Acts 8:32-35 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Christian interpretation of chapters of Isaiah are not taken literally for some of the
predictions of the book are not accurate for Jesus' lifetime. Isaiah says that this "Saving Servant" would live a long life and have children to bear his name. Scholars and historians claim that Jesus lived to be in his early thirties but Christians and Catholics take this information in a very symbolic way attributing long life to after Jesus' Resurrection. This type of scriptural interpretation characterizes the contextual interpretation in what Catholics use to understand God's message.
Other Suffering Servants than Jesus can be interpreted to be other prophets like the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel lead Israel to be the light for all nations in order to reflect on their situations and realize that they are much more deserving of punishment. The mission of the servant was to suffer in "patient fidelity" acting as a model for other nations.
| Q&A: |
1. What is the title of the book of the Bible that is most referred to for the prophecies to a "Suffering Servant"?
2. What kind of interpretation do Catholics use to understand God's message in holy scripture?
3. Around what time was the book of Isaiah written that propehsized the coming of a Suffering Servant?
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Answers
| Bibliography: |
1. New Catholic Encyclopedia. Second edition. Volume 13. (pgs. 588 - 592)
2. The Suffering Servant. accessed on 4/10/08.
http://www.geocities.com/logic_faith/prophecies_files/suffering_servant.htm
3. Collins, John J. Collegeville Bible Commentary: Isaiah. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press.1986
4. The of picture of our Lord Jesus sitting on his cross is from this site.
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My Favorite Quote:
"He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth"...... Isaiah 53:7
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Email Me:
Please send any corrections to 2011367@sluh.org. This was assignment was part of the freshmen theology curriculum at SLUH.
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