Imitating Jesus

by Burridge, Richard A.

• ISBN13: 9780802844583
• ISBN10: 0802844588
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-10-22
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

In contrast to many studies of New Testament ethics, which treat the New Testament in general and Paul in particular, this book focuses on the person of Jesus himself. Richard Burridge maintains that imitating Jesus means following both his words ? which are very demanding ethical teachings ? and his deeds and example of being inclusive and accepting of everyone. Burridge carefully and systematically traces that combination of rigorous ethical instruction and inclusive community through the letters of Paul and the four Gospels, treating specific ethical issues pertaining to each part of Scripture. The book culminates with a chapter on apartheid as an ethical challenge to reading the New Testament; using South Africa as a contemporary case study enables Burridge to highlight and further apply his previous discussion and conclusions.

Table of Contents

Being 'Biblical': Contexts and Starting Points	p. 1
The scholarly context of the debate	p. 5
The personal context of this project	p. 16
The biographical context of the gospels' genre	p. 19
Conclusion	p. 31
Jesus of Nazareth: Great Moral Teacher or Friend of Sinners?	p. 33
Beginning with the historical Jesus	p. 34
Jesus' ethical teaching - his words	p. 40
Jesus' ethical example - his deeds	p. 62
Conclusion	p. 78
Paul: Follower or Founder?	p. 81
Paul's Christology	p. 83
Paul's letters in their setting	p. 90
Ethics, eschatology and theology	p. 98
Paul, love and the law	p. 107
Ethical issues in early Pauline communities	p. 116
The imitation of Jesus in Paul	p. 138
Conclusion	p. 154
Mark: Suffering for the Kingdom	p. 155
Mark's Christology	p. 160
Mark's setting and eschatology	p. 166
The law and love	p. 169
Ethical issues in Mark	p. 172
Following and imitating Jesus, the friend of sinners	p. 179
Conclusion	p. 184
Matthew: Being Truly Righteous	p. 187
Matthew's Christology	p. 189
Matthew's setting and eschatology	p. 199
The law and love	p. 203
Ethical issues in Matthew	p. 212
Imitating Jesus, the friend of sinners	p. 218
Conclusion	p. 224
Luke-Acts: A Universal Concern	p. 227
Luke's Christology	p. 230
Luke's setting and eschatology	p. 246
The law and love	p. 250
Ethical issues in Luke	p. 260
Imitating Jesus, the friend of sinners	p. 274
Conclusion	p. 282
John: Teaching the Truth in Love	p. 285
John's Christology	p. 292
John's setting and eschatology	p. 307
Judaism, the law and love	p. 312
Ethical issues in John	p. 330
Imitating Jesus, the friend of sinners	p. 334
Conclusion	p. 345
Apartheid: An Ethical and Generic Challenge to Reading the New Testament	p. 347
Using the New Testament today	p. 352
Obeying rules and prescriptive commands	p. 363
Looking for principles and universal values	p. 368
Following examples and paradigms	p. 376
Embracing an overall symbolic worldview	p. 382
Reading together in an inclusive community	p. 388
Conclusion	p. 406
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