The Resurrected Servant in Isaiah

Praise for The Resurrected Servant in Isaiah

John Barry’s exegesis of Isaiah 52:13­-53:12, a crucial text for Christian apologetics, is brilliant: well researched and cogently argued. Step by step he convincingly demonstrates that the prophet proclaims to the Babylonian exiles an individual servant who offers his life as a sin offering and is raised from the dead. His book will be my first port of call when studying this great text.

—Bruce Waltke, Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary and co-author of An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax and An Old Testament Theology

Few passages in the Bible can rival the suffering Servant Song of Isaiah 53 for inspiring both wonder and controversy. Yet John Barry’s monograph is one of the few books in the last thirty years to re-examine its range of interpretations and to challenge the views held by leading scholars. This is a must-read for all interested in a vigorous argument that, even within the horizons of the Old Testament itself, the most coherent reading of verses 10-12 is that this servant is an individual who, by virtue of his bearing the sin of 'the many' as a sacrificial offering, shall see 'light' in his resurrection from death.

—Craig C. Broyles, Professor, Religious Studies, Trinity Western University and co-editor of Writing and Reading the Scroll of Isaiah

John Barry is that rare individual who is both a good scholar and a good writer. His work on resurrection in the book of Isaiah is both well written and raises and answers many intriguing questions. No one who desires to study the Jewish understanding of the resurrection before the New Testament can afford to bypass this work.

—Samuel Lamerson, Dean of Faculty and Professor of New Testament at Knox Theological Seminary

John Barry’s forthcoming book on the 'servant' in Isaiah offers a fresh look at the question of the identity of the so-called servant and his suffering. In a scholarly debate dominated for several decades by Orlinsky and Whybray, Barry works within the data of the text itself to suggest an alternative interpretation. He claims that the prophetic oracle foretells a resurrection of the suffering servant centuries before the New Testament would make the identical claim. Restricting his research to the four corners of the Isaiah document itself, Barry offers a cogent, well written, and very well researched argument that invites a new look at the role of Isaianic prophecy in the history of the tradition of suffering servant interpretation.

—Warren A. Gage, Th.M., J.D., Ph.D. Professor of Old Testament and Christianity and Culture at Knox Theological Seminary

John Barry makes an intriguing and appealing case that the mysterious ‘suffering servant’ in Isaiah fulfills his vocation through resurrection. Barry engages the contrary established arguments of Orlinsky and Whybray in depth and detail, and counters them by applying the insights of participatory reference discourse analysis to a close reading of Isaiah 52:13–53:12 in its final form. Readers of The Resurrected Servant in Isaiah will rediscover the hope of resurrection that was alive among the Judean exiles as they looked forward to restoration and reconciliation with their God.

—Christopher R. Smith, author of After Chapters and Verses and consulting editor of The Books of The Bible: A Presentation of Today's New International Version

Given that many question or outright deny that Jesus could be the Servant of Isaiah 52–3, it is no surprise that Christians struggle to understand why Christ would rebuke His contemporaries for failing to understand the Scriptures. In The Resurrected Servant, Barry provides a detailed investigation of an important disputed element of the longest Servant Song, namely, was the Servant resurrected? Without rancor and in irenic fashion, Barry answers, Yes, the Servant did rise from the dead. Though Barry avoids specifically identifying the Servant, Christians will easily be able to connect the Servant to Christ. Those wishing to engage the exegetical evidence should not neglect this text.

—Stephen M. Vantassel, Dean of Students in Theology, King’s Evangelical Divinity School

John Barry provides a thoughtful and nuanced discussion of the shifting identities and roles of the servants within Isaiah 40–55. In contrast to many recent studies he demonstrates that the servant of Isaiah 52:13­–53:12 is likely an individual. This book will be helpful to anyone interested in the servant passages of Isaiah.

—Charles Halton, Instructor of Old Testament Interpretation, Southern Seminary

Is reading resurrection in the words of Isaiah 53:10-12 merely 'a view imposed upon the text by Christian theologians'? Not so says John D. Barry, in this rethinking of Isaiah 52:13-53:12. By challenging a long-held assumption, he offers here a bold reassessment of the prophet’s enigmatic servant language that rewards careful reading and is sure to re-energize conversations about this long-contested passage.

—Michael J. Gilmour, Providence College (Canada), author of The Significance of Parallels Between 2 Peter and Other Early Christian Literature