Evidence of One Writer

There is strong reason to maintain that the book of Isaiah is the word of just one writer.  One line of evidence pertains to consistency of expression.  For example, the phrase "the Holy One of Israel" is found 12 times in Isaiah chapters 1 to 39 and 13 times in Isaiah chapters 40 to 66, yet this description of Jehovah  appears only 6 times in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures.  The repeated use of this otherwise infrequently used expression argues for unity of writer ship of Isaiah.

There are other similarities between Isaiah chapter 1 to 39  and chapters 40 to 66.  Both portions contain frequent usage of the same distinctive figures of speech, such as a woman with birth pains and a "way" or a "highway." There is also repeated reference to "Zion," a term that is used 29 times in chapters 1to 39 and 18 times in chapters 40 and 66.  In fact, Zion is referred to more in Isaiah than  in any other Bible book! Such evidences, notes The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "stamp the book with an individuality which it is difficult to account for" if the book was written by two, three, or more writers. 

The strongest evidence that the book of Isaiah had just one writer is found in the inspired Christian Greek Scriptures.  These clearly indicate that first-century Christians believed that the book of Isaiah was the work of one writer.  Luke, for example, tells  of an Ethiopian official who was reading material that is now found  in Isaiah chapter 53, the very portion that modern-day critics ascribe to Deutero-Isaiah, Luke, however, says that  the Ethiopian was "reading aloud the prophet Isaiah." -Acts 8L26-28.

Next consider the Gospel writer Matthew, who explains how the ministry of John the Baptizer fulfilled the prophetic words that we now find at Isaiah 40:3.  To whom does Matthew attribute the prophecy?  An unknown Deutero-Isaiah?  No, he identifies the writer simply as "Isaiah the prophet."  (Matthew 3:1-3) On another occasion, Jesus read from a scroll the words we now find at Isaiah 61:1, 2.  In relating the account, Luke states:  "The  scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him." (Luke 4:17)  In his letter to the Romans, Paul refers to both the earlier and the later portions of Isaiah, yet never does he even hint that the writer was anyone other than the same person, Isaiah.  (Romans 10:16, 20; 15:12) Clearly first-century Christians did not believe that the book of Isaiah was the work of two, three or more penmen.


Next time: Conclusion of Evidence of One Writer

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001