Jesus and the Land: How the New Testament Transformed 'Holy Land' Theology

by Gary M. Burge

Publishers:

Baker Academic; SPCK

, 2010

Overview

Jesus and the Land will help Christians to form a biblical view about modern-day claims to the land in Israel-Palestine. Examining what the New Testament says about the idea of land being “holy,” this guide is accessible and non-technical.

Key Features

• Summary of each chapter
• Suggestions for further reading

Contents

Top Highlights

“In other words, the land is not a possession that may be enjoyed without reference to God. Possessing this land is contingent on Israel’s ongoing faithfulness to God and obedience to his law. The land therefore is a byproduct of the covenant, a gift of the covenant. It is not a possession that can be held independently.” (Pages 3–4)

“In a profound sense, Israel never ‘owns’ the land of promise. God owns this land. Leviticus” (Page 4)

“This book asks how Christians should understand these competing land claims. Given our theological framework, what is the relationship between land and theology in the New Testament? What did Jesus and the New Testament writers think about the territorial claims of ancient Israel? Did they retain the view of the sanctity of Jerusalem and its Temple? Were they rethinking the relationship between faith and locale? Or were they confident that a sacred place was still to be held for believers?” (Page xii)

“Walker concludes that for Paul—and here we may have a vital clarifying insight into Paul’s view of the land—Jerusalem and its Temple are places that enjoy historic respect but cannot claim a universal or lasting theological significance.” (Page 74)

“This is indeed a new beginning. But with a twist. The native-born aliens who live alongside Israel in the land should be treated as ‘citizens of Israel’ (47:22). The alien will gain an inheritance alongside Israel (47:23) and the land will be shared in a way not imagined before.” (Pages 8–9)

Praise for the Print Edition

Burge’s book has important consequences for Christian belief and behavior. I warmly commend this thorough and scholarly but nevertheless clearly and simply written presentation.

—I. Howard Marshall, professor, University of Aberdeen

Product Details

• Title: Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to ‘Holy Land’ Theology
• Author: Gary M. Burge
• Publishers: Baker Academic, SPCK
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Logos Release Date: 2011
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible › Geography; Bible › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Land tenure › Religious aspects--Christianity; Land tenure › Biblical teaching; Land tenure › Middle East; Distributive justice › Religious aspects
• ISBNs: 9780801038983, 0801038987
• Resource ID: LLS:JESUSLAND
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:51:54Z

About Gary M. Burge

Gary M. Burge (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is dean of the faculty and professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary. He previously taught for twenty-five years at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Among his many published books are The New Testament in Seven Sentences, Theology Questions Everyone Asks (with coeditor David Lauber), A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion, Mapping Your Academic Career, The New Testament in Antiquity (coauthored with Gene Green), and the award-winning Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians.