To Act According To The Gospel

by Leon-Dufour, Xavier

• ISBN13: 9781565632011
• ISBN10: 156563201X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-01
• Publisher: Hendrickson Pub

Summary

Offering the fruit of a lifetime of systematic study and teaching, one of the foremost gospel scholars of our generation seeks to present the whole message of the gospel in such a way that it can be seen at a glance. Exploring the fundamental experience of Jesus and his relationship to prior Jewish tradition, Leon Dufour considers such vital domains of human action as money, sexuality, and human relationships--distilling essential principles that will allow Christians today to engage the realities of the modern world. Tempering scholarship with a pastoral tone, he highlights the love and forgiveness at the center of the Gospel message.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Abbreviations	xvii
Introduction	1	(6)
Chapter 1: The Fundamental Experience of Jesus	7	(34)
According to the Synoptic Tradition: God is present, he has come to reign, he is here	7	(22)
The Text of Mark 1:15	8	(2)
Semantic Study of the Expression "Reign of God"	10	(2)
History of the Expression	12	(2)
The Reign of God Has Come Near	14	(1)
The Message of Jesus Compared with That of the Precursor	15	(1)
The Reign of God Has Landed Right on Top of You	16	(4)
Questions of Language	20	(2)
A Presence Seeking a Response	22	(2)
A Mysterious Presence	24	(4)
By Way of Conclusion	28	(1)
According to the Gospel of John	29	(9)
John Transposes the Expression basilea tou theou	30	(2)
The Mystery of "Two and One"	32	(4)
The Action of the Son Is the Action of the Father	36	(1)
The Action of the Believer Must Be the Action of the Son	36	(1)
Conclusion	37	(1)
Synopsis	38	(3)
Chapter 2: Jesus in Relation to Jewish Tradition	41	(30)
According to the Synoptic Tradition	41	(22)
The Torah and the Halakah	42	(2)
Jesus and Jewish Tradition	44	(9)
Jesus Takes a Stand	53	(7)
Conclusion	60	(3)
According to the Gospel of John	63	(8)
Jesus and the Sabbath	64	(2)
The Law (Given by Moses) and the Truth	66	(1)
The Law, a Gift of God to Bring Life	67	(1)
The Law Is Fulfilled in the Truth	68	(1)
The New Commandment	69	(2)
Chapter 3: Humanity in Relation to God-Who-Is-Coming	71	(34)
According to the Synoptic Tradition	72	(24)
Humanity Has Become Wicked	72	(9)
Little Children Are at Home in the Reign of God	81	(7)
Christian Action	88	(8)
According to the Gospel of John	96	(9)
The Light Invades the Darkness	97	(2)
You Must Be Born Again	99	(1)
The Believer Must Abide in Jesus	100	(1)
Bearing Fruit	101	(1)
Answered Prayer	102	(1)
The Works of a Disciple	103	(1)
Conclusion	104	(1)
Chapter 4: Engaging the Realities of This World	105	(24)
According to the Synoptic Tradition	105	(21)
Being and Having	105	(3)
The Human Person and Money	108	(6)
The Human Person and Sexuality	114	(6)
The Human Person and Society	120	(6)
According to the Gospel of John	126	(3)
Chapter 5: At the Heart of Human Action: Love	129	(20)
The God of Forgiveness	130	(9)
The Jewish Conception of God-Who-Forgives	131	(1)
In Search of the Lost Sheep	132	(2)
The Father of the Prodigal Son	134	(1)
Jesus Welcomes Sinners	135	(1)
Unlimited Forgiveness	136	(2)
The God of Forgiveness	138	(1)
Loving	139	(9)
With Regard to Those Who Are Wicked	139	(3)
With Regard to the Enemy	142	(3)
With Regard to Others	145	(1)
And Who Is My Neighbor?	146	(1)
Your Neighbor Is the "Least of These" in Difficulty (Matt 25:31-46)	147	(1)
Conclusion	148	(1)
Epilogue	149	(4)
Subject Index	153