William L. Holladay – författare

In this careful reconstruction of the prophet Jeremiah's life and work, Professor Holladay attempts to sort out Jeremiah's utterances chronologically and to hear them as closely as possible within the context of the events of their time. Jeremiah is a model for us to understand the prophets of the Old Testament. But more than that, he alone of the prophets saw his relationship with God as a problem to be grappled with rather than an obligation to be taken for granted. His willingness to question and to doubt was unique and, Holladay suggests, may put him more in step with our time than his own. For while many of us are willing to undertake a life of faith lived under God's guidance, few of us do not at some point question God's ways.

To the unstructured reader the book of Isaiah can be rather confusing--it seems to be composed of poems and narratives combined haphazardly not by one, but by several authors. Even scholars disagree on its authorship, dating, structure, and meaning. William Holladay intends this book to be a study guide for lay people and students. In an attempt to answer the perplexing questions raised by reading Isaiah. Throughout the book, Professor Holladay affirms the theological unity within Isaiah, while discerning and emphasizing the variety of voices found there. Although there were several "e;Isaiahs,"e; each writing with his specific world situation in mind, the total picture is of a prophetic tradition which recognizes that God was king of Israel.