Bible critics have long attacked the book of Isaiah claiming that it was written by two or even three different Isaiahs. They claim that it is not possible for Isaiah to give such detailed prophecies, especially in the latter part of the book (for example, Cyrus being named 150 years before his birth in 44:28). They also point out the dramatic change in style of the last 27 chapters. Thus, the critics tell us that another Isaiah came along much later and wrote the last 27 chapters (after some of the prophesied events took place). This nonsense about a “deutero-Isaiah” is just another example of the UNBELIEVING approach to the Bible. Of course nothing in the word of God gives evidence for this theory. On the contrary, there is plenty of scriptural evidence that one Isaiah wrote all 66 chapters. Christ Himself quoted from BOTH sections (1-39 and 40-66) of Isaiah and attributed the quotes to one Isaiah (John 12:37-41). In the NT there are 21 quotes from the book of Isaiah that are attributed to one Isaiah. Ten of these quotes are from the first section and eleven are from the latter section. The scriptural explanation for the amazing detailed prophecies in the book of Isaiah is that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16) and "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21). The obvious explanation for the change in style in chapters 40-66 is the fact that there is a change in theme. The same writer can use different styles when dealing with different themes. The layout of the book of Isaiah gives the critics reason to attack the Bible. Yet, the layout of the book of Isaiah also gives the Bible-believer another reason to believe the Bible! How can the same issue result in such different opinions? The answer is found in Isaiah 28:9, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” We must approach the word of God with a believing and humble spirit.
About 2,300 years before the King James Bible was first printed, the exact order of its 66 books was revealed in the book of Isaiah. This went unnoticed until God lead men to insert chapter and verse divisions in the scripture and the KJB was printed. The 66 chapters of Isaiah correspond with the 66 books of the KJB. Some ignorant critic of the KJB might say, “The 1611 King James Version had the apocrypha in it and therefore had more than 66 books.” The apocrypha was inserted BETWEEN the OT and NT as a historical supplement and the translators did not consider it to be inspired scripture. There were translations that preceded the KJB that included the apocrypha as part of scripture and therefore had more than 66 books. There were also translations before the KJB that arranged the books of the Bible differently than the KJB. The Hebrew OT has the same books as the KJB but they were arranged differently (Chronicles is placed last) and some of the books were combined (for example, Samuel instead of 1 & 2 Samuel) so that it has less than 39 books. That the layout of the KJB was revealed in the book of Isaiah is more solid proof that the KJB is INSPIRED scripture. It is a supernatural Book. One critic said, "What about the modern versions, they have the same layout as the KJV, does that mean they are inspired also?" Yes, the modern versions do have the same layout as the KJB but that is because their translators/publishers copied it so that they might seem like bibles to the ignorant and deceived. That ALL of the modern English versions are corrupt is easily proven by simply comparing them with the KJB.
The “scholars” tell us that a translation cannot be inspired. They say that inspiration is limited to the original autographs, the word of God is only preserved in the original languages, and that our KJB is just an accurate translation of the preserved word of God. This “statement of faith” is not based on the Bible but theology books written by fallible men. The final authority of the “scholarship only” crowd is originals that they have never seen, Hebrew and Greek texts that they do not really understand, and the teachings of men. Nowhere in the Bible are we told that inspiration is limited to the originals or that a translation cannot be inspired. On the contrary, Paul said that Timothy had “holy scripture” in 2 Timothy 3:15. In the very next verse Paul says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”! Timothy did not have originals but a copy and more than likely a Greek translation of OT scripture. Inspiration is simply the process by which God’s Spirit gives man His words. Because the scripture is the word of God it is ALIVE. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick and powerful”. We are to be “holding forth the word of LIFE” (Philippians 2:16). The Bible is the “word of life” because it is alive and gives life to those that believe it (1 Peter 1:23). To say that the KJB is not inspired but only preserved is like saying the KJB is a CORPSE. A dead body has no spirit (James 2:26) but it can be preserved like a mummy. To say that the KJB is preserved but not inspired is absurd. Why would God inspire scripture only to let it become a preserved DEAD body of words? The fact is, the KJB is both inspired and preserved. The Bible is “the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23). Inspiration means the word of God “liveth” and preservation means that it “abideth” and BOTH is true FOREVER. One preacher criticized the above definition of inspiration by saying that it “does not square with any dictionary or with most Baptist preachers”. Well, this definition “squares” with the word of God! He also tried to invalidate this view by saying that it was only held by a “small group”. In these days of apostasy, I doubt that the majority is right on inspiration! This same preacher also said that the KJB was not given by inspiration but by the hard work of the translators! The KJB is the product of the Holy Spirit, not the ability of men. He used men to translate it, but it is a Divine Book. If you doubt that God REGIVES His word after the originals perish please study Jeremiah 36. Jeremiah 36:32 says, “Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.”
