Paul and Isaiah’s Servants: Paul’s Theological Reading of Isaiah 40–66 in 2 Corinthians 5:14–6:10

by Mark Gignilliat

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 2007

Overview

Paul’s reading of the Old Testament witnesses to the significance of the Old Testament from a specifically Christian way. This study argues that a theological approach to understanding Paul’s appeal to and reading of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, offers important insights into the ways in which Christians should read the Old Testament and a two-testament canon today. By way of example, this study explores the ways in which Isaiah 40–66’s canonical form presents the gospel in miniature with its movement from Israel to Servant to servants. Paul follows this literary movement in his own theological reflection in 2 Corinthians 5:14–6:10. Jesus takes on the unique role and identity of the Servant of Isaiah 40–55, and Paul takes on the role of the servants of the Servant in Isaiah 53–66. Based on this exegetical exploration, Gignilliat asks if Paul the sensus plenior of Scripture. Does Paul’s reading of the Old Testament look anything like a plain sense reading? Gignilliat concludes that Paul is reading the Old Testament in such a way that the literal sense and its figural potential and capacity are not divorced but are actually organically linked in what can be termed a “plain sense” reading.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Isaiah in its final canonical form informs our reading of Paul, and Paul’s eschatological situation informs our reading of Isaiah. Therefore, Isaiah’s final form will be taken seriously and, equally so, Paul’s eschatologically Christocentric reading will be addressed.” (Page 2)

“its attendant key figures (the Servant and the servants of the Servant) on Paul’s thought in 2 Cor. 5:14–6:10” (Page 2)

“For Kim, on the other hand, Paul’s Damascus-road experience is the origin of Paul’s ‘reconciliation’ language” (Page 43)

“ancient text in the new eschatological reality of God’s activity in Christ and in this sense is like midrash” (Page 11)

“interpretation of a canonical text within the context and for the religious purposes of a community” (Page 9)

Product Details

• Title: Paul and Isaiah’s Servants: Paul’s Theological Reading of Isaiah 40–66 in 2 Corinthians 5:14–6:10
• Author: Mark Gignilliat
• Series: Library of New Testament Studies
• Volume: 330
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Print Publication Date: 2007
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. 2 Corinthians › Criticism, interpretation, etc
• ISBNs: 0567044831, 9780567044839
• Resource ID: LLS:PLSHSSRVNTSPLST
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:15:29Z

About Mark Gignilliat

Mark Gignilliat (Ph.D., University of St. Andrews) is Professor of Divinity Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Alabama and teaches Hebrew, Old Testament exegesis and Old Testament theology. His most recently published Reading Scripture Canonically: Theological Instincts for Old Testament Interpretation and Micah in the International Theological Commentary. His other books include A Brief History of Old Testament Criticism and Karl Barth and the Fifth Gospel. Additionally, he has articles published in Scottish Journal of Theology, Horizons in Biblical Theology, Westminster Theological Journal, Biblica, and The Journal for Theological Interpretation. He also serves as the canon theologian at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama.