Reading the Sealed Book

"Believe it or not, the study of the Greek translation of Isaiah is currently in turmoil! This affects our understanding of Isaiah, of the world in which the translation was undertaken, and of its importance as a central part of Scripture for the later emergence of the Christian religion. Wagner's is a work of careful and yet lucid scholarship that clarifies in a balanced manner the methods and the goals of this translator. It should be widely adopted." --H. G. M. Williamson, Regius Professor of Hebrew, University of Oxford "Wagner nimbly joins Umberto Eco's encyclopedia model of language with Descriptive Translation Studies in his analysis of particular passages. Whether one agrees with all the notes selected for this score, his study of Old Greek Isaiah reads like a symphony." --Ronald L. Troxel, Associate Professor, Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of LXX-Isaiah as Translation and Interpretation One thing is sure: this book will force Septuagint scholars to rethink their methodological positions...the author has successfully opened one of the seals of Isaiah chapter 1! -- Johann Cook, University of Stellenbosch -- Review of Biblical Literature Wagner has produced an excellent volume that will greatly benefit Septuagint (LXX) studies. -- William A. Ross, University of Cambridge -- The Bulletin for Biblical Research This is a model piece of work that will have to be referred to regularly by any one working in Septuagint studies, and indeed, in Isaiah studies. -- John Oswalt -- Themelios An excellent volume that will greatly benefit Septuagint (LXX) studies -- William A. Ross, University of Cambridge -- Bulletin for Biblical Research

J. Ross Wagner is Associate Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School.

FORWARD TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS A BOOK WITH SEVEN SEALS: THE PROBLEM OF SEPTUAGINT HERMENEUTICS OPENING THE SEALED BOOK: INTERPRETING A TRANSLATED TEXT "GIVE HEED TO GOD'S LAW": TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION IN OG ISAIAH 1:1-20 THE PURIFICATION OF ZION: TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION IN OG ISAIAH 1:21-31 CHARACTERIZING OLD GREEK ISAIAH 1 EPILOGUE: OPEN BOOK, OVERFLOWING FOUNTAIN BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX OF ANCIENT SOURCES INDEX OF MODERN AUTHORS INDEX OF SUBJECTS