Why Christ Matters: Toward a New Testament Christology

188 Pages·2015·0.821 MB·English

by  Leander E. Keck

WWHHYY CCHHRRIISSTT MMAATTTTEERRSS
TToowwaarrdd aa NNeeww TTeessttaammeenntt CChhrriissttoollooggyy
LLEEAANNDDEERR
KKEECCKK
WHY CHRIST MATTERS
This page intentionally left blank
WHY CHRIST MATTERS
Toward a New Testament Christology
Leander E. Keck
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PRESS
© 2015 by Baylor University Press
Waco, Texas 76798-7363
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani-
cal, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing
of Baylor University Press.
Scripture quotations, where not the author’s own translation, are from the New
Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cover Design by Hannah Feldmeier
978-1-4813-0299-9 (Web PDF)
This E-book was converted from the original source file by a third-party vendor.
Readers who encounter any issues with formatting, text, linking, or readability are
encouraged to notify the publisher at [email protected]. Some font char-
acters may not display on all e-readers.
To inquire about permission to use selections from this text, please contact Baylor
University Press, One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, Texas 76798.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Keck, Leander E.
[Works. Selections]
Why Christ matters : toward a New Testament Christology / Leander E. Keck.
187 pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4813-0297-5 (hardback : alk. paper)
1. Jesus Christ—Person and offices. I. Title.
BT203.K43 2015
232--dc23
2014039119
In honor of
Robert Morgan
four decades
an esteemed colleague
and a cherished friend
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
Preface ix
1 The Renewal of New Testament Christology 1
2 What, Then, Is New Testament Christology? 19
3 The Second Coming of the Liberal Jesus? 35
4 Jesus the Jew 43
5 Jesus and Judaism in the New Testament 57
6 Anthropology and Soteriology in Johannine Christology 73
7 Christology, Soteriology, and the Praise of God in Romans 91
8 “Jesus” in Romans 105
9 The New Testament and Nicea 125
Works Cited 157
Details of Previous Publications 169
Scripture Index 171
vii
This page intentionally left blank
Preface
Why Christ matters is the subject of New Testament Christology. The pur-
suit of this theme has energized much of my work, resulting in various pub-
lications, including Who Is Jesus? (2000). The diverse studies selected for the
present volume not only illumine how the New Testament accounts for its
claims about Jesus’ significance, but also advocate a particular view of how
New Testament Christology should be studied—by all its interpreters.
This view is outlined in the first piece, and is complemented by the sec-
ond. The next three concern a major dimension of New Testament Christol-
ogy, Jesus’ relation to the religion he inherited and never abandoned. The
discussion of two differing New Testament writings, Romans and John,
show how close attention to the texts can disclose aspects of Christ’s stated
significance that should not be passed over. The last, and longest, study
looks at the New Testament’s Christologies in light of fourth-century issues,
and so provides the kind of retrospective overview not usually found in
treatments of New Testament Christology.
Except for minor editorial adjustments, the studies have not been
revised, nor have their footnotes been updated. These pieces remain what
they were: precipitates of my efforts to hear what the New Testament says
about Christ and to understand what that means theologically.
Assuming that the assembled whole is greater than the scattered parts,
I am grateful to Baylor University Press and its director, Dr. Carey C. New-
man, for making these explorations available to a wider public. In dedicating
the book to Robert Morgan (Linacre College, Oxford), I am making public
my deep gratitude for the many benefits of our on-going conversation.
ix