Isaiah

Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary Isaiah and the New Testament

The New Testament quotes Isaiah more than all the other prophets together, and does so in such a way as to leave no room for doubt that the New Testament writers, and the Lord Jesus, took Isaiah to be the author of the whole book that bears his name

Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Backdrop to the Ministry of Isaiah: The Author’s Preface (1–5)

Thus, the ‘preface’ can be summarized as follows. First is the heading (1:1). Then 1:2–31 is roundly condemnatory of what the Lord’s sons have become: rebellious (2), corrupt (4), chastened (5–6), shattered (7–8), religiously unacceptable (10–15) and degenerate (21–23). This is not, however, the whole story: for the Lord has not abandoned (9) and will not abandon (25–28) his people. Nevertheless, the beginning of the preface is effectively a declaration that ‘You are not what you ought to have been’.