The Messiah in the Old and New Testaments (McMaster New Testament Studies) [Paperback]

Stanley E. Porter (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2007 | Series: McMaster New Testament Studies

When the ancients discussed Messiah, what did they picture? Did it refer to a stately figure to rule, a militant to rescue, or a term to describe a variety of roles held by many? While Christians have traditionally equated the word with Jesus, the discussion is far more complex. The Messiah in the Old and New Testament is the culmination of that discussion. In this excellent collection Stanley Porter has gathered a host of experts to address the questions surrounding the concept of messiah, in order to clarify what it means to call Jesus messiah. Divided into two parts writers who preceded or surrounded the New Testament and writers of the New Testament and followed by a complete response to both sections from Craig A. Evans, any student of the New Testament will find this book a useful tool for sparking further discussion and understanding the past.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (May 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802807666
• ISBN-13: 978-0802807663
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #992,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark J. Boda (PhD, University of Cambridge) is Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at McMaster Divinity College and Professor in the Faculty of Theology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He has authored six books, edited nine volumes of collected essays, and written over 70 articles on various topics related to the Old Testament and Christian Theology. Key areas of interest include Old Testament Theology, prayer and penitence in Old Testament and Christian Theology, Babylonian and Persian Period Hebrew Books and History (Jeremiah, Lamentations, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi), the Book of the Twelve (Minor Prophets) and Judges.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From William B. Eerdmans, October 31, 2007

By 

S. McDonald "Library World" (Independence, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Messiah in the Old and New Testaments (McMaster New Testament Studies) (Paperback)

When the ancients talked about "messiah," what did they picture? Did that term refer to a stately figure who would rule, to a militant who would rescue, or to a variety of roles held by many? While Christians have traditionally equated the word "messiah" with Jesus, the discussion is far more complex. This volume contributes significantly to that discussion. Ten expert scholars here address questions surrounding the concept of "messiah" and clarify what it means to call Jesus "messiah." The book comprises two main parts, first treating those writers who preceded or surrounded the New Testament (two essays on the Old Testament and two on extra-biblical literature) and then discussing the writers of the New Testament. Concluding the volume is a critical response by Craig Evans to both sections. This volume will be helpful to pastors and laypersons wanting to explore the nature and identity of the Messiah in the Old and New Testament in order to better understand Jesus as Messiah.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better in the New Testament than in the Old, July 23, 2008

By 

Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Messiah in the Old and New Testaments (McMaster New Testament Studies) (Paperback)

This books is the transcribing of a Canadian lecture series on the Messiah in both testaments and in the intertestamental and apocryphal writings (including the Qumran literature).

I was disappointed to hear Tremper Longman and Mark Boda say that there were no OT texts that were originally intended to refer to a Messiah. Craig Evans' reply rightly reminds them about Genesis 49:10, but there were many other potentially messianic texts that were completely ignored. How can there be a discussion about the Messiah in the Old Testament without a detailed discussion of Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 11:1-10, 34:1-4, 42:1-4, 52:13-53:12, Daniel 9:24-27, and Ezekiel 37?

I. H Marshall on Matthew and Mark and Stanley Porter on the Lukan writings were solid and workmanlike (as they usually are), and their essays salvaged what was potentially a disappointing and tepid book.