There’s A Reason Why Isaiah Is The Most Quoted Old Testament Prophet And Why His Writings Bolster The Foundation Of Paul’s New Testament Gospel

The writings of the prophet Isaiah make up a large part of New Testament Church Age scripture because Isaiah is the most ‘whole Bible’ prophet there is.

The prophet Isaiah writes 66 chapters in the book that bears his name, and in an amazing coincidence, there are 66 chapters in your King James Bible. In a second amazing coincidence, chapter 39 talks about the Temple, and everything from chapter 40 through 66 is about the coming Messiah at His First Advent. Which is fascinating because there are 39 chapters in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New, the ‘break’ is right on the money. You can’t beat the Book.

“I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:23 (KJB)

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11 (KJB)

So let’s jump right into it, and see some of the amazing places that the prophet Isaiah connected himself to the New Testament, hundreds of years before any New Testament scripture would be written. For a deeper study, we highly recommend you get our Isaiah Commentary Bundle, which is packed full of amazing information on the end times ministry of the prophet Isaiah.

A Sampling of the Prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul

• “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 25:8 (KJB)
• “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJB)

• “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;” Isaiah 65:1,2 (KJB)
• “But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Romans 10:20,21 (KJB)

• “For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.” Isaiah 10:22,23 (KJB)
• “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Romans 9:27,28 (KJB)

• “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” Isaiah 29:14 (KJB)
• “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 1 Corinthians 1:19 (KJB)

• “So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.” Isaiah 52:15 (KJB)
• “But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.” Romans 15:21 (KJB)

• “Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;” Isaiah 49:8 (KJB)
• “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJB)

• “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:13,14 (KJB)
• “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJB)

All told, there are a minimum of 52 direct quotations from the prophet Isaiah in the New Testament, and many more non-cited references as well, like this one.

• “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:7,8 (KJB)
• “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:14-18 (KJB)

In addition to Isaiah being quoted by our apostle Paul, he is quoted by the Lord because Isaiah foretold of Him. What book was the first Gentile convert in the Church Age reading? Isaiah 53. Phillip preached to him Jesus from that chapter, and the Ethiopian eunuch got saved and eternally secure every bit as much on that as you did on Ephesians 2:8,9 and 1 Corinthians 15:3,4. How’s that for rightly dividing? Maybe rightly dividing goes deeper than you think it does, (and it does).

A Sampling of the Prophet Isaiah and Jesus of Nazareth

• “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:1,2 (KJB)
• “The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew 4:15,16 (KJB)

• “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” Isaiah 42:1-4 (KJB)
• “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.” Matthew 12:18-21 (KJB)

• “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:4 (KJB)
• “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 (KJB)

Now you see the ‘secret’ of the prophet Isaiah. Not only does he foretell about the day of the LORD and what happens to the Jews in the last days, he also shows us, in mystery form, the Church Age with the gospel that would go to the Gentiles. Isaiah gives us the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. He is the most ‘whole Bible’ prophet there is, which is why what he wrote is indispensable to Paul in over 27 places. So you see that the New Testament is not something brand-new, it is the fulfillment of what was prophesied in the Old Testament that would take place. Below is a list of references with Isaiah on the left, and its New Testament match meet on the right. If you found more than we have listed here, please comment below and we’ll be happy to add it!

The post There’s A Reason Why Isaiah Is The Most Quoted Old Testament Prophet And Why His Writings Bolster The Foundation Of Paul’s New Testament Gospel appeared first on Now The End Begins.