Book Review Jesus and the Gospels Craig L Blomberg
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Craig Blomberg, NT professor at Denver Seminary, has written about the historical reliability of the Gospels, John, and of the New Attestation; commentaries on Matthew, 1 Corinthians, and James; NT introductions on the (i) Gospels and (2) Acts through Revelation. He has written ii books on interpreting and preaching the Gospel parables; biblical theologies of possessions (ii books on wealth, actually) and Jesus eating with sinners; on NT exegesis; an introduction on biblical interpretation; and on Premillennialism. Oh, and more than. He has written numerous academic articles, general manufactures, some review articles, a few dictionary entries, and notes on Matthew and John in 2 study Bibles.
As the cap of his academic writing (that does non mean he is finished writing), Blomberg has written A New Testament Theology. This is not the definitive NT theology, but a NT theology, one focusing on fulfillment. Blomberg writes, "Every NT book states… that the age of the fulfillment of these [OT] promises has arrived. The Messiah has come up. Israel's savior has appeared. Their spiritual exile can be over. The people of State of israel are being reconstituted among Jesus' followers. A new age has been inaugurated that will comprehend all people and all peoples of the earth on equal terms" (11).
Rather than treating the NT topically every bit in Schreiner and Beale's NT excellent theologies, Blomberg looks at the distinctive themes within each NT volume (some being grouped together, but even so distinct from each in that group). Blomberg looks at the canonical text. He doesn't spend much fourth dimension on how we got these texts (you can read his books on the historical reliability of the NT above). Blomberg is "much more than interested in what the authors present than how they got to the signal of presenting it" (xiii). So he doesn't compare the NT documents with other ancient writings or their historical backgrounds and influences, except when and how they are affected by the OT. The Greco-Roman writings have little to say hither. Blomberg acknowledges that there is diversity among the NT letters, only each writer has his ain distinctive themes and emphases.
Blomberg begins with a look at Jesus and the historical aspects that all four (but generally Synoptics) agree on. Everything that is in Mark is basically in Matthew and Mark, and Blomberg looks here to present Jesus to his readers. Then he heads to the early church building as seen in Acts. He and so moves to the early Jewish Christian letters James and Jude, probably the earliest NT messages we have. Here (besides in the introduction) readers will observe that Jude is not placed with 2 Peter (which it is in many introductions and commentaries). Rather, Blomberg places 1 Peter with 2 Peter (what a novel idea). Though neither make grand announcements that the last days have arrived, the concept is implicit in these two brusk letters. Jesus is our grid for ethics and theology. The last days accept come. Imitation teaching has arisen in the churches. We can look to the OT to see God'due south judgment on the wicked, and we tin warn those who follow the fake teachers that they are doomed if they go along down that crooked way.
Next comes the chapter on Paul. Blomberg believes all thirteen of Paul's letters to be authentically Pauline. Yet he doesn't treat all xiii letters in this chapter. He sets the pastorals aside until after Luke-Acts. Many features of the pastorals match Luke and Acts, and it is possible that Luke was Paul's amanuensis (Luke wrote what Paul dictated, and no doubt would take talked about the text with him, writing in his own style and adding his own nuances [183]). Blomberg, non wanting to carelessness the distinctions betwixt Paul's letters. believes "the need for an overall synthesis outweighs the benefits one would proceeds by focusing merely on the distinctives of each alphabetic character" (181). It was the aforementioned person who wrote all of these letters. The distinctions come out of the same mind who has the same worldview: Jesus Christ is the Messiah who come up to world, died, was raised, ascended to the Father, and is ruling at his right hand. Blomberg looks at the theme of fulfillment briefly in each of Paul'due south letters before he looks at the unifying themes among them.
Afterwards Paul comes Marker, Matthew, Luke and Acts. What is impressive is that, in some ways, the Gospels and Acts have already been covered in the chapters on Jesus and the early church building. Simply in these after chapters Blomberg shows what is distinctive with Marker, Matthew, and Luke, along with the similarities of Luke and Acts. The chapter on the early church building had primarily to do with, well, life of the early church, their use of the OT Scripture, eschatology, salvation, and their care for the poor. His chapter on Luke and Acts focuses on the Holy Spirit, riches and poverty, the peachy reversal of the low being raised and the proud being humbled, the inclusion of outsiders, the view of authorities, the land, the law, the temple, discipleship, ecclesiology, and more.
Adjacent Bomberg surveys the Pastoral Epistles, Hebrews, 1-2 Peter, and the Johannine literature. He groups John's messages together while still keeping them singled-out. Judgment is a minor theme in John, is inappreciably mentioned in 1-3 John, and is everywhere in Revelation.
Recommended?
Schreiner and Beale's NT theologies are withal my favorite, and there are many good theologies out in that location. Withal, Blomberg has written an excellent, hefty tome that will assist many to sympathise the NT better. I've already been able to use some of it to fix for my sermon on John this Sunday, and I know it will exist on of the first ones I grab in the futurity. Blomberg'south method of going book-by-book helps readers to find information on a NT letter more than easily. This is obvious, but of import. Schreiner and Beale take written first-class NT theologies, but it can be difficult to find out their thoughts on Marker without heading straight for the Scripture Index in the dorsum. Blomberg is non a perfect interpreter, but he has read widely, deeply, and critically. He is upward to date on his information, and his NT theology is very readable and well recommended.
Lagniappe
- Author: Craig Fifty. Blomberg
- Softcover: 769 pages
- Publisher: Baylor University Press (Oct ane, 2018)
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Disclosure: I received this book gratis from Baylor Academy Press. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was non required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Merchandise Commission'southward 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.admission.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html .
Source: https://spoiledmilks.com/2019/01/07/review-new-testament-theology-blomberg/
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