Reading Isaiah | Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing

 Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing joins host Elizabeth Pittman in this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of reading the book of Isaiah. Take a deep dive into Isaiah and learn about the influence it has on the Gospel story by tuning in. 

Reed has written two Concordia Commentaries on the book of Isaiah, including the volume on Isaiah 40 -55 and Isaiah 56- 66.

Show Notes:

Prophet. Husband. Jerusalem native. Martyr.

In this episode, author Reed Lessing and host Elizabeth Pittman discuss who Isaiah was as a figure in the Bible. They also investigate the hows and whys of the writing in Isaiah and the lasting impact it takes on the rest of the Bible, especially within the content of the New Testament.  Plus, the duo examines specific verses that will be used over the next several weeks in the Lutheran church’s lectionaries.

Reed’s Bio: www.cph.org/m-137-r-reed-lessing.aspx         
Reed’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/lessingr   
Reed’s Instagram: @lessingr                                     
               
 
 Questions Covered

·        Who was Isaiah?  

·        Was Isaiah’s ministry “successful”? 

·        Why is there a big change of focus in Isaiah 40-66 (compared to Isaiah 1-39)? 

·        Who is “the Servant of Yahweh”? Is the “Servant” Israel, or Jesus Christ, or both? 

·        What are the distinctive prophecies about the “Servant”/Jesus Christ in these chapters: Isaiah 42, Isaiah 49, Isaiah 50, Isaiah 53, and Isaiah 61? 

·        Does Isaiah say that salvation is only for Israel, or also for Gentiles? 

·        Does Isaiah prophesy about the church? 

·        What does Isaiah say about eternity?

About the Guest

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing serves as Professor of Theology and Ministry at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Previously he was Senior Pastor at Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and before that, Professor of Exegetical Theology and Director of the Graduate School at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and received the B.A. in pre-seminary studies from St. John’s College, Winfield, Kansas, in 1981. He earned his M.Div. (1985), S.T.M. (1989), and Ph.D. (2001) degrees from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained into the office of the holy ministry on June 29, 1986. From 1986 to 1999, he served pastorates in West Monroe, Louisiana, and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.