The Fifth Gospel Isaiah in the History of Christianity [Paperback]

New type of commentary on Isaiah's continuing influence on language and imagery.Showing how Isaiah has been used by Christians in all kinds of contexts up to the present, this text provides insight into his influence, from the cult of the Virgin Mary and anti-Semitism to Christian feminism and liberation theology, with full documentation and illustrations.Showing how Isaiah has been used by Christians in all kinds of contexts up to the present, this text provides insight into his influence, from the cult of the Virgin Mary and anti-Semitism to Christian feminism and liberation theology, with full documentation and illustrations.This is a new type of commentary on some of the most familiar language and imagery in the Bible, showing how Isaiah has been used by Christians in all kinds of contexts up to the present. There is much interest in reader-response, the history of interpretation and the sociology of sacred texts--in what the text does as much as what it means. With full documentation and illustrations, Sawyer gives an insight into Isaiah's influence, from the cult of the Virgin Mary and anti-Semitism to Christian feminism and liberation theology.1. Introduction; 2. Isaiah and Christian origins; 3. The early Church; 4. The cult of the Virgin Mary; 5. The Man of Sorrows; 6. Isaiah and the Jews; 7. The Reformation; 8. The Evangelical tradition; 9. Isaiah in literature and music; 10. The quest for the historical Isaiah; 11. Women and Isaiah; 12. The peaceable kingdom; 13. Conclusion. ...Sawyer's new book is unusually important for at least two reasons. In the first place Sawyer presents a fascinating survey of the book of Isaiah's contribution to Christian history....At the same time, Sawyer pushes the boundaries of traditional biblical studies by pursuing Isaiah in terms not of its original meanings, but of its influence as Christian literature....one can easily lose oneself in the sheer volume of evidence Sawyer introduces. In this case, losing oneself can be a jlÃ%