Prophetic Style and Isaian Exceptionalism in Reformation Rhetoric and Theology

• Published in: The Sixteenth century journal Vol. 54; no. 3-4; pp. 263 - 283
• Main Author: Knapper, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago University of Chicago Press 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Catholicism; Early modern period; Exceptionalism; Humanism; Old Testament; Prophets; Protestant Reformation; Religious figures; Rhetoric; Theology
• ISSN: 0361-0160; 2326-0726
• DOI: 10.1086/727946

This essay explores humanist responses to the style and rhetoric of biblical prophecy, focusing on the perceived differences between Isaiah, whose style was generally praised as urbane and forceful, and the other prophets, whose styles were seen as simple and rustic by comparison. Scholars have recognized Isaiah’s elevated place among the writing Hebrew prophets in the history of Christian theology, worship, and art, but they have not considered the stylistic and rhetorical dimensions of Isaian exceptionalism, nor have they considered its implications for Reformation era theology and sacred rhetoric. I argue that, for early modern Protestants and Catholics, Isaiah was a central figure in the process of defining and evaluating prophetic style, and in turn the style and rhetoric of the Bible generally, because of the exceptional quality of his style, which allowed them to defend the stylistic quality and power of biblical writing against its detractors (real and perceived) by appealing to Isaiah, whom they presented as more eloquent and powerful than classical rhetoricians like Demosthenes and Cicero. I also argue that, for early Protestants, Isaiah was not only a central but also a complicating figure in this process, because his exceptional style often led them into disagreements over the character and quality of biblical style generally, as well as the implications of biblical style for the study and application of rhetoric in preaching.