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Ascension of Isaiah

A composite Jewish-Christian work describing the martyrdom of Isaiah and his vision of the seven heavens.|||Survives intact only in a 5th–7th-century Ethiopic edition. Fragments exist in Greek, Latin, Coptic, and Old Slavonic.|||The first section (Martyrdom of Isaiah) was possibly written originally in Hebrew or Aramaic in the early 1st century CE. The third work (Ascension of Isaiah) was written by a Christian at the beginning of the 2nd century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||The martyrdom of Isaiah and his vision of the seven heavens. Describes the descent of Christ through the heavens and his incarnation.|||Charles, R. H. The Ascension of Isaiah. A. & C. Black, 1900.|||Knibb, M. A. " Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah." In OTP 2:143–176.|||Ascension of Isaiah — Early Jewish Writings|https://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/ascensionisaiah.html|Full translation and scholarly resources.;; Ascension of Isaiah — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_of_Isaiah|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" And I saw the Lord, and the angels, and the heavens opened." — Ascension of Isaiah 6:1

Collection: Jewish Pseudepigrapha Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

The first section (Martyrdom of Isaiah) was possibly written originally in Hebrew or Aramaic in the early 1st century CE. The third work (Ascension of Isaiah) was written by a Christian at the beginning of the 2nd century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Survives intact only in a 5th–7th-century Ethiopic edition. Fragments exist in Greek, Latin, Coptic, and Old Slavonic.

Why It Matters for Study

The martyrdom of Isaiah and his vision of the seven heavens. Describes the descent of Christ through the heavens and his incarnation.

" And I saw the Lord, and the angels, and the heavens opened." — Ascension of Isaiah 6:1

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " And I saw the Lord, and the angels, and the heavens opened." — Ascension of Isaiah 6:1 " And I saw the Lord, and the angels, and the heavens opened." — Ascension of Isaiah 6:1

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Charles, R. H. The Ascension of Isaiah. A. & C. Black, 1900.
Knibb, M. A. " Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah." In OTP 2:143–176.
Ascension of Isaiah — Early Jewish Writings|https://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/ascensionisaiah.html|Full translation and scholarly resources.;; Ascension of Isaiah — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_of_Isaiah|Background and scholarly discussion.