KnoWhy #40 - How Did Nephi Read Isaiah as a Witness of Christ’s Coming? (2 Nephi 17:14; Isaiah 7:14)

Nephi used the “the Nephite prophetic view” as a framework for his use of Isaiah. This framework was laid out in his prophetic vision found in 1 Nephi 11–14. The first stage is the coming of Christ. Comparing Nephi’s vision of Christ’s coming in 1 Nephi 11 with prophecies found in Isaiah 2–14 (quoted in 2 Nephi 12–24) suggests that Nephi may have recognized his own prophecies in Isaiah’s words. Having the clarity of Nephi’s vision of the Savior helps us more easily recognize the Messianic allusions in Isaiah’s writings.