A brief note on Issiah 53 & Romans

After adrian Warnock (www.adrian.warnock.info) reply to worldofsven (worldofsven.blogspot.com) satire of his own page. He asked for some response regarding Issiah 53 and Romans 3. So here is just a small bit of the argument. I would just like to add that every time I read through issiah 53 I am more and more filled with the wonder of the cross.

The suffering servant is Isreal par excelence. We must also note the theme of exile for Issiah. What this passage is saying is that the servent will do what Isreal is unwilling to do. Namely, he will go through the whole of exile he will fullfill lev 26

And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

This is the meaning of v5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The Chatisement that brought us peace should be seen as He takes the chastisement not so Israel has no suffering left for her sins. Rather peace (shalom) in hebrew is more about wholeness than the absence of strife. Which is really important to rember when coming from a western background. Secoundly we should also refer this back to Hebrews 12

⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

This fits in very well were Hebrew says that the son learnt obedience through what he suffered. The suffering then of the servent is the setting of the Law in the heart of Israel.

And a quick note on Romans 3 my edditing of KJV

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²²Even the righteousness of God which is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Being righteousified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be Righteous , and the righteousifier of him which which are of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

The important point i suppose for those that want to argue for Penal substitution is the word propitiation. However this word is no way near as acurate as those who contend for penal substitution would have it. It cannot be the pacification of God rather I would argue that it is the satisfaction of Gods justice. Compare to with Romans 8 3 I think that christs condemnation(holy life and death) of sin in fallen flesh is the vindication of God's Wrath against sin. Why? because th e Wrath of God finds it goal in the end of sin.

Richard
Sorry to all the biblical scholars out there