The Story-Line of Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect LESSON 4: ISAIAH AS A RESOURCE FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE BIRTH OF JESUS The Christian prophetic story-line continues beyond Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and Nathan to Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is perhaps the most frequently recited Hebrew Bible book in the New Testament. (If so, the Psalms are a close second). The book of Isaiah is perhaps the most frequently recited Hebrew Bible book in the New Testament. (If so, the Psalms are a close second). Verses in Isaiah function as resources for many events in the Christian story. This lesson will explore the use of Isaiah in Christian prophetic rhetorolect for the “beginnings” of the story of Jesus, namely John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus. Lesson 5 will explore the use of Isaiah for the adult life of Jesus.  Click for a voice crying out in Isaiah.

Hebrew Bible Resource: A VOICE CRIES OUT IN ISAIAH Isaiah tells Israel that a voice cries out, preparing the way for Israel to return from exile in Babylon through the wilderness to Jerusalem.  Click for the voice crying out to Israel.

Hebrew Bible Resource: A VOICE CRIES OUT IN ISAIAH Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Adonai in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God.”  Click for Christian prophetic rhetorolect about the voice.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT, PUNCTUATING ISAIAH 40:3 SO THE VOICE ITSELF IS IN THE WILDERNESS, INTERPRETS THE VERSE AS PREDICTING THE COMING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST BEFORE JESUS  Click for next slide.

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW PRESENTS THE VOICE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST PARALLEL WITH THE VOICE OF ISAIAH  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: GOSPEL OF MATTHEW PRESENTS THE VOICE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST PARALLEL WITH THE VOICE OF ISAIAH Matthew 3:1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 3:2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.” (read Matthew 3:1-12) Matthew 3:1-12Matthew 3:1-12  Click for an angel in Exodus and a messenger in Malachi.

Hebrew Bible Resource: AN ANGEL IN EXODUS AND A MESSENGER IN MALACHI In the book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible, an angel goes before Moses, leading the people of Israel through the wilderness toward the land of Canaan. The prophetic book of Malachi in the Hebrew Bible revises the Exodus verse to refer to a messenger who prepares the way for the Lord God to come to the Jerusalem temple on “the day of his coming.”  Click for an angel and messenger in Exodus and Malachi.

Hebrew Bible Resource: THE ANGEL IN EXODUS 23:20 AND THE MESSENGER IN MALACHI 3:1 Exodus 23:20 “Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.” (read Exodus 23:20-33) Exodus 23:20-33Exodus 23:20-33 Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Adonai of Armies. (read Malachi 3:1-12) Malachi 3:1-12Malachi 3:1-12  Click for the blending of these verses with Isaiah 40:3 in Mark 1.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK BLENDS THE ANGEL IN EXODUS 23:20 AND THE MESSENGER IN MALACHI 3:1 WITH THE VOICE IN ISAIAH 40:3, REFERRING TO THE BLEND OF VERSES AS “WRITTEN IN THE PROPHET ISAIAH”  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: READ THE BLEND OF EXODUS 23:20, MALACHI 3:1, AND ISAIAH 40:3 IN GOSPEL OF MARK Mark 1:2-4: As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare you way before you. (Exodus 23:20; Malachi 3:1) Exodus 23:20Malachi 3:1Exodus 23:20Malachi 3:1 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’” (Isaiah 40:3) Isaiah 40:3Isaiah 40:3 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. (read Mark 1:1-8) Mark 1:1-8Mark 1:1-8  Click for the voice in the Gospel of Luke.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE RECITES ISAIAH 40:3-5 IN RELATION TO JOHN THE BAPTIST  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: THE VOICE OF ISAIAH 40 in Luke 3 Luke 3:2 During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3:3 He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. 3:5 Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. 3:6 All flesh will see salvation.’” (read Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 3:1-18) Isaiah 40:3-5Luke 3:1-18Isaiah 40:3-5Luke 3:1-18  Click for the voice in the Gospel of John.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS JOHN THE BAPTIST RECITING ISAIAH 40:3 TO INTERPRET HIS IDENTITY AS “THE VOICE”  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: JOHN THE BAPTIST INTERPRETS HIMSELF AS “THE VOICE” IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN John 1:22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 1:23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” (read John 1:19-28) John 1:19-28John 1:19-28  Click for Isaiah as a Hebrew Bible resource for Jesus’ birth.

Hebrew Bible Resource Isaiah 7 speaks of a young woman bearing a son before Israel’s exile to Babylonia.  Click to read about the birth of a son to a young woman in Israel.

Hebrew Bible Resource: A YOUNG WOMAN SHALL BEAR A SON Isaiah 7:10 Adonai spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 7:11 “Ask a sign of Adonai your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” 7:12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, neither will I tempt Adonai.” 7:13 He said, “Listen now, house of David. Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also? 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the young woman will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  Click for continuation of the birth of a son.

Hebrew Bible Resource: A YOUNG WOMAN SHALL BEAR A SON cont. Isaiah 7:15 He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 7:16 For before the child knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken. 7:17 Adonai will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. (read Isaiah 7) Isaiah 7Isaiah 7  Click to read Christian prophetic rhetorolect that uses Isaiah 7 as a resource.

CHRISTIAN PROPHETIC RHETOROLECT IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW USES THE GREEK SEPTUAGINT VERSION OF ISAIAH 7 TO INTERPRET THE “YOUNG WOMAN” AS A “VIRGIN”  Click for next slide.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: AN ANGEL TELLS JOSEPH THAT THE VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON Matthew 1:20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 1:21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 1:22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel”; which is, being interpreted, “God is with us.” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25) Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:18-25Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:18-25  Click for Isaiah 7 as a resource for Christian prophetic rhetorolect in the Gospel of Luke.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: AN ANGEL TELLS MARY THAT SHE, THOUGH A VIRGIN, WILL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”  Click for continuation of Isaiah 7 as a resource for Christian prophetic rhetorolect in the Gospel of Luke.

Christian Prophetic Rhetorolect: AN ANGEL TELLS MARY THAT SHE, THOUGH A VIRGIN, WILL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON Luke 1:34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 1:35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” (read Luke 1:26-38) Luke 1:26-38Luke 1:26-38  Click for Isaiah 7 as a resource for Christian prophetic rhetorolect in the Gospel of Luke.

Good Work! In this lesson you have learned that: Christian prophetic rhetorolect punctuates Isaiah 40:3 so the voice itself is in the wilderness and thus interprets the verse as predicting the coming of John the Baptist before Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew presents the voice of John the Baptist in parallel with the voice of Isaiah. The Gospel of Mark blends the angel in Exodus 23:20 and the messenger in Malachi 3:1 with the voice in Isaiah 40:3, referring to the blend of verses as “written in the prophet Isaiah.” The Gospel of Luke recites Isaiah 40:3-5 in relation to John the Baptist.  Click to continue the summary.

Excellent! The Gospel of John presents John the Baptist himself reciting Isaiah 40:3 to identify himself as “the voice.” Christian prophetic rhetorolect in the Gospel of Matthew uses the Greek Septuagint version of Isaiah 7 to interpret the “young woman” as a “virgin.” In the Gospel of Luke, the angel tells Mary she will conceive and bear a son, even though she is a virgin.  Click to continue the summary.

Congratulations!!!! THIS WAS THE FOURTH LESSON on the Christian Prophetic Story-Line. Every good wish as you continue with Lesson 5, which continues with words of the prophet Isaiah as a resource for Jesus’ adult activity.