Synopses & Reviews
This book challenges the consensus among biblical scholars that among the four Gospels only John gives evidence for Jesus' heavenly identity and pre-existence. In "The Pre-Existent Son" Simon Gathercole demonstrates that Matthew, Mark, and Luke were in fact well aware that the Son of God existed with the Father prior to his earthly ministry. Gathercole marshals support for this assertion by considering the "I have come" sayings of Jesus and strikingly similar angelic sayings discovered in Second-Temple and Rabbinic literature. In addition, Gathercole also considers related topics, such as Wisdom Christology and the titles applied to Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels.Gathercole's carefully researched work should spark lively debate among Synoptic scholars and extend the understanding of anyone interested in this important New Testament question.
Synopsis
In this challenging book, rising New Testament scholar Simon Gathercole contradicts a commonly held view among biblical scholars -- that the Gospel of John is the only Gospel to give evidence for Jesus' heavenly identity and preexistence. The Preexistent Son demonstrates that Matthew, Mark, and Luke were also well aware that the Son of God existed with the Father prior to his earthly ministry. Gathercole supports his argument by considering the -I have come- sayings of Jesus and strikingly similar angelic sayings discovered in Second Temple and Rabbinic literature. Further, he considers related topics such as Wisdom Christology and the titles applied to Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels.
Gathercole's carefully researched work should spark debate among Synoptic scholars and extend the understanding of anyone interested in this New Testament question.
Table of Contents
Preexistence in earliest Christianity -- The transcendence of Christ in Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- The "I have come" + purpose formula in Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- False perspectives on the "I have come" sayings -- Use of the "I have come" + purpose formula by angels -- A new reading of the synoptic "I have come" sayings -- The mission of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels -- A critique of the wisdom christology hypothesis -- The preexistent Christ and the history of Israel (Matthew 23.37) -- "Messiah" and "Anatolē" (Luke 1.78) -- "Lord" -- "Son of Man" -- "Son of God" -- Some aspects of the contemporary theological debate.