The sign of Ahaz: A Theological Reading of Isaiah. 7:14-16

Abstract

The paper aims to answer the following key question: Is the prophecy of Isaiah of the virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14-16 limited to the immediate future, or does it refer to events in the distant future? By “near future” is meant the events that were fulfilled during the life of King Ahaz. By “distant future” is meant the events that took place at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. The prophecy uttered by Isaiah to Ahaz is a stumbling block between Christian and Jewish theologians. Christian theologians see this prophecy as pointing to the Virgin Mary and the virgin birth of Jesus, while Jewish rabbis interpret it only in its literal sense, placing it in the time of Ahaz. For Christians this controversial passage is key for several reasons. First, it touches on Christology and answers many questions related to the supernatural origin of Jesus. In the era of the ecumenical councils there was considerable interest in the Isaiah prophecy among Christians. Orthodox Church fathers defended Christ’s virgin birth and called Mary the mother of God. Secondly, it deals with soteriology since Matthew uses it in the context of the promise of salvation from sin. Rabbis, on the contrary, in order to distance themselves from the Christological reading of the prophecy, maintain that Isaiah did not intend to prophesy about the distant future.