Isaiah 61:1-11

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Text from "The Coming of Melchizedek," 11Q13, Col 2 of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  • Chapter XIV of the Epistle of Barnabas. (ca. 130)
  • II.XXII.1, III.IX.3, III.XVII.10, IV.XXIII.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180) 
  • Chapter XI, Chapter XII, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • IV.14, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XI, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • VI.23, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • Book I, Chapter 3, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Thus belongs to all the prophets and ministers of God, but chiefly to Christ, of whose abundant graces everyone receives according as it pleases him to distribute."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Promises are here made to the Jews returned out of captivity, which extend to all those who, through grace, are delivered out of spiritual thraldom. An unholy soul is like a city that is broken down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is fitted to be a habitation of God, through the Spirit."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Strangers - Gentiles, such as are not of the natural race of the Jews, but Gentile converts. Or, such as shall have no more than an outward profession."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...opening of the prison--The Hebrew rather is, "the most complete opening," namely, of the eyes to them that are bound, that is, deliverance from prison, for captives are as it were blind in the darkness of prison (Isa 14:17; 35:5; 42:7) [EWALD]. So Lu 4:18 and the Septuagint interpret it; Lu 4:18, under inspiration, adds to this, for the fuller explanation of the single clause in the Hebrew, "to set at liberty them that are bruised"; thus expressing the double "opening" implied; namely, that of the eyes (Joh 9:39), and that of the prison (Ro 6:18; 7:24, 25 Heb 2:15)."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (Advent 3), Samuel Giere, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "...these words speak not only of the spiritual but of the physical realities and to the brokenness of the world, and that the recipients of these transformative infinitives are those outside the fold, the congregation, the denomination, and the Church."
  • "Criminal Justice," Resources for Prophetic Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council of Churches.
  • Isaiah 61:1-11, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "If the Lord loves justice and hates robbery and wrong we are challenged to think what that means for our time and mission."
  • The Old Testament Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "The passage stresses a couple of important points about hope when read in the context of Advent."
  • Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11, Isaiah in Advent: The Transforming Word, Diane Jacobson, Texts in Context, Word & World, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1990.
    • "To be sure, this transformation is for the benefit of all the nations. Yet echoes of the fear-filled confession in Isa 64 might well be heard by some, for the announcement that this advent is for all the world is not received by all people as good news."
  • "Shouts of Joy," Kate Huey, Weekly Seeds, iucc.org, 2008.
    • "In what ways do we see ourselves in this ancient anointed one, in what ways do we identify with his call, in our lives today?"
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Potato Stamp Epiphany," Daniel Deffenbaugh, Seeds of Shalom, 2008.
    • "...given the faith and openness demonstrated among many of the younger members of the body of Christ today, and given the inscrutable wisdom of the Spirit, we cannot even begin to imagine the direction the church might take in the not-so-distant future."
  • "Taking Sides: Reversals," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.
    • "Mary and Jesus, Ambrose and Basil, each in their own way lived and spoke about the biases of God's heart."
  • Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series B, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • "Good News," Gretchen Wolff Pritchard, The Christian Century, 1993.
    • "The theme of the marriage between God and the people, God and Jerusalem, Christ and the church is a rich, elaborate, consistent vein of imagery, running right through the center of the scriptures."
  • "Bringing Good Tidings to the Afflicted," Glenn Loafmann, The Christian Century, 1986. At Religion Online.
    • "The reality and the power of our call to ministry are more immediate than that: we should care for them not because they 'are Christ' but because they are human, and because they need us. Because without mercy they will die."
  • "The Greatness of God," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "What ritual, prayer, or sacrament gives you comfort? Can you see the power of God beyond those activities? How?"
  • Renewed Mission: Verse Commentary on Isaiah 61:1-11, Dennis Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute.
    • "The Hebrew word here (ruach) has a wide range of meaning, including wind, air, breath (recall 40:7), life, spirit (in the sense of vivacity or vigor, as "a spirited horse"), spirit (in the sense of something not seen), etc. It also can have a variety of figurative meanings, including impatience, temper, disposition, mood, emptiness, impulse, etc. The word as used here refers to the active, dynamic presence of God."
