Jesus the Priest - Softcover

Perrin, Nicholas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0281065012 ISBN 13: 9780281065011

Publisher: SPCK Publishing, 2018

Synopsis

This major new study advances our understanding of the historical Jesus by exploring the model of Jesus the priest. As priest, Jesus claims to reveal God’s unchanging character through his own person; as priest, too, he announces the impending eschatological climax, constituted by the arrival of the heavenly temple on earth. Focusing on critically assured sayings of Jesus, Perrin argues that the two announcements (the kingdom and Jesus’ priesthood) are mutually confirming and mutually authenticating. The nature of the kingdom is derived from his priestly office; his priestly office is given shape and substance through teachings on the kingdom. Jesus saw himself as the unique eschatological high priest and therefore as the local embodiment of Yahweh. He announced the kingdom of God as the space of true worship; he regarded his life as revealing both the identity of God and the true worship of God.

About this title

About the Author

Nicholas Perrin (Ph.D., Marquette University) is Dean of the Wheaton Graduate School where he also holds the Franklin S. Dyrness Chair of Biblical Studies. Between 2000 and 2003, he was research assistant for N. T. Wright and has since authored and edited numerous articles and books, including Thomas and Tatian (Society of Biblical Literature/Brill); Thomas: The Other Gospel (Westminster John Knox); Lost in Transmission: What We Can Know about the Words of Jesus (Thomas Nelson); and Jesus the Temple (SPCK; Baker Academic), the first of a three-part trilogy on the historical Jesus. He is also co-editor of the recently revised edition of Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (InterVarsity).

From the Back Cover

This major new study advances our understanding of the historical Jesus by exploring the gospel portraits of him as a priest. As priest, Jesus claims to mediate the God of Israel through his own person; as priest, too, he announces the impending climax of the divine eschatological purpose, constituted by the arrival of the heavenly temple on earth.

'Nicholas Perrin's Jesus the Priest fills a major gap in the contemporary quest for Jesus. It is widely known that the word "messiah" could be used for both kings and priests. And yet no full-length study has ever been written on the historical Jesus and the Jewish priesthood. Perrin's book fundamentally changes this situation. Over and over again, he throws fresh light on the priestly dimension of the otherwise familiar words and deeds of Jesus. The result is a thought-provoking case that Jesus did in fact speak and act as if he were the eschatological Jewish high priest. Essential reading for anyone interested in Jesus and Judaism.'
Brant Pitre, Professor of Sacred Scripture, Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, and author of Jesus and the Last Supper

'Creative exegesis yielding constructive theology: another important contribution from Nicholas Perrin. Most modern Christians never think of Jesus as a "priest". Perrin, explaining why that is a serious omission, sheds a flood of fresh light on the Gospels and on Jesus himself.'
N. T. Wright, Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, University of St Andrews, and author of Jesus and the Victory of God

Nicholas Perrin is Professor of Biblical Studies and Dean of the Graduate School at Wheaton College, Illinois. He is the author of several influential books and articles on the New Testament, including Jesus the Temple (SPCK, 2010) and Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary (IVP, 2018).

Edition details

• Publisher: SPCK Publishing
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0281065012
• ISBN 13: 9780281065011
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 365