hear from Irenaeus, Origen, Eusebius, Chrysostom, Calvin, Robert Lowth, Franz Delitzsch, Brevard Childs, John Oswalt, and Ray Ortlund Jr. The Spanish rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra (1089-1167) will play counterpoint.

These interpreters come from across the centuries and cultures of the Christian church, and they bring to the interpretive task a wide variety of perspectives and a deep spiritual wisdom that comes from long experience with the Lord and his word. They will accompany us, in Socratic seminar, in our own pursuit of understanding the prophet. My prayer is that the Lord will use their labors to open our eyes to the wonders of Isaiah.

Applications to Talbot’s MA in Classical Theology are open. Perhaps you would consider joining us?

We’ve also posted about recent MACT classes on The Triune God, Christology, Augustine, Romans, and Ephesians.