Motyer vs... Motyer?

Paul N

J. Alec Motyer has two resources in Logos centered around the book of Isaiah.

The Prophecy of Isaiah - 1996 - 544 pgs

Tyndale Commentaries - Isaiah - 1999 - 461 pgs

Does owning the latter defeat any purpose to owning the former due to its earlier publication date?

If I own the Tyndale Commentary on Isaiah would it profit me to have The Prophecy of Isaiah?

Thanks!

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Todd Phillips

If I own the his Tyndale Commentary on Isaiah would it profit me to have The Prophecy of Isaiah?

I think it would, though my usage of both together is limited. The earlier one is more in-depth.

Here is an except from the Author's Preface in the Tyndale volume that helps understand the differences:

I have set out to provide a ‘reader’s commentary’ on Isaiah—a companion to daily Bible reading—and I believe that those who use it this way will reap the largest rewards from it. This is not to say that it cannot be used to look up ‘spot’ verses or passages, for I have done my best not to evade difficulties and, in every such place, to ask what a reader, Bible in hand, would find most useful to know.

In 1993 IVP were kind enough to publish my larger commentary, The Prophecy of Isaiah, and it is only fair to say how this present work compares with that. First, I have felt comfortable in using again the structured outline of Isaiah which I worked out for the earlier book. Some reviewers criticized this or that aspect of my analysis, but, while I promise them that I have pondered what they wrote, they have not persuaded me to change my mind. Isaiah does not always stop to put down markers for us, and we come to his precious text to do the best we can. I do not see, for example, that I have opted for anything outrageous in dividing the book after chapter 37 rather than 39. R. E. Clements, whose approach to Isaiah is very far from mine, notes that ‘a redactor has quite consciously sought to use these narratives [i.e. chs. 36–39] to form a bridge between the “Assyrian” background of chs. 1–35 and the “Babylonian” background of chs. 40–66, with ch. 39 forming a key transition unit’ (Isaiah 1–39, New Century Bible [Eerdmans/Marshalls, 1980], p. 277). I have simply made the ‘bridge’ into a ‘border-crossing’.

Secondly, the majority of the explanatory and expository work in this commentary is certainly new in expression and quite considerably new in content. This is as it should be when we are dealing with the inexhaustible treasure of God’s Word. I have only very occasionally consciously quoted from The Prophecy of Isaiah.

J. Alec Motyer, vol. 20, Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary (, Tyndale Old Testament CommentariesDowners Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 9–10.

Paul N

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/325894#Comment_325894

Straight from the horse's mouth. Thanks Todd!

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/325900#Comment_325900

Side-by-side

EDIT: Probably not the best side-by-side, hope it helps though

Paul N

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/325907#Comment_325907

Thanks Joshua,

the General Preface from Motyer's Tyndale Commentary by D.J. Wiseman explains:

General preface

With this publication of Isaiah, the series of Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries draws to its conclusion. The aim throughout has been to provide the serious Bible reader with handy, up-to-date commentaries with the primary emphasis on the exegesis and meaning of the text. At the same time the series has sought to face major problems raised by critics of each book. Each author has been left to make his or her own contribution to the evangelical understanding and faith.

In 1993 Inter-Varsity Press published a major commentary, The Prophecy of Isaiah, by Dr Motyer. It was hailed as a major contribution, and the author’s earlier invitation to contribute to the Tyndale series was renewed. The series rightly waited for this version. While it contains the essence of his earlier work and retains the earlier’s structure and textual divisions, much is new and original in this concluding volume.

Motyer, J. Alec. Vol. 20, Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999. Pg. 7.

I'll think to check there first next time!

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/325915#Comment_325915

The larger one is considered among the best works and should be chosen on that basis. I've always regretted relying on a slimmed down commentary save for a secondary query or an initial nibble to verify context. This in no way slights the IVP series, it's very very good, but one needs to dig in once you know where you are planted.

If you are doing Isaiah, Edward Young's multiple volume commentary is a treasure of insight.

David J. Sugg

In my recent work in Isaiah I found both helpful, but would agree that The Prophecy of Isaiah is more thorough.

I also agree that EJ Young's 3 vol commentary is very helpful, and would add that Gary Smith's 2 vol commentary in the New American Commentary series is excellent. John Oswalt's 2 vol NICOT commentary is also excellent.

Dave

David Paul

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/326055#Comment_326055

I wish we had flan.