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The "Isaiah Problem" in the Book of Mormon

TitleThe "Isaiah Problem" in the Book of Mormon
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1995
AuthorsSperry, Sidney B.
JournalJournal of Book of Mormon Studies
Volume4
Issue1
Pagination129-152
KeywordsAuthorship; Isaiah; Prophecy; Prophet
Abstract

Doubts as to the literary unity of the book of Isaiah are fairly recent. The late nineteenth century saw a division of Isaiah into three parts by critics, who categorized only 262 of the 1292 verses as the genuine product of Isaiah. These critics deny the prediction element of prophecy and highlight different literary forms and theological ideas. The Book of Mormon attributes two of these three sections to Isaiah by quotation; ancient scriptures as well give no hint of a division. Christ and the apostles themselves attribute the book to Isaiah. Internal evidences of the unity of the book include imagery, repetition, expressions peculiar to Isaiah, and song. Changes in style can be attributed to mood. The differences between the Book of Mormon and the King James Version support the authenticity and literary unity of Isaiah.

URLhttps://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol4/iss1/17