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Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Commentary
Review: As a pastor who has just completed preaching through the 2nd half of the book of Isaiah (chaps. 40-66 ) I would emphatically endorse this commentary to anyone studying through Isaiah. The commentary is very practical and gives insights into the text that are profound in my opinion. Very readable and refreshing-here is an OT scholar that actually believes in the unity of Isaiah!This commentary is by far more useable than either Young's 3 vol. set or Motyer's commentaries, both the TOTC and the IVP volume although these can be used as supplements to Oswalt.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking!
Review: Having just completed my study of the book of Isaiah, I have to say that I am a little shell-shocked. The depth and breadth of Isaiah's vision is breathtaking, and he is a master in communicating that vision. Much of this is evident even to a layperson like myself, but I cannot overstate the value of a commentary such as this to assist in grasping the extended themes of judgment of the faithless, redemption of the faithful, a promised Messiah, the incomparable faithfulness and glory of the living God, etc.. or how their historical significance has application to my life today. I worked through two commentaries in my study - Edward Young's three volume set (the original NICOT offering) and Oswalt's two volume set. Without going too far into comparing them, I will say that I found Oswalt's volume to be considerably more accessible to the layperson while still impressively scholarly in tackling the textual controversies which are rife in Isaiah scholarship. Oswalt's commentary lies in the evangelical tradition of Biblical scholarship, which means that he accepts the scriptural and traditional testimony of Isaianic authorship for the complete book, and also that his interpretation falls within the historical Christian paradigm. He is generous in drawing from liberal and conservative studies together for interpretation of the text while at the same time very penetrating in his analysis and criticism of the a priori arguments raised by liberals in rejection of Isaiah's authorship of the whole book. But I found most valuable the heightened vision of God and his glorious Messiah, along with the challenge to myself to seek to live a godly life before him which Oswalt has imparted to me through this commentary. I heartily recommend this commentary to all who want to understand the book of Isaiah, the Bible, and above all, their relationship God.
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