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Isaiah 61:1-11
With thanks to page sponsor 2014:
Pastor David Kruse
MacGregor EMC (Evangelical Mennonite Conference) Church,
MacGregor, Manitoba

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Hebrew Interlinear Bible, WLCv, WLC5, CHES, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, 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• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts: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), Kristin J. Wendland, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "t is a passage that can perhaps be read placidly by those for whom things are going well, but less so by those who do look around and see only destruction. None of us need look far to see that all is not well in the world."
  • "God's Favorites," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer.
    • "The announcement of "peace on earth to all whom God favors" precisely to those who would seem to be the most disfavored of people indicates that it's God's peace for all that is the promise of Advent."
  • Commentary, Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (Advent 3), Elna K. Solvang, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "The city where hopelessness had taken root will, by God's spirit and by God's blessing, sprout righteousness and praise."
  • "Ruins, Beautiful and Sad," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
  • "The Politics of Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11," Aaron Howard, Political Theology, 2011.
  • "Repurposing the Promise of Release," Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • " How long can we continue to push God’s promise of justice into the future? 
  • "God Returning," John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2011.
    • "... this third prophet Isaiah had his own way of kindling the fires of hope despite the fiasco of the pathetic new temple."
  • 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."
  • The Old Testament Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, 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."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "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.
  • "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."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Barnes, M. Craig, "The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me: A Meditation on Isaiah 61," Calvin Theological Journal, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bratcher, Margaret Dee, "Salvation Achieved," Review & Expositor, 1991.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Brueggemann, Walter, "Dialogue between Incommensurate Partners: Prospects for Common Testimony," Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Everson, A Joseph, "Isaiah 61:1-6: To Give Them a Garland Instead of Ashes: Exposition," Interpretation, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fretheim, Terence E., "The Prophets and Social Justice: A Conservative Agenda," Word & World, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • González, Catherine Gunsalus, "Advent and Eschatology," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gowan, Donald E., "Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11," Interpretation, 1981.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gregory, Bradley C., "The Postexilic Exile in Third Isaiah: Isaiah 61:1-3 in Light of Second Temple Hermeneutics," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Jacobson, Diane, "Isaiah in Advent: The Transforming Word," Word & World, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Loafmann, Glenn, "Bringing Good Tidings to the Afflicted," The Christian Century, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lynch, Matthew J., "Zion's Warrior and the Nations: Isaiah 59:15b-63:6 in Isaiah's Zion Traditions," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Montgomery, Stephen R., "Beyond Fear, Fundamentalism, and Fox News: The Active Hope of Advent," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Norris, Kathleen, "Standing on Promises," The Christian Century, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Oswalt, John N., "Isaiah 60-62: The Glory of the Lord," Calvin Theological Journal, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pritchard, Gretchen Wolff, "Good News," The Christian Century, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sánchez, Leopoldo A., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series B - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 427.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "The Hand of God on the Shoulder of a Troubled World," the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Carter, Day 1, 2011.
  • "Through the Lens of the Magnificat," Katherine E. Willis Pershey, any day a beautiful change, 2005. (Sermon regarding Christian Peacemakers Team.)
• 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:
  • Worshiping with Children, Advent 3B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," December 14, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 andIggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and Bedtime is Canceled by Cece Meng, John 1:6-8, 19-28 and Under Alaska's Midnight Sun by Deb Vanasse. 2011.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Interpreting Isaiah 61, tapestry/banner by N. Hawthorne, at Biblische Ausbildung, Dr. Stephen L. Cook, Virginia Theological Seminary.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • 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