Synopsis
In recent years, historians and biblical scholars have been in active pursuit of the Jesus of history. The Jesus Seminar and similar efforts to place Jesus within his historical context have relied heavily on extrabiblical documents, since many historians consider the Bible to be propagandistic and biased. Darrell Bock, however, believes that the Gospels' account of Jesus deserves further examination. Bock argues that when read together, the Gospels provide a clear picture of Jesus and his unique claims to authority. To demonstrate this claim, he offers Jesus according to Scripture. While noting how details of the canonical presentation of Jesus relate to first- century Palestinian culture, Jesus according to Scripture is not a historical study of Jesus. Instead, it seeks to show the coherent portrait of Jesus that emerges from the Gospels, a portrait that is rooted in history and yet has produced its own historical and cultural impact. Bock begins his work with a brief overview of each Gospel, surveying its structure, themes, authorship, setting, and date. He then offers an examination of Jesus as portrayed in the Synoptic Gospels presented together. Bock, however, does not attempt to harmonize them but leaves their narrative lines intact, allowing events to be repeated. In this way readers are invited to appreciate the contribution of each event internally to that Gospel as well as to its parallels. Next, Bock provides a detailed analysis of the Fourth Gospel's portrayal of Jesus. He finishes with a summary of the main theological themes found throughout the Gospels, thus unifying them into a cohesive portrait of Jesus. Jesus according to Scripture is an excellent textbook for courses on the life of Jesus at both the advanced college and seminary levels. Additionally, pastors, teachers, and all those interested in Jesus and the Gospels will enjoy this scholarly yet accessible book.
About the Author
Darrell L. Bock (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is research professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of more than ten books, including the two-volume BECNT commentary on Luke and Studying the Historical Jesus. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Part 1 The Four Gospels: Distinctive Voices 1. Overviews of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Part 2 Jesus according to the Synoptists 2. The Birth and Childhood of Jesus: The Hope of Promise 3. The Backdrop to Jesus' Ministry: John the Baptist, Jesus' Baptism and Temptations 4. The Initial Portrait of Jesus' Galilean Ministry: Teaching, Healing and Controversy 5. Jesus' Teaching on Relating to God and Others: The Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain 6. More Galilean Ministry: Miracles, Mission to the Outcasts, and Discipleship in the Face of Opposition 7. From Kingdom Teaching to Confession: How the Disciples Began to Understand Jesus 8. Confession and Prediction: The New Reality, Part 1 9. Toward Jerusalem: The New Reality, Part 2 10. Toward Jerusalem: Ministry in Judea and Final Lessons 11. The Passion Week: Controversy, Prediction of Judgment and Return, Trial, Death, and Resurrection Part 3 Jesus according to John 12. Introducing Jesus in John's Gospel: The Word Incarnate and the First Witnesses: John the Baptist and the Disciples 13. John's Book of Signs: Before the Hour 14. The Book of Glory: The Farewell Discourse and the Johannine Passion Account- The Hour Has Come Part 4 A Theological Portrait of Jesus 15. Major Themes in the Evangelists' Portrait of Jesus' Theology: The Kingdom and the Uniquely Authoritative One in Act and Word
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