The Cycle of Hardening and Healing: A Thematic Study of Obduracy in the Book of Isaiah.
The commission to harden the hearts of the people of God, which the prophet Isaiah receives in Isaiah 6:9-11, leaves many Christians perplexed and bewildered. However, the overall context of the theme of hardening in the Book of Isaiah is frequently overlooked, especially given that the theme occurs...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Amsterdam University Press
2024
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| In: |
European journal of theology
Year: 2024, Volume: 33, Issue: 1, Pages: 4-22 |
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament NBC Doctrine of God NBE Anthropology |
| Further subjects: | B
Forgiveness
B hardening B Fortschreibung B obduracy B Blindness B Healing B Perception B Isaiah B Servant |
| Online Access: |
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| Summary: | The commission to harden the hearts of the people of God, which the prophet Isaiah receives in Isaiah 6:9-11, leaves many Christians perplexed and bewildered. However, the overall context of the theme of hardening in the Book of Isaiah is frequently overlooked, especially given that the theme occurs in all three parts of the book: First, Second and Third Isaiah. Remarkably, the commission to harden the hearts does not come at the beginning of the book, but only after a description of the sin of God’s people. This sin forms the basis for God’s decision to bring judgement. Devastating as the consequences are, they are restricted to the destruction of the land (Isa 6:11). The time of exile is a time of forgiveness and the opportunity to turn back and repent (Isa 40:1-2). While the hardening caused by God is over, the people of God are still under its effect, as is described in Isaiah 42:18-25. While some take the opportunity to repent and return, others persist and return to their hardened state. The agony of this situation for the group of the faithful is described in Isaiah 63:17. Overall, the Book of Isaiah contains a cycle of sin - hardening - judgement - repentance. |
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| ISSN: | 2666-9730 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: European journal of theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.5117/EJT2024.1.002.KOHL |