Early High Christology - by Christopher M Blumhofer & Diane G Chen & Joel B Green (Hardcover)

About the Book

Over the past forty years, scholarship on John's Gospel has explored its theological vision and literary coherence. Marianne Meye Thompson's scholarship has contributed richly to this field of study. Here, some of today's top scholars advance our understanding of the Fourth Gospel by studying its relationships to other biblical texts.

Book Synopsis

The application of theological and literary approaches to the study of the New Testament in recent years has enabled a seismic shift in our understanding of the identity of Jesus as the New Testament presents him. In terms of the Gospel of John, these theological and literary explorations have resulted in a richer understanding of what it means to identify Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, the one who bears unique witness to the God of Israel, and the one whose life fulfills and embodies numerous symbols that were significant within biblical texts and the traditions of Second Temple Judaism.

This volume gathers many of today's most significant interpreters of the Bible as they examine John's Gospel and its distinctive theology, in relation to the wider canon of Scripture. Pastors, theologians, and biblical scholars will find studies of individual texts as well as broader biblical themes. Readers will come to appreciate anew the emphases that make John stand out among the New Testament writings. Readers will also develop a richer understanding of the deep theological connections that unite John with the Old Testament's vision of God and other New Testament portrayals of Jesus and his enduring significance.

Review Quotes

In this exceptional collection of essays honoring an exceptional scholar, not only do leading scholars internationally affirm the important work of Marianne Meye Thompson; they further it with their first-rate contributions. While appreciation for the fleshly humanity of Jesus in the Gospel of John is advanced by her work, so is the central paradox of the Incarnation furthered by these essays. It is precisely in the flesh-becoming Word that the Shekinah presence and glory of God are revealed and encountered. A must-read for biblical scholars and theologians alike! --Paul N. Anderson, professor of biblical and Quaker studies, George Fox University, and author of The Christology of the Fourth Gospel and The Fourth Gospel and the Quest for Jesus

The probing essays in this book open up fresh, illuminating perspectives on the mysterious Christology of John's Gospel and its relation to other ancient Jewish and Christian texts. Taken together, they offer fitting tribute to the wise, perceptive exegetical work of Marianne Meye Thompson, whose studies of John inspired this volume. Fair warning to close readers of this book: Prepare to have your theological imagination expanded. --Richard B. Hays, George Washington Ivey Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Duke University