The bottom line is that the KJB (italicized words and all) is holy scripture given by inspiration of God. Now, let’s get back to considering the layout of Isaiah. Consider these amazing facts:
1. Isaiah has 66 chapters – the KJB has 66 books
2. Isaiah has just over 30,000 words – the KJB has just over 30,000 verses
3. Isaiah has 2 main sections – the KJB has 2 main sections
4. Isaiah’s 1st section has 39 chapters – the KJB’s 1st section has 39 books (OT)
5. Isaiah’s 2nd section has 27 chapters – the KJB’s 2nd section has 27 books (NT)
6. Isaiah’s 1st section has a general style of condemnation and ends with a curse (39:6-7) - The KJB’s first section has a general style of condemnation and ends with a curse (Malachi 4:6)
7. Isaiah’s second section has a general style of hope and begins with good news (40:1-5) -
The KJB’s second section has a general style of hope and begins with good news (Matthew 1:18-25)
8. Every chapter in Isaiah corresponds with every book of the KJB, in exact order! (e.g. Isaiah 1 = Genesis, Isaiah 2 = Exodus, etc…)
To prove #8 I will give you 11 examples. One example might be a coincidence, but not 11!
About 2,300 years before the King James Bible was first printed, the exact order of its 66 books was revealed in the book of Isaiah. This went unnoticed until God lead men to insert chapter and verse divisions in the scripture and the KJB was printed. The 66 chapters of Isaiah correspond with the 66 books of the KJB. Some ignorant critic of the KJB might say, “The 1611 King James Version had the apocrypha in it and therefore had more than 66 books.” The apocrypha was inserted BETWEEN the OT and NT as a historical supplement and the translators did not consider it to be inspired scripture. There were translations that preceded the KJB that included the apocrypha as part of scripture and therefore had more than 66 books. There were also translations before the KJB that arranged the books of the Bible differently than the KJB. The Hebrew OT has the same books as the KJB but they were arranged differently (Chronicles is placed last) and some of the books were combined (for example, Samuel instead of 1 & 2 Samuel) so that it has less than 39 books. That the layout of the KJB was revealed in the book of Isaiah is more solid proof that the KJB is INSPIRED scripture. It is a supernatural Book. One critic said, "What about the modern versions, they have the same layout as the KJV, does that mean they are inspired also?" Yes, the modern versions do have the same layout as the KJB but that is because their translators/publishers copied it so that they might seem like bibles to the ignorant and deceived. That ALL of the modern English versions are corrupt is easily proven by simply comparing them with the KJB.
The “scholars” tell us that a translation cannot be inspired. They say that inspiration is limited to the original autographs, the word of God is only preserved in the original languages, and that our KJB is just an accurate translation of the preserved word of God. This “statement of faith” is not based on the Bible but theology books written by fallible men. The final authority of the “scholarship only” crowd is originals that they have never seen, Hebrew and Greek texts that they do not really understand, and the teachings of men. Nowhere in the Bible are we told that inspiration is limited to the originals or that a translation cannot be inspired. On the contrary, Paul said that Timothy had “holy scripture” in 2 Timothy 3:15. In the very next verse Paul says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”! Timothy did not have originals but a copy and more than likely a Greek translation of OT scripture. Inspiration is simply the process by which God’s Spirit gives man His words. Because the scripture is the word of God it is ALIVE. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick and powerful”. We are to be “holding forth the word of LIFE” (Philippians 2:16). The Bible is the “word of life” because it is alive and gives life to those that believe it (1 Peter 1:23). To say that the KJB is not inspired but only preserved is like saying the KJB is a CORPSE. A dead body has no spirit (James 2:26) but it can be preserved like a mummy. To say that the KJB is preserved but not inspired is absurd. Why would God inspire scripture only to let it become a preserved DEAD body of words? The fact is, the KJB is both inspired and preserved. The Bible is “the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23). Inspiration means the word of God “liveth” and preservation means that it “abideth” and BOTH is true FOREVER. One preacher criticized the above definition of inspiration by saying that it “does not square with any dictionary or with most Baptist preachers”. Well, this definition “squares” with the word of God! He also tried to invalidate this view by saying that it was only held by a “small group”. In these days of apostasy, I doubt that the majority is right on inspiration! This same preacher also said that the KJB was not given by inspiration but by the hard work of the translators! The KJB is the product of the Holy Spirit, not the ability of men. He used men to translate it, but it is a Divine Book. If you doubt that God REGIVES His word after the originals perish please study Jeremiah 36. Jeremiah 36:32 says, “Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.”
