This study offers a critical assessment of the two contested issues, religious pluralism and iconoclasm, from a Korean perspective by looking at a number of Isaiah's central themes, which can be identified as particularistic and universalistic. It also seeks to elucidate the contemporary implications of Isaiah's particularistic and universalistic themes for a pluralistic world, especially for Korean religious communities, which have been overwhelmed by a fiery debate about these issues.

How does Christianity relate to other religions? Beginning with a consideration of the biblical perspective, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen offers a detailed and comprehensive survey of the diverse explanations proposed by teachers of the church down through the ages. This indispensable guide is for anyone seeking to grasp Christianity?s relationship to world religions.

The book of Isaiah is without doubt one of the most important books in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, as evidenced by its pride of place in both Jewish and Christian traditions as well as in art and music. Most people, scholars and laity alike, are familiar with the words of Isaiah accompanied by the magnificent tones of Handel's 'Messiah'. Isaiah is also one of the most complex books due to its variety and plurality, and it has accordingly been the focus of scholarly debate for the last 2000 years. Divided into eight sections, The Oxford Handbook of Isaiah constitutes a collection of essays on one of the longest books in the Bible. They cover different aspects regarding the formation, interpretations, and reception of the book of Isaiah, and also offer up-to-date information in an attractive and easily accessible format. The result does not represent a unified standpoint; rather the individual contributions mirror the wide and varied spectrum of scholarly engagement with the book. The authors of the essays likewise represent a broad range of scholarly traditions from diverse continents and religious affiliations, accompanied by comprehensive recommendations for further reading.

This work seeks to provide a critical analysis of the prophecies in the book of Isaiah that parallels the prophetic insights in the book of Revelation. The underlying question is, "To what extent has God foreordained things, especially before and during the final judgment?" The author thinks all that concerns God's majestic plan, i.e., to accomplish God's purpose for humanity, is covered in its entirety. God is highly active in foreordaining things, and whatever God foreordains shall be fulfilled in the end. Isaiah's conception of the interplay between the themes of punishment and healing is central to his eschatological trajectory. In this respect, theologically speaking, the total restoration of Israel signifies the restoration of all humankind. Such an eschatology might accommodate the notion of Christian Universalism.

Preliminary material /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Introductory Statement /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Chapter One: The Biblical Term \'Servant\' in Relation to the Lord /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Chapter Two: The So-Called \'Servant of the Lord\' Sections in Second Isaiah /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Chapter Three: The So-Called \'Suffering Servant\' and \'Vicarious Sufferer\' in Isaiah 52-53 /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Chapter Four: The Identity of the \'Servant\' in Second Isaiah /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Appendix /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Conclusions /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Bibliography /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Index of Biblical and Other References /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Index of Authors and Subjects /Harry M. Orlinsky -- Isaiah 40-66: A Study of the Teaching of the Second Isaiah and its Consequences /Norman H. Snaith -- Introduction /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter One: Isaiah 40-55 and 60-62 /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Two: The Prophet of the Return /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Three: The Nationalist /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Four: The Servant of the Lord /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Five: Exegesis of Isaiah 40-55, 60-62 /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Six: Jesus the Servant of the Lord /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Seven: Exegesis of Chapters 56-66 /Norman H. Snaith -- Chapter Eight: Jerusalem from 538 B.C. To 397 B.C. /Norman H. Snaith -- Index of Biblical References /Norman H. Snaith.

For an eye-opening understanding of Acts, readers discover clues to its structure and meaning hidden in Isaiah and the new Exodus message."

This extract from the Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible provides Barker’s introduction to and concise commentary on Isaiah. The Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible presents, in nontechnical language, the best of modern scholarship on each book of the Bible, including the Apocrypha. Reader-friendly commentary complements succinct summaries of each section of the text and will be valuable to scholars, students, and general readers. Rather than attempt a verse-by-verse analysis, these volumes work from larger sense units, highlighting the place of each passage within the overarching biblical story. Commentators focus on the genre of each text—parable, prophetic oracle, legal code, and so on—interpreting within the historical and literary context. The volumes also address major issues within each biblical book—including the range of possible interpretations—and refer readers to the best resources for further discussions.

The study deals with the theological message and composition of the Book of Isaiah and promotes a thesis that an early Jewish reception history helps us to find perspectives to understand them. This study treats the following themes among others: 1 Hezekiah as Immanuel was an important theme in the reception as can be seen in Chronicles and Ben Sira as well as in rabbinical writings. The central event which makes Hezekiah such an important figure, was the annihilation of the Assyrian army as recounted in Isaiah 36-37. 2 The Book of Isaiah was interpreted in apocalyptic milieu as the Animal Apocalypse and Daniel show. Even though the Qumran writings do not provide any coherent way to interpret Isaianic passages its textual evidence shows how the community has found from the Book of Isaiah different concepts to characterize the division of the Jewish community to the righteous and sinful ones (cf. Isa 65-66). 3 Ezra and Nehemiah received inspiration from the theological themes of Isaianic texts of Levitical singers which were later edited in the Book of Isaiah by scribes. The formation of the Book of Isaiah then went in its own way and its theology became different from that in the Book of Ezra–Nehemiah.

To Unite the Scattered Children of God is an accessible exploration of hope for the spiritual uniting of humankind, in worship and in other ways, from Isaiah on down to present times. Several prophets shared this hope: "Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people" (Zech 2:11). To an even greater degree, Jesus set in motion a universalizing power. Jesus and Paul inspired hope for the uniting of Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles into "one fold," in the "unity of the faith." The book also builds upon the work of Teilhard de Chardin regarding the convergence of the human race under the spiritual influence of Christ, the omega point of evolution. Insights from pneumatology, process theology, personalism, interfaith discussions, and world peace advocacy add to the discussion.