  • "Epiphany C2 - Exegetical Notes on Isaiah 61:1-6," Douglas MacCallum Lindsay Judisch, Concordia Theological Seminary (LCMS - Indiana).
    • "The people of God lay in "ruins" -- as "desolations" of long standing -- at the time of the incarnation of the Messiah by virtue of the general apostasy of the Gentiles into paganism of various kinds and the self-righteousness and even hypocrisy of so many of the Jews. The church of God is called "ruins of eternity" because her members were elected in eternity to live to all eternity by the grace of God in the Messiah."
• Articles & Background:
  • "The Power of Alliance," by Bill Wylie-Kellermann, in Sojourners OnLine, Sept/Oct 1998.
    • "Biblically, theologically, ethically, even pastorally, it is incumbent upon the church to stand with workers, to be with them in the struggle for justice, to join them in holding corporations accountable to human community."
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  • Barnes, M. Craig, "The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me: A Meditation on Isaiah 61," Calvin Theological Journal, 2004.
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  • Bratcher, Margaret Dee, "Salvation Achieved," Review & Expositor, 1991.
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  • Brueggemann, Walter, "Dialogue between Incommensurate Partners: Prospects for Common Testimony," Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 2001.
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  • Everson, A Joseph, "Isaiah 61:1-6: To Give Them a Garland Instead of Ashes: Exposition," Interpretation, 1978.
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  • Fretheim, Terence E., "The Prophets and Social Justice: A Conservative Agenda," Word & World, 2008.
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  • González, Catherine Gunsalus, "Advent and Eschatology," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
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  • Gowan, Donald E., "Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11," Interpretation, 1981.
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  • Gregory, Bradley C., "The Postexilic Exile in Third Isaiah: Isaiah 61:1-3 in Light of Second Temple Hermeneutics," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
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  • Jacobson, Diane, "Isaiah in Advent: The Transforming Word," Word & World, 1990.
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  • Loafmann, Glenn, "Bringing Good Tidings to the Afflicted," The Christian Century, 1986.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Lynch, Matthew J., "Zion's Warrior and the Nations: Isaiah 59:15b-63:6 in Isaiah's Zion Traditions," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2008.
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  • Montgomery, Stephen R., "Beyond Fear, Fundamentalism, and Fox News: The Active Hope of Advent," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
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  • Norris, Kathleen, "Standing on Promises," The Christian Century, 2005.
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  • Oswalt, John N., "Isaiah 60-62: The Glory of the Lord," Calvin Theological Journal, 2005.
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  • Pritchard, Gretchen Wolff, "Good News," The Christian Century, 1993.
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  • Sánchez, Leopoldo A., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series B - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 427.)
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• Sermons:
  • "Through the Lens of the Magnificat," Katherine E. Willis Pershey, any day a beautiful change, 2005. (Sermon regarding Christian Peacemakers Team.)
  • "Prayer: Connecting to the Divine Presence," the Rev. Arthur Cribbs, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002.
  • "You Will Receive Double for Your Trouble," the Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1999.
• Reviews:
  • Review: Leszek Ruszkowski, Volk und Gemeinde im Wandel: Eine Untersuchung zu Jesaja 56-66. (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2000) Review by Roy D. Wells in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. (Review is in English.)
• With Children:
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Bulletin Cover Art for Advent 3B - Isaiah 61:11, Will Humes, Word & Table.
  • Interpreting Isaiah 61, tapestry/banner by N. Hawthorne, at Biblische Ausbildung, Dr. Stephen L. Cook, Virginia Theological Seminary.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Isaiah 61:1. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • For You I Am Praying
    • Gleams of the Golden Morning
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Isaiah
  • Interpreting Isaiah 61, tapestry/banner by N. Hawthorne, at Biblische Ausbildung, Dr. Stephen L. Cook, Virginia Theological Seminary.
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Isaiah