Chapter 29.—What Things are
Predicted by Isaiah Concerning Christ and the Church.
The prophecy of Isaiah is not in
the book of the twelve prophets, who are called the minor from the
brevity of their writings, as compared with those who are called
the greater prophets because they published larger volumes.
Isaiah belongs to the latter, yet I connect him with the two above
named, because he prophesied at the same time. Isaiah, then,
together with his rebukes of wickedness, precepts of righteousness,
and predictions of evil, also prophesied much more than the rest
about Christ and the Church, that is, about the King and that city
which he founded; so that some say he should be called an
evangelist rather than a prophet. But, in order to finish this
work, I quote only one out of many in this place. Speaking in the
person of the Father, he says, “Behold, my servant shall
understand, and shall be exalted and glorified very much. As many
shall be astonished at Thee.”
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This is about Christ.
But let us now hear what follows
about the Church. He says, “Rejoice, O barren, thou that barest
not; break forth and cry, thou that didst not travail with child:
for many more are the children of the desolate than of her that has
an husband.”
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But
these must suffice; and some things in them ought to be expounded;
yet I think those parts sufficient which are so plain that even
enemies must be compelled against their will to understand
them.
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Isa. lii. 13; liii.
13
. Augustin quotes these passages in full.
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Isa. liv. 1–5
.