Final answer:
The statement is true; Isaiah is extensively referenced in the New Testament, with about 100 citations and 500 allusions, illustrating the Christian belief in the fulfillment of prophecies through Jesus Christ.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: Isaiah is indeed one of the most referenced Old Testament books in the New Testament, with scholars noting approximately 100 citations and around 500 allusions. The book of Isaiah is frequently linked to the prophecies concerning the Messiah, which early Christians saw as fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This connection is part of a wider Christian interpretation tradition known as typology, which looks at events in the Old Testament as foreshadowing or prefiguring Christ's life and work, affirming their belief in the continuity and fulfillment of scripture.
The fulfillment of prophecy was a significant theme for early Christians, illustrating the way in which New Testament authors and the community at that time understood the Old Testament as a precursor to and predictor of Jesus' life. Moreover, the depiction of Old and New Testament figures was common during the period as a way of showing the fulfillment of Mosaic law in the new Christian law under Christ.