Irony In The Matthean Passion Narrative

Irony (as used here) is a rhetorical and literary device for revealing “what is hidden behind what is seen.” It thus offers the reader a superior understanding by means of the distinction between reality and its shadow. The book provides a history of different definitions of irony, from Aristophanes to Booth; discusses the constitutive formal elements of irony and the functions of irony; then studies particular aspects of the Matthean Passion Narrative that require the reader to recognize a deeper truth beneath the surface of the narrative.

Jesus words of indictment and judgment in the Gospel according to Matthew have fueled centuries of Christian anti-Judaism. But what did those words originally mean within Matthews narrative? David L. Turner examines how Matthew has taken up Deuteronomic themes of prophetic rejection and judgment and woven them throughout the Gospel, culminating in Matthew 23:32. Matthew was engaged in a heated intramural dispute with other Jewish groups, Turner argues. The legacy of Christian anti-Jewish violence reflects a gross misunderstanding of Matthew by generations who have failed to recognize the authors worldview and allusions.

In this book, Nathan C. Johnson offers the first full-scale study of David traditions in the Gospel of Matthew's story of Jesus's death. He offers a solution to the tension between Matthew's assertion that Jesus is the Davidic messiah and his humiliating death. To convince readers of his claim that Jesus was the Davidic messiah, Matthew would have to bridge the gap between messianic status and disgraceful execution. Johnson's proposed solution to this conundrum is widely overlooked yet refreshingly simple. He shows how Matthew makes his case for Jesus as the Davidic messiah in the passion narrative by alluding to texts in which David, too, suffered. Matthew thereby participates in a common intertextual, Jewish approach to messianism. Indeed, by alluding to suffering David texts, Matthew attempts to turn the tables of the problem of a crucified messiah by portraying Jesus as the Davidic messiah not despite, but because of his suffering.

"A pioneering exercise in autobiographical biblical interpretation". -- R. Alan Culpepper "Remarkably moving. One of the best critiques of New Testament reader-response criticism..". -- Mary Gerhart

Holds that in the aftermath of the Shoah, any Christian theology must be constructed so that it does not in any way reproduce the "teaching of contempt" toward the Jews that has been implicit in much Christian thinking and which contributed to the Holocaust. Proposes that any statement of Christian theology must be judged on the basis of how it would be received by Jewish partners in dialogue. Christian theology must "safeguard the legitimacy of Judaism". Attempts a "midrashic" interpretation of Christian theology, shifting away from a focus on Jesus and toward a Torah-centered theology. Contends that genuine Christianity is marked by the themes of resistance and rescue. Examines Christian scriptures from this perspective.

This work uses literary (narrative) criticism to explore the world of the evangelist Matthew. The focus is on the plot of the gospel story, with discussions of the storylines, Jesus' speeches and journey, the disciples' experiences, and the contemporary community. The book is a completely revised and enlarged version of the first edition. Two chapters have been added: one discussing the speeches of Jesus and one tracing the storline of the religious leaders. Also, chapter 5 on Jesus' use of "the Son of man" has been substantially rewritten to explain more fully and more clearly the meaning and function of this self-designation. Throughout the book, new topics and insights have been added and developed, and the citations and bibliography have been updated.

Poetics is the study of the making of literary works of art. In gospel studies, in contrast to the dominant historical-critical paradigm, poetics regard the gospels as literature. This approach is associated with a particular methodological movement: narrative criticism. Petri Merenlahti argues that poetics offer a vital critical tool to interpreters of the gospels. But the approach must necessarily be historical, recognising that perceptions of literary form and value are not fixed, but evolve and develop from one time and culture to another. Far from being neutral, these perceptions are integrally connected with ways of perceiving reality that reflect particular interests in human societies. Through methodological discussion and detailed analyses of gospel narratives, this book introduces a comprehensive programme of historical poetics for gospel studies.