The Fundamentals - 1917: Vol.1

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The Fti-ndamentals especially 41 :26; 48 :3, 6, 14, that the first appearance of Cyrus t h a a i d n b Is e a e i n an p i r c e e d l i e c m te e d nt b s y in an the an p c h ie r n a t se p o r lo o g p y he o t f , t a h n e d se ob ch se a r p v t i e n r g s m ce a r y have identified the prophet with Isaiah" ("Introduction to the Book of Isaiah," p. 238) . Why not regard "the editor's" inference legitimate? . Dr. George Adam Smith likewise allows that Cyrus is the fulfillment of former predictions. ble to argue as some have tried H to e d s o a , ys th : at "N th o e r p is ro it ph p e o t ss i i s predicting these things as if they had already happened. For as part of an argument for the unique divinity of the God of Israel, Cyrus, alive and irresistible, and already accredited with success, is pointed out as the unmistakable proof that former prophecies of a deliverance for Israel are already c ti o o m n i b n u g t t a o s p a as p s r . oo C f yrus, in short, is not presented as a predicĀ­ that a pred-iction is being f1dfilled" ings' Dictionary of the Bible, art. "Isaiah", p. 493) . Fu (H rth as e t r , he says: "The chief claim, therefore, which chapters 40 ff. m to a ry ke of fo t r he th w e o G rl o d d in of co J n e f h o o r v m ah ity is to H a is lo p n o g we p r re t d o ic d te ir d ec a t nd the fa h it i h sĀ­ fully followed purpose. This claim starts from the proof that Jehovah has long before predicted events now happening or about to happen, with Cyrus as their center" (Idem, p. 496).* ject H o e f nc P e '"<'! in di a ct n i y on c . ase It it r m ea u ll s y t b m e a a k l e lo s w li e t d tle th d a i t ff C e y re r n us ce is a t t h w e s h u ic b h end of history one stands, whether in the eighth century B. C. or in the sixth, Cyrus, to the aitthor of chapters 40-48, is the subject of prediction. Whether, indeed, he is really predicting Cyrus in advance of all fulfillment, or whether Cyrus to him is the fulfillment of some ancient prediction does not alter the fact that Cyrus was the subject of prediction on the part of somebody. As was stated above, the whole question is, which does the prophet emphasize, ( 1 ) the fact that he is predict- *The italics are ours.

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