Date
5-2020
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Apologetics (PhD)
Chair
J. Randall Price
Keywords
Isaiah, Apologetics, Old Testament, Predictive Prophecy, Creation, Divine Intervention
Disciplines
Christianity | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Recommended Citation
Sloan, Daniel Robert, "The Use of Apologetics in the Book of Isaiah" (2020). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2451.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2451
Abstract
Isaiah used apologetics in three distinct areas: Yahweh’s creation and sovereign control (Past), Yahweh’s divine intervention in delivering Judah (present) and Yahweh as the controller of the future (Immediate, Exilic, Messianic and eschatological) to argue that Yahweh was the one true God, unique and superior to all pagan deities, to both his contemporary audience and to future generations. In chapter one, the research questions are addressed, a literary review is presented, and the methodology of the dissertation is given. In chapter two, the dissertation addresses how the book of Isaiah argues apologetically that Yahweh is the Creator and therefore is incomparable. In chapter three, the dissertation presents how the book of Isaiah argues apologetically that Yahweh’s ability to divinely intervene in history shows His incomparability. In chapter four, the dissertation addresses how the book of Isaiah argues apologetically that Yahweh can know and predict the future and therefore is incomparable. A conclusion is given in which the theological and apologetic implications are addressed and further areas of research is identified. Finally, two appendixes address authorship of the book and the develop of monotheism in the Old Testament.
