The Preexistent Son

by Gathercole, Simon J.

• ISBN13: 9780802829016
• ISBN10: 0802829015
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-19
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

This book challenges the consensus among biblical scholars that among the four Gospels only John gives evidence for Jesus' heavenly identity and pre-existence. In "The Pre-Existent Son" Simon Gathercole demonstrates that Matthew, Mark, and Luke were in fact well aware that the Son of God existed with the Father prior to his earthly ministry. Gathercole marshals support for this assertion by considering the "I have come" sayings of Jesus and strikingly similar angelic sayings discovered in Second-Temple and Rabbinic literature. In addition, Gathercole also considers related topics, such as Wisdom Christology and the titles applied to Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels.Gathercole's carefully researched work should spark lively debate among Synoptic scholars and extend the understanding of anyone interested in this important New Testament question.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Abbreviations	ix
Introduction	1	(22)
Part One: Prolegomena
1. Preexistence in Earliest Christianity	23	(23)
Excursus: "Prophetic Dialogue" in Hebrews	43	(3)
2. The Transcendence of Christ in Matthew, Mark, and Luke	46	(37)
Part Two: The Advent and Mission of Jesus
3. The "I Have Come" + Purpose Formula in Matthew, Mark, and Luke	83	(9)
Excursus: Three Red Herrings	88	(4)
4. False Perspectives on the "I Have Come" Sayings	92	(21)
Excursus: "Coming" Language in the Dead Sea Scrolls	111	(2)
5. Use of the "I Have Come" + Purpose Formula by Angels	113	(35)
6. A New Reading of the Synoptic "I Have Come" Sayings	148	(29)
7. The Mission of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels	177	(16)
Part Three: Jesus, the Incarnation of Preexistent Wisdom?
8. A Critique of the Wisdom Christology Hypothesis	193	(17)
9. The Preexistent Christ and the History of Israel (Matthew 23.37)	210
Excursus: An Incipient Logos Christology in Luke-Acts?	221
Part Four: The Titles of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke
10. "Messiah" and "Anatole" (Luke 1.78)	231	(12)
11. "Lord"	243	(10)
12. "Son of Man"	253	(19)
13. "Son of God"	272	(12)
14. Some Aspects of the Contemporary Theological Debate	284	(9)
Conclusion	293	(5)
Select Bibliography	298	(28)
Index of Authors	326	(6)
Index of Subjects	332	(2)
Index of Ancient Sources	334