Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible

by Pentiuc, Eugen J.

• ISBN13: 9780809143467
• ISBN10: 0809143461
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-15
• Publisher: Paulist Pr

Summary

JESUS THE MESSIAH IN THE HEBREW BIBLE deals with the messianic texts found in the Hebrew Bible. Shifting away from conventional paradigms, Eugen Pentiuc develops a new way of understanding the presence of Christ in the Old Testament. His approach is ontological, based on the view that Jesus the Messiah was pre-existent, and he appeared in manifold forms throughout the Hebrew Bible prior to his human incarnation in the New Testament. This book provides an accurate exegetical basis for reviewing the prophetic indicators--"as well as the literary explications--"of the relationship between the Old Testament prophecy and the New Testament fulfillment of Jesus the Messiah. Intended as primarily a pastoral work, based on theology and biblical exegesis, it contains' homelitic outlines and samples. Also included are the church Fathers' writings on the most important issues of hermeneutics. This book is a work of exegesis and biblical theology entwined with pastoral guidance. It will be a useful tool for both ministers and faithful in their quest of Christ in the Old Testament.

Author Biography

Eugen J. Pentiuc is currently assistant professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at the Holy Cress Greek-Orthodox School of Theology.

Table of Contents

ABBREVIATIONS	xii
PREFACE	xiii
Part A The Fallen Messiah	1	(40)
I. Three Steps in Fashioning Humanity	5	(20)
1. The First Step: Humanity as a Reflection, or Image, of the Triune God	5	(9)
(1) Unity in Diversity (Gen 1:26-27)	6	(4)
(2) God's Living Breath (Gen 2:7)	10	(4)
2. The Second Step: Reshaping the Face of Humanity	14	(7)
(1) A Help like Humanity's Opposite (Gen 2:18)	14	(2)
(2) Playing God (Gen 2:19-20)	16	(2)
(3) A Help from Inside Humanity (Gen 2:21-22)	18	(2)
(4) Man's Identity (Gen 2:23)	20	(1)
3. The Third Step: Humanity's Unity Regained	21	(2)
Made One for Another (Gen 2:24)	21	(2)
Notes	23	(2)
II. Swinging between Life and Power	25	(9)
1. God's Enticement	25	(1)
(1) A Garden, a Steppe, and Chaos (Gen 2:8)	25	(1)
(2) "The tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil..." (Gen 2:9)	26	(1)
2. Mixed Feelings	26	(4)
(1) Happiness and Insecurity in the Garden (Gen 2:15-17)	26	(2)
(2) The Serpent's Guile (Gen 3:1)	28	(2)
3. The Fall of Humanity	30	(2)
(1) A Preamble to Sin: Eve's Three Mistakes (Gen 3:2-3)	30	(1)
a. Entering into Dialogue with the Serpent (Gen 3:1-2)	30	(1)
b. Creating Her Own Universe (Gen 3:3a)	31	(1)
c. Defending God (Gen 3:3b)	31	(1)
(2) Original Sin (Gen 2-3)	31	(1)
Notes	32	(2)
III. Humanity's Fate Revealed (Gen 3:15)	34	(7)
1. Harassment between Serpent and Humanity	34	(2)
2. The Seed of the Woman: Another Chance	36	(2)
Notes	38	(3)
Part B The Rising Messiah	41	(145)
I. The Preexistence of Messiah	43	(47)
1. Within the Godhead	43	(13)
(1) Poured Out as a Libation (Prov 8:23; Ps 2:6 [LXX and pre-MT])	43	(2)
(2) Acquired by God (Prov 8:22 [MT])	45	(1)
(3) Brought Forth in Labors (Prov 8:24)	46	(1)
(4) A Source of Delight for God (Prov 8:30b//Matt 3:17)	47	(1)
(5) God's Partners in Dialogue (Gen 1:26-27; Isa 9:5; Zech 13:7; Ps 110:1; Prov 8:30a)	48	(4)
a. Messiah: A "Wonder-Counselor" or an "Angel of a Great Council"	49	(1)
b. The Man: God's Fellow	50	(1)
c. Melchizedek: Co-regent with God	51	(1)
d. Wisdom: God's Confidant	52	(1)
(6) "Son of Man" or "Son of Weakness" (Dan 7:13-14//John 3:13; 5:27; 6:27, 53, 62; Matt 24:30; 26:64; 25:31; Acts 7:56; Rev 1:13; 14:14)	52	(4)
2. God's Propensities toward Incarnation	56	(28)
(1) The "Angel of Yahweh" (Gen 32:25, 27; Hos 12:4-5 [Eng. 3-4]; Exod 3:2-4; Josh 5:13-15; Judg 2:1-5; 13:17-20)	57	(6)
Other Occurrences of the "Angel of Yahweh"	63	(2)
(2) Yahweh, a Name for All Seasons (Exod 3:13-15)	65	(3)
(3) Two Yahwehs? (Gen 18:33; 19:1, 24; cf. Exod 34:5-6; Ps 22:2 [Eng. 22:1])	68	(3)
(4) Walking To and Fro (Gen 5:21-24; 6:9; 24:40)	71	(3)
