Isaiah (Believers Church Bible Commentary | BCBC)
Overview
Ivan Friesen explores how the interpretation of the book of Isaiah is carried out and lived out today in faith communities where the Bible is the bedrock of faith and life. Such an interpretation combines the concerns of pastoral care with the distress and uncertainty of prophetic action.
The commentary groups the sixty-six chapters of Isaiah into six distinct but continuous parts. Each part may be explored as one might explore the room of a house. The furnishings (themes) in each room are different, but the decor (structure) of the house combines to lend to the book an overall unity of purpose. The architecture of the book as a whole has distinct features that include words of judgment as well as words of promise announcing a new day dawning. In this new day dawning, there are strong elements of a messianic hope.
Top Highlights
“The reference to pain of heart and anguish of spirit emphasizes the emotional suffering resulting from the discipline.” (Page 411)
“The stanza as a whole declares the soul of bona fide piety to be in implementing God’s just order. What characterizes genuine fasting is not the pursuit of self-interest, but concern for the well-being of others.” (Page 365)
“In 14:12 the KJV renders helel ben-šaḥar as Lucifer, following the Vulgate. So this passage is sometimes associated with Satan, with Lucifer as Satan’s proper name, even though the king of Babylon is clearly intended.” (Page 113)
“Thus in Isaiah 6:1 and 5 the prophet sees the Lord, but the text does not say that he sees the Lord’s ‘face’ (cf. Exod 33:23). Here too, therefore, the seeing of God is restrained and restricted.” (Page 61)
“The Lord’s holiness refers to his exaltation and therefore to his separateness from human perversity” (Page 62)
Ivan D. Friesen’s commentary is a most valuable resource. It makes no apology for its firm location in the Anabaptist tradition and its author has taken seriously various types of feedback from the Christian community. The book is a delight to read and is strongly recommended for pastors, church leaders, and anyone wishing to engage with the prophetic tradition in a way that makes for peace and for the ethical living without which communities cannot be built or sustained.
—Patricia M. McDonald, lecturer in New Testament, Ushaw College
Few things are more thrilling to a reader than authors who know their subject so intimately that they seem to inhabit the world they write about. This is the case with Ivan Friesen’s commentary on Isaiah. Friesen’s portrayal of the mind of the prophet is truly insightful. Friesen’s insights into the text are written in such simple and rhythmic prose that they make the Word of God come to life for any serious reader.
—John D. Rempel, Professor of Theology and Anabaptist Studies, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Ivan Friesen’s commentary portrays so beautifully Isaiah’s astonishing vision of just peace—a vision that encompasses not only the people of Israel, but all the nations and, indeed, all creation. Friesen’s commentary is a powerful call to the church today to embrace and embody the ancient message of Isaiah to practice justice and pursue peace. My hope is that readers will take this call to heart.
—Esther Epp-Tiessen, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Title: Believers Church Bible Commentary: Isaiah
- Author: Ivan D. Friesen
- Publisher: Herald Press
- Publication Date: 2009
- Pages: 480
