Is there a Narrative Substructure underlying the Book of Isaiah? -- By: Robin Routledge

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 55:2 (NA 2004)
Article: Is there a Narrative Substructure underlying the Book of Isaiah?
Author: Robin Routledge


Is there a Narrative Substructure underlying the Book of Isaiah?

Robin Routledge

Summary

The recent narrative turn has brought new and helpful insights to biblical studies. This article investigates whether it is legitimate and helpful to look for a possible narrative structure underlying the (generally non-narrative) Book of Isaiah. Starting with the structural model based on the work of A. J. Greimas, it concludes that if this narrative model can be applied to the Book of Isaiah it yields some useful outcomes. It points to the structural unity of the book and helps identify the main theme – in terms of the relationship between God, Israel and the nations, and the role of the Servant of the Lord.

1. A Possible Narrative Structure?

The purpose of this article is to explore the possibility of applying a particular narrative model to the Book of Isaiah.1 The idea of looking for a narrative structure that may underlie non-narrative texts is not new.2 With the recent rediscovery by psychologists and social scientists, as well as theologians, of the importance of narrative as a means of giving order and meaning to our personal and spiritual lives,3

and the recognition that narrative was at least as important to communities in the distant past, it seems reasonable to suppose that even in the compilation of non-narrative texts, the final editors were influenced by narrative structures. That is not to say that they were necessarily conscious of using a particular structure; for many good storytellers that is intuitive. Nevertheless, writing takes place within a particular context; if the writer is to convey meaning,4 he cannot avoid using the language and structures available to him.5 As a result, whether the author or editor was conscious of using them or not, it should be possible to discern certain structures within the final text. The identification of those structures and of the framework around which the text has been built helps us determine and focus on the key issues within the text and to recognize the text’s general movement.

In the following discussion of a possible narrative substructure of the Book of Isaiah we will follow the model put forward by A. J. Greimas.6 Before proceeding, it is necessary to offer a brief description of this approach.

According t...

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