(5) The Tabernacling Glory (Exod 33:18-23; Num 12:8a; Isa 6:1-3//John 1:14)	74	(3)
(6) Vibrant Silence: From Thunder to a Soft Whisper (1 Kgs 19:11-12; cf. Exod 19:16, 18-19)	77	(2)
(7) The Occurrence of God's Word (Hos 1:1; et passim in prophetic books)	79	(1)
(8) Melchizedek (Gen 14:17-24; Ps 110:4//Heb 7:1-3)	80	(4)
Notes	84	(6)
II. The Birth of Messiah	90	(49)
1. The Mother of Messiah	90	(9)
(1) The Woman (Gen 3:15)	91	(2)
(2) The Royal Consort (Ps 45:8-10)	93	(2)
(3) The Veiled One (Isa 7:14//Matt 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:26-27, 30-31)	95	(4)
2. Virginal Conception and Birth (Isa 7:14 [LXX]; Ezek 44:1-3; Jer 31:22; Exod 3:2; Isa 49:1, 5//Luke 1:34-35)	99	(7)
3. Time of Birth (Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Dan 9:24-27; Mal 3:1; Hag 2:6-9; Ps 118:25-27)	106	(11)
4. Place of Birth and Other Places in Christ's Itinerary (Mic 5:1 [Eng. 5:2]; Isa 8:23-9:1; 11:1; Hos 11:1)	117	(6)
Bethlehem	117	(2)
Nazareth	119	(1)
Galilee	120	(2)
Egypt	122	(1)
5. The Forerunner of Messiah's Birth (Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1)	123	(1)
6. The Lineage of Messiah (Son of Man: Dan 7:13-14; of Shem: Gen 9:25-27; of Abraham: Gen 12:1-3; of Isaac: Gen 26:4-5; of Judah: Gen 49:10; of Jesse: Isa 11:1; of David: 2 Sam 7:16)	124	(10)
Son of Man	125	(1)
Son of Shem	125	(2)
Son of Abraham	127	(3)
Son of Isaac	130	(1)
Son of Judah	131	(1)
Son of Jesse	131	(1)
Son of David	132	(2)
Notes	134	(5)
III. The Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Messiah	139	(47)
1. The Betrayal	141	(10)
(1) Betrayer's Profile (Ps 41:10 [Eng. 41:9]; 55:13-15 [Eng. 55:12-14])	141	(7)
a. Colleague	142	(1)
b. Trusted One	143	(1)
c. Meal Sharer	144	(1)
d. Despiser	144	(1)
e. Co-equal	145	(1)
f. Compatriot	146	(1)
g. Confidant	146	(1)
h. Participant in a Secret Gathering	147	(1)
(2) Sold for Thirty Pieces of Silver (Zech 11:12-13//Matt 26:15-16; 27:3-10)	148	(3)
2. The Passion	151	(24)
(1) Forsaken by His Disciples (Zech 13:7//Mark 14:27)	151	(2)
(2) Accused by Fanatic Witnesses (Ps 35:11-12; 109:2; 38:13-15 [Eng. 38:12-14]; 39:2; Isa 53:7//Matt 26:59-60; 27:12, 14; 1 Pet 2:23)	153	(2)
(3) Smitten with a Rod upon His Cheek (Mic 4:14 [Eng. 5:1]; Isa 50:6a//Matt 26:67-68; 27:30)	155	(2)
(4) Spat Upon (Isa 50:6b//Matt 26:67a; 27:30a)	157	(1)
(5) Pierced in Hands and Feet (Ps 22:17 [Eng. 22:16]//John 20:25)	158	(1)
(6) Crucified with Thieves (Isa 53:9, 12 //Mark 15:27, 28; Luke 22:37; 23:39-43)	159	(1)
(7) He Prayed for His Persecutors (Ps 109:4-5; Isa 53:12//Luke 23:34; cf. Acts 7:59)	160	(1)
(8) He Became the Object of Ridicule (Ps 109:25; 22:7, 8, 13 [Eng. 22:6, 7, 12]; Isa 52:14; 53:2-3 //Matt 27:39; Luke 23:35)	161	(2)
(9) His Garments Were Gambled for (Ps 22:19 [Eng. 22:18]//John 19:23, 24)	163	(1)
(10) Abandoned by God (Ps 22:2 [Eng. 22:1]; Isa 49:14; 54:7-8//Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34-35)	163	(3)
(11) He Agonized with Thirst (Ps 22:16 [Eng. 22:15]; 69:3, 21//John 19:28; Matt 27:34, 48)	166	(1)
(12) He Entrusted His Spirit to God (Ps 22:21 [Eng. 22:20]; 31:6//Matt 27:43; Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59)	167	(3)
(13) His Friends Stood Afar Off (Ps 38:12; 88:8; Isa 63:3//Luke 23:49)	170	(1)
(14) They Did Not Break His Bones (Ps 22:18 [Eng. 22:17]; 34:20-21 [Eng. 34:19-20]; Exod 12:46; Num 9:12//John 19:36)	171	(2)
(15) He Was Pierced between His Hands (Zech 12:10;13:1, 6//John 20:25-27; cf. 19:34; Rev 1:7)	173	(1)
(16) Darkness over the Whole Earth (Amos 8:9; Ps 22:3 [Eng. 22:1]//Matt 27:45)	174	(1)
3. The Death	175	(4)
(1) He Died a Voluntary, Substitutionary Death (Isa 53:5, 6, 11, 12; 50:6; Dan 9:26//John 10:11, 18; Matt 20:28; 1 Cor 15:3; Gal 2:20; Heb 1:3; 1 Pet 2:24; Rev 1:5)	175	(3)
(2) He Was Buried with the Rich (Isa 53:9//Matt 27:57-61)	178	(1)
4. The Resurrection	179	(5)
The Third-Day Resurrection and the "Sign of Jonah" (Hos 6:1-3; Jonah 1:17//Matt 12:39-40; 1 Pet 3:18-20)	179	(5)
Notes	184	(2)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	186