Contours of Christology in the New Testament

by Richard Longenecker

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2005

Overview

Contours of Christology in the New Testament features first-class biblical scholars who steep readers in the biblical texts about Jesus. These essays focus on the New Testament writers’ various understandings of Jesus, their differing emphases seen as contours in the common landscape of New Testament Christology. Sweeping in scope, the volume begins with a look at early Christology and covers the whole of the New Testament from the Gospels to Revelation.

Contributions to this volume include:

• "Jewish Messianism and Early Christology," William Horbury
• "Jesus as the Alpha and Omega of New Testament Thought," Ben Witherington III
• "Christological Materials in the Early Christian Communities," Richard N. Longenecker
• "'Who Can This Be?' The Christology of Mark's Gospel," Morna D. Hooker
• "The Vindicated Son: A Narrative Approach to Matthean Christology," Terence L. Donaldson
• "The Christology of Luke's Gospel and Acts," I. Howard Marshall
• "Monotheism and Christology in the Gospel of John," Richard Bauckham
• "The Christology of the Early Pauline Letters," Douglas J. Moo
• "The Christology of the Prison Epistles," Ralph P. Martin
• "Christology in the Letters to Timothy and Titus," Philip H. Towner
• "The Son of God as Unique High Priest: The Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews," Donald A. Hagner
• "Catholic Christologies in the Catholic Epistles," J. Ramsey Michaels
• "Stories of Jesus in the Apocalypse of John," David E. Aune

Contents

Top Highlights

“It was, in fact, a key element in a Jewish understanding of God’s unique identity that he alone is the Creator of all things. And this was perhaps the simplest way of making, as Jewish monotheism required, an absolute distinction between God and all other reality: God alone is the Creator of all else; all other things were created by God.” (Page 150)

“The church from earliest times had treated the Old Testament as messianic prophecy, which could, of course, be disputed” (Page 4)

“Jesus is the subject of 24.4 percent of all the verbs in the Gospel of Mark” (Page 28)

“As God’s own Word, it was intrinsic to God’s own unique identity” (Page 150)

“Unlike the other evangelists, Luke refers to Jesus as ‘the Lord’ when describing the powerful things he did (7:13) and his authoritative teaching (10:39, 41). The same term is used in the vocative by people who address Jesus (5:8, 12; 7:6). As an address, it need not be seen as anything more than an ordinary title of respect. Luke, however, may have meant to imply that some people actually recognized the status of Jesus as God’s supreme agent—or that they used a term in addressing Jesus that had deeper implications than they were aware of (cf. Tuckett, ‘Christology of Luke-Acts,’ 141–42). Certainly some people must have thought that Jesus was a great prophet (7:16), though others doubted that this was so (7:39).” (Page 126)

Praise for the Print Edition

A stellar cast of New Testament scholars brings fresh energy to the question “Who is Jesus?” Informed by recent scholarship, these writers move beyond academic disputations and arrive at findings useful to ministers, students, and all others who would like to sharpen their grasp of the identity of the Christ. The studies are up to date but not trendy, theologically rich but not simplistic. Few careful readers will digest this book without multiple “Aha!” moments leading to new insights, better understanding, and even enhanced worship.

—Robert W. Yarbrough

Especially oriented to analyzing the biblical materials concerned with the theological importance of Jesus of Nazareth, Contours of Christology exhibits the exceptional virtue of combining accessibility with profound learning. It will serve as a valuable point of entry into the significance of the person and work of Jesus in the New Testament and its world.

—Joel B. Green

Product Details

• Title: Contours of Christology in the New Testament
• Editor: Richard N. Longenecker
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2005
• Pages: 359

About Richard Longenecker

Richard N. Longenecker is a prominent New Testament scholar and Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Wycliffe College, Toronto. He was formerly Distinguished Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.