Book Critique Michael F
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Dec 6, 2023
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Book Critique Assignment
Arrie Elizabeth Harlan
APOL 679: Apologetics Capstone
November 5, 2023
Contents
Introduction
........................................................................................................................................
1
Summary
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1
Critique
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2
Chapter 1: The Gospel of Mark: The Crucified Messiah 2
Chapter 2: The Gospel of Matthew: The Davidic Messiah 3
Chapter 3: The Gospel of Matthew: The Davidic Messiah 4
Chapter 4: The Gospel of John: The Elusive Messiah 5
Conclusion: Believing in the Messiah 7
Bibliography
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9
Bird, Michael F. Jesus Is the Christ: The Messianic Testimony of the Gospels
. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013. vii-ix, + 221.
Introduction
Bird explains in his preface that he wrote this book, Jesus is the Christ,
to continue the theme of his earlier work, Are You the One Who is to Come? Even though his views were contrary to a lot of modern scholarship, it was his contention that Jesus had declared himself to be the "anointed deliverer" revealed in Israel's sacred traditions. Jesus was the one who was
hoped for in many different ways among the Second Temple Jewish groups.
[1]
According to Bird, "The shape of all four Gospels was determined by the messianism of Jesus and its impact upon his first followers." [2]
His previous focus left him concerned with the function of Jesus' messiahship in the narrative and theological horizons of the evangelists.
Summary
In the subject text, Bird focuses on how Jesus as the Messiah is understood as part of the biblical story. Each of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written for a specific purpose, and Bird addresses each Gospel individually to determine how each author presents his connotation and clarification of Jesus' role as Messiah. One can see the revelation of the authors' characters and to whom they wrote their respective gospels.
Bird prefaces his writing with an explanation of his conclusion that Jesus' messiahship is appreciated when discussing each aim of the author's narrative, whether it be rhetorical, social, or
historical. Jesus' messiahship is the 'mother of all Christology,' this facet of the evangelists' Christology needs to be better appreciated in discussing their narrative, rhetorical, social, and historical aims.
Critique
Introduction: When Did Jesus Become the Messiah?
In his introduction, Bird argues that "the messianic identity of Jesus is the earliest and most basic claim of early Christology." [3]
Bird incorporates part of his discussion from his earlier book. In his opinion, denying that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah generates more difficulties than it solves. There is sufficient evidence to support the argument that Jesus did claim to be the Messiah. Another argument from Bird claims that the early church emerged as a
messianic movement when it had no cause. While concentrating on the various leading proposals
for the origin of Jesus as Messiah, Bird also draws attention to the weaknesses of each position.
Finally, Bird deduces that the Gospels were written out of an entrenched confidence concerning Jesus' messiahship and not as a method to legalize a later Christological invention. Bird In the four chapters that form the heart of the book, Bird continues to feature the unique messianic portrayal of Jesus that materializes in each of the canonical Gospels. Chapter 1: The Gospel of Mark: The Crucified Messiah Jesus is depicted as the crucified Messiah in the Gospel of Mark. This Gospel is apologetic, explaining how a crucified man could be the Messiah. Of course, this is precisely how Mark explains that the crucified man was, in fact, the crucified Messiah. Mark redefines the conventional view of the Messiah. Bird exhibits that the other titles for Jesus, Son of God, Son of
Man, Son of David, and King of the Jews, interpret one another and are also coupled with the views of suffering and messiahship. Mark's objective is to resolve Jesus' messianic identity with the scandal of the cross. Deuteronomy 21:23, "You must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance." To Bird, this translates as "a crucified Messiah is a cursed Messiah, and a cursed Messiah implies a cursed Israel." [4]
Following numerous clues about Jesus' impending doom (Deuteronomy 2:20; 3:6; 6:6–31), Peter's confession becomes the critical turning point of the Gospel. (Deuteronomy 8:29) together with the three passion predictions (Deuteronomy 8:31; 9:31; 10:23–34), all lead to
the cross: from the religious leaders plotting against him (Deuteronomy 11:18; 12:12) to his parable of the tenant farmers (Deuteronomy 12:1–12) to the unknown woman anointing Jesus' body for burial (Deuteronomy 14:3–9). Still, Bird posits that for Mark, Jesus' death is not a
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