The Preexistent Son
Recovering the Christologies of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
Published on 1. October 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
358 pages
978-0-8028-2901-6 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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Person
Simon Gathercole is professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of Cambridge. He is chair of the NIV translation committee and has served as editor of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament and New Testament Studies. His publications include The Apocryphal Gospels, The Preexistent Son, The Gospel and the Gospels, and The Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs.