Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets: The Prophetic Vocation of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
Ebook
Matthew's Gospel makes mention of prophets and prophecy more than any other canonical Gospel. Yet its perspective on prophecy has generally been neglected within biblical scholarship when, in fact, Jesus' prophetic vocation is a central christological theme for Matthew. This new study by Matthew Anslow seeks to draw attention to this underdeveloped focus within Matthean studies. The central claim of the book is that in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus' prophetic vocation is presented as a multi-faceted phenomenon, drawing on several prophetic traditions. Like biblical and popular prophets before him, Jesus is depicted by Matthew as calling Israel back to covenantal faithfulness, thereby providing guidance for the identity, theology, and communal life of God's people.
“Through innovative entry points and meticulous exegetical work,
Anslow opens up a compelling vista of Jesus’ vocation as prophet
that goes way beyond identifying Jesus as a new Moses or Elijah
figure. This study gives fresh insight into the coherent vision of
Matthew’s Gospel, showing how Jesus’ prophetic words and actions
reveal both judgment and God’s covenantal faithfulness,
characterized by merciful love.”
—Vicky Balabanski, Flinders University of South Australia
“Here is a critically important volume for Matthean scholars—and
New Testament scholarship overall—to engage. Anslow offers a
solidly argued and strongly convincing study of the prophetic
vocation of Jesus within Matthew’s narrative, a topic largely
unaddressed within previous Matthean scholarship. In this
sociohistorically grounded narrative study of strategic Matthean
texts, Anslow demonstrates the deeply ‘prophetic’ character of the
words and actions of Matthew’s Jesus and presents compelling new
insights into Matthean Christology.”
—Dorothy Jean Weaver, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, emerita
“Matthew Anslow makes an excellent contribution to Matthean studies
in this study of the theme of Jesus as prophet. His exploration of
the role of prophecy in the ministry of Jesus is rooted in a
careful study of the historical context and a thorough knowledge of
the secondary literature. Anslow illuminates an important,
underappreciated aspect of Matthew that enriches our understanding
of Matthew’s Jesus as the prophet who fulfills the law.”
—Donald A. Hagner, Fuller Theological Seminary, emeritus
- Title: Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets: The Prophetic Vocation of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
- Authors: Matthew Anslow, David J. Neville
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666723427, 9781666731194, 9781666723410, 1666723428, 1666731196, 166672341X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666723427
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-12-11T02:24:10Z
Matthew Anslow is a theological educator for the Uniting Church
of Australia’s NSW/ACT Synod. He is a scholar and activist, having
published numerous academic and popular articles on subjects such
as peacemaking, civil disobedience, agriculture, biblical studies,
and philosophy. Matthew lives with his wife, Ashlee, and their
three children at Milk and Honey Farm, two hours west of Sydney,
Australia.