Jesus the Seer: The Progress of Prophecy

by Ben Witherington III (Editor)

Overview

Increasingly, scholars recognize that prophetic traditions, expressions, and experiences stand at the heart of most religions in the ancient Mediterranean world. This is no less true for the world of Judaism and Jesus. Ben Witherington III offers an extensive, cross-cultural survey of the broader expressions of prophecy in its ancient Mediterranean context, beginning with Mari, moving to biblical figures not often regarded as prophetsBalaam, Deborah, Moses, and Aaronand to the apocalyptic seer in postexilic prophecy, showing that no single pattern describes all prophetic figures. The consequence is that different aspects of Jesus' activity touch upon prophetic predecessors: his miracles, on Elijah and Elisha; his self-understanding as the Son of Man, on Daniel and 1 Enoch; his warnings of woe and judgment, on the "writing prophets" in Judean tradition; and his messianic entry into Jerusalem, on Zechariah 9. Witherington also surveys the phenomenon of apocalyptic prophecy in early Christianity, including Paul, Revelation, the Didache, Hermas, and the Montanist movement. Jesus the Seer is a worthy complement to Witheringtons other volume on Jesus, Jesus the Sage (Fortress Press, 2000).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451488876
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2014
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and is on the doctoral faculty at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. He has taught at Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His numerous books include, from Fortress Press, Jesus the Seer (2014) and Jesus the Sage (2000).

Table of Contents

Preface to the Fortress Press Edition vii

A Preview of Coming Attractions ix

Abbreviations xv

Introduction: Through the Eyes of the Seer 1

1 The Beginning of the Word 8

2 Keepers of the Flame: The Early Israelite Prophetic Experience 43

3 Courting the Prophets: Prophets and the Early Monarchy 62

4 Prophets of Holy Writ: From Amos to the Exile 104

5 Exilic Dreams of Grandeur 145

6 Vital Visions or the Dying of the Light? 182

7 Apocalypse-Then 216

8 Jesus the Seer 246

9 Prophets, Seers, and Dreamers at the Dawn of the Christian Era 293

10 Profile of a Prophet and His Movement: Jesus and His Followers in the Greco-Roman World 329

11 From the Seer to the Shepherd: Apocalyptic at the End of the New Testament Era 351

12 From Mari to Montanus 381

13 The Progress of Prophecy: Conclusions 398

Bibliography 405

Indexes 415