The bottom line is that the KJB (italicized words and all) is holy scripture given by inspiration of God. Now, let’s get back to considering the layout of Isaiah. Consider these amazing facts:
1. Isaiah has 66 chapters – the KJB has 66 books
2. Isaiah has just over 30,000 words – the KJB has just over 30,000 verses
3. Isaiah has 2 main sections – the KJB has 2 main sections
4. Isaiah’s 1st section has 39 chapters – the KJB’s 1st section has 39 books (OT)
5. Isaiah’s 2nd section has 27 chapters – the KJB’s 2nd section has 27 books (NT)
6. Isaiah’s 1st section has a general style of condemnation and ends with a curse (39:6-7) - The KJB’s first section has a general style of condemnation and ends with a curse (Malachi 4:6)
7. Isaiah’s second section has a general style of hope and begins with good news (40:1-5) -
The KJB’s second section has a general style of hope and begins with good news (Matthew 1:18-25)
8. Every chapter in Isaiah corresponds with every book of the KJB, in exact order! (e.g. Isaiah 1 = Genesis, Isaiah 2 = Exodus, etc…)
To prove #8 I will give you 11 examples. One example might be a coincidence, but not 11!
1. Compare Isaiah 1 with Genesis. Note in Isaiah 1:2a the words “heavens” and “earth” and compare Genesis 2:1. Note in Isaiah 1:2b that God brought up children that rebelled against Him and compare Genesis 3. Note in Isaiah 1:5 that the sin disease starts with the head and compare Rom. 5:12 (Adam was the head).
2. Compare Isaiah 2 with Exodus. Note in Isaiah 2:3 that God gives the law from a mountain and compare Exodus 19-31. Note that in Isaiah 2:2-5 that God sets up His kingdom with Israel over the nations and compare Exodus 19:5-6. Note in Isaiah 2:17-18 that God is exalted when He puts down the idols of men and compare with Ex. 9:14-16 (the plagues were judgments on idols in Egypt, Ex. 18:11).
3. Compare Isaiah 4 with Numbers. Note in Isaiah 4:5-6 the mention of the “cloud and smoke by day”, “flaming fire by night”, and “tabernacle” and compare with Num. 9:15-16.
4. Compare Isaiah 5 with Deuteronomy. Note in Isaiah 5:1-7 that in the parable of the God’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) God judges Israel because of its sin and note the “woes” pronounced on Israel (5:8-30) and compare with Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
5. Compare Isaiah 6 with Joshua. Six is the number of man and Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible. It is the first book that bears a man’s name. Joshua has six letters. The book of Joshua begins with the death of God’s man (Moses) and an appearance of Christ (5:13-15) to reassure Joshua about victory for Israel. In Isaiah 6 we see the death of God’s man (King Uzziah) and a vision of Christ to reassure Isaiah about the victory for Israel. In Joshua 1 God commissions Joshua and in Isaiah 6 God commissions Isaiah.
6. Compare Isaiah 39 with Malachi. Note that in Isaiah 39:6-7 the prophet announces a curse on Israel and compare with Malachi 3:9, 4:6.
7. Compare Isaiah 40 with Matthew. Note the prophecy of John the Baptist in Isaiah 40:3-5 and compare with Matthew 3:1-3.
8. Compare Isaiah 43 with John. Note in Isaiah 43:10-13 that God says “I am” several times and says He is the Saviour and compare with the many times Christ says “I am” in the book of John. John was written to show that Jesus was the Son of God and that He is the Saviour (John 20:30-31).
9. Compare Isaiah 44 with Acts. Note in Isaiah 44:3 that God says He will pour out His Spirit on the seed of Israel and compare with Acts 2:16-18.
10. Compare Isaiah 45 with Romans. Note in Isaiah 45:20-25 the words, “just”, “salvation”, “righteousness”, and “justified” and compare this with the fact that these are key words in Romans. Compare Isaiah 45:22 with Romans 3:29-30 and Isaiah 45:24 with Romans 3:21-26.
11. Compare Isaiah 66 with Revelation. Compare Isaiah 66:15-16 with Revelation 19:11-21 and Isaiah 66:22 with Revelation 21:1.
God chose a book written by a prophet to represent the whole Bible because the job of a prophet was to simply reveal God’s message to men. The Bible is God’s revelation to man. Every single chapter in Isaiah corresponds with every single book in the KJB in exact order. Some connections are harder to find than others, but they are there. The KJB has God’s supernatural fingerprints all over it because it is INSPIRED.
God chose a book written by a prophet to represent the whole Bible because the job of a prophet was to simply reveal God’s message to men. The Bible is God’s revelation to man. Every single chapter in Isaiah corresponds with every single book in the KJB in exact order. Some connections are harder to find than others, but they are there. The KJB has God’s supernatural fingerprints all over it because it is INSPIRED.
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