Jesus the Messiah: Tracing the Promises, Expectations, and Coming of Israel's King
Overview
Few books have sought to exhaustively trace the theme of Messiah through all of Scripture, but this book does so with the expert analysis of three leading evangelical scholars. For the Bible student and pastor, Jesus the Messiah presents a comprehensive picture of both scriptural and cultural expectations surrounding the Messiah, from an examination of the Old Testament promises to their unique and perfect fulfillment in Jesus’ life.
Students of the life of Christ will benefit from the authors’ rich understanding of ancient biblical culture and pastors will find an indispensable help for understanding the unity and importance of the ancient promise of Messiah. This volume will be a ready reference on Messiah for years to come.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Evaluates the text, using three criteria: contextual-canonical, messianic, and Christological
- Seeks to understand the First Testament passage in its original historical setting
- Takes into account the progress of revelation
- Part 1: Promises of a King
- Messianic Trajectories in Genesis and Numbers
- Messianic Trajectories in God’s Covenant Promise to David
- Messianic Trajectories in the Royal Psalms
- Messianic Trajectories in Amos, Hosea, and Micah
- Messianic Trajectories in Isaiah
- Messianic Trajectories in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
- Messianic Trajectories in Zechariah
- Part 2: Expectations of a King
- Three Obstacles to Overcome, and Then One
- Anticipations of the One Called Messiah
- Anticipations of the One Called Branch and Prince
- Anticipations of the One Called Son
- Part 3: The Coming of a King
- Messiah Confessed: Revelation and the Catholic Epistles
- Messiah Confessed: Pauline Epistles
- The Messiah Preached and Veiled
- The Identity of Jesus as the Christ in His Ministry
Top Highlights
“With contextual-canonical, we express how the earliest testament in part and whole generated such promises in the context of the progress of revelation. By messianic, we conclude how these messianic options were being contemplated by Jews through messianic reflection as we enter the time of Jesus.” (Page 26)
“we evaluate the text, using three criteria: first contextual-canonical, then messianic, and finally christological” (Page 26)
“On the other hand, the divine author knows the beginning and end of the story. But like any good author, God gradually, progressively, reveals his messianic picture and builds upon it one piece (i.e., one revelatory message) at a time, until Jesus and the Holy Spirit comes and fits the puzzle pieces together. Thus God not only makes a promise, he progressively builds upon that promise, expanding and giving new information about it throughout the unfolding of Jewish history until it is eventually fulfilled through Jesus.” (Page 32)
“He also foresaw a coming king who would arise from the tribe of Judah to subjugate all nations and reign over an ideal future period of virtual paradisiacal prosperity, effectively restoring the original fertility of Genesis 1–2. Here is the place where kingship and restoration of what was lost in Eden come together.” (Page 43)
“However, the bulk of the key features about Messiah surface in claims tied to kingship and kingdom” (Pages 31–32)
The authors provide a masterful synthesis of the teaching of the Messiah in the Old Testament, the context of Judaism, and in the New Testament. By intentionally addressing the contextual, canonical, messianic, and Christological readings of all the key texts, and asserting how these grew and developed in their interpretation into the Christian era, these three scholars, each with expertise in expounding the message of the relevant texts, provide the reader with a clear path for understanding the fulfillment of the messianic expectation in Jesus Christ as more than just a collection of diverse prophecies. The work demonstrates the messianic message as woven through the text of Scripture and finding unique fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth. This is the most useful work to date on the subject.
—Richard S. Hess, Earl S. Kalland Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Denver Seminary
Many lay readers of Scripture and scholars have been waiting for a book like this, which sets a new standard and establishes a new method for exploring themes in biblical theology. The authors systematically examine the written evidence for the growth of the messianic hope in Israel, exploring in order the witness of the First Testament, Jewish writings from the second temple period, and the New Testament. Resisting the impulse to impose later visions of the Messiah upon earlier texts, they have offered a fair and balanced picture of a gradually revealed but vibrant and persistent thread of biblical belief. Thoroughly researched, logically organized, and lavishly illustrated, this volume represents the finest full length treatment of the subject available.
—Daniel Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College
I like the authors’ distinction between a text’s original, contextual meaning and the canonical significance ultimately given to it, and their progression from Old Testament to New via second temple Jewish literature.
—Leslie C. Allen, senior professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
Bateman, Bock, and Johnston have definitely filled a gaping hole in this crucial area with their new work and done so artfully while specializing in their respective fields—Old Testament, second temple literature, and New Testament. It is about time we have a detailed discussion on this important area from evangelical scholars bridging this whole time period. Their discussions are nuanced and carefully worded, avoiding many pitfalls of either extremes and yet providing a very readable and clear work. Especially helpful is their progressive development in which they have highlighted crucial themes related to the Messiah throughout the biblical and non-canonical works. Whether one agrees or disagrees with all of their conclusions, there is no doubt that they have provided a workable, clear foundation in this area that will spawn many lively discussions into the future.
—Paul D. Wegner, professor of Old Testament, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
- Title: Jesus the Messiah: Tracing the Promises, Expectations, and Coming of Israel’s King
- Authors: Herbert Bateman, Darrell L. Bock, Gordon H. Johnston
- Publisher: Kregel
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Pages: 528
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Jesus Christ › Person and offices
- ISBNs: 9780825421099, 0825421098
- Resource ID: LLS:JESUSTHEMESSIAH
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:52:16Z
Herbert W. Bateman IV (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) has taught Greek language and exegesis for more than 20 years. He is currently professor of New Testament studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Bateman is the author or editor of many works on the General Epistles, including Charts on the Book of Hebrews, Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews, and a forthcoming commentary on Jude and 2 Peter.
Gordon H. Johnston (ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has spent a number of years sifting through archaeological digs. In addition to his work in the field, Dr. Johnston has published numerous articles and essays in scholarly journals.
Darrell L. Bock is executive director of cultural engagement and senior research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. A former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, he is the author of the best-selling Breaking the Da Vinci Code and numerous works in New Testament studies, including Jesus according to Scripture.
