How Long Was Isaiah Written Before Jesus?
The book of Isaiah, one of the most significant prophetic books in the Old Testament, has long been a subject of scholarly debate regarding its composition timeline. The question of how long Isaiah was written before Jesus Christ is crucial for understanding the historical and theological context of the New Testament. This article aims to explore this topic, examining the available evidence and scholarly opinions to shed light on the duration between the writing of Isaiah and the birth of Jesus.
The book of Isaiah is traditionally divided into two parts: Isaiah 1-39 and Isaiah 40-66. The first part, known as Isaiah the Prophet, is believed to have been written by the prophet Isaiah himself during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, spanning approximately 740-681 BCE. The second part, known as Deutero-Isaiah or Second Isaiah, is attributed to a different author and is thought to have been written during the Babylonian exile, around 539-515 BCE.
The New Testament references to the book of Isaiah are primarily found in the Gospels and the letters of Paul. Jesus Christ, for instance, quotes from Isaiah 53 in Matthew 8:17 and 17:3, suggesting that He considered Isaiah’s prophecies to be fulfilled in His own ministry. This indicates that the book of Isaiah was well-known and revered by the early Christians.
Given the approximate timeline of the book of Isaiah’s composition and the historical context of the New Testament, the duration between the writing of Isaiah and the birth of Jesus can be estimated. Assuming that Isaiah the Prophet was written around 740 BCE and Jesus was born around 4 BCE, the estimated time span is approximately 740 years.
Scholars have differing opinions on the exact duration, with some suggesting that the book of Isaiah was written even earlier or later than the traditionally accepted timeline. However, the consensus among biblical scholars is that the book of Isaiah was written roughly 740 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
Understanding the time gap between the writing of Isaiah and the birth of Jesus is essential for interpreting the New Testament’s references to the Old Testament prophecies. It underscores the continuity between the Jewish and Christian faiths and highlights the fulfillment of God’s promises through the coming of Jesus Christ. By examining the historical and theological context of the book of Isaiah, we can appreciate the profound impact it had on the development of Christian theology and the understanding of Jesus’ role as the Messiah.
