Jennings attempts something new: by approaching the question of the meaning of the cross through close attention to the biblical passages that serve as the basis of any reflection on the cross of Jesus and an engagement with patristic as well as contemporary discussion. The result is an alternative theology of the cross that grounds the message concerning the cross in the socio-political reality in which it was historically located and points to the way in which this message bears upon contemporary social and ecclesial reality.
Jennings's truly fresh understanding for Christians of the meaning of Jesus' death specifically grounds the cross in the concrete political confrontation within which it occurred, relates the message about the cross to the practice of Jesus (thus keeping in relationship the gospels and the theology of Paul), and shows how the cross bears on overcoming of human division and sin, reconciliation to God, and new forms of social reality in the community of the crucified.
Preface ix
Chapter 1 Rethinking Atonement 1
Worn-out language 2
The contemporary problematic 10
Outline of the project 18
Part 1 The Cross against the Principalities and Powers
Chapter 2 Cross and Domination 25
The historical reality of the cross 29
The execution of Jesus 31
The policy of Jesus 34
The provocation of Jesus 36
The cross against empire(Paul) 40
The cross of the disciple 43
(De)coding the cross (patristic perspectives) 50
The cross against the violence of domination today 55
Chapter 3 The Cross and Division 61
The practice of Jesus 65
Handed over to the gentiles 69
Gentile mission 71
Patristic perspectives 74
Neither slave nor free 76
Neither male nor female 79
The cross and division today 80
Excursus: the election of Israel 83
Chapter 4 The Cross and Accusation 85
The practice of Jesus 86
The condemnation of Jesus 96
Christ and sinners (Paul) 98
Welcome one another (Paul) 101
The cross against accusation today 103
Chapter 5 The Cross and Suffering 105
Unjust suffering 106
Unjust and "natural" suffering 110
The ministry of Jesus 112
Healings and the cross 115
Martyrdom and mortality 118
The bodies of women and slaves 120
Body and earth 120
The festival of life released from death 122
Conclusion 123
Chapter 6 Reconciliation with God 125
Appeasing divine wrath 125
Who is reconciled? 127
Overcoming han 131
Part 2 Implications of the Cross
Chapter 7 The Community of the Crucified 149
The centrality of the cross (1 Corinthians 1-3) 150
The question of Communion 159
Jesus and quarreling disciples 163
Let love be genuine (Paul) 167
The embattled community 170
Old community ornew? 173
Chapter 8 Dying with/in the Messiah 175
The way of the cross 178
Crucified to the flesh 180
The question of asceticism 190
The question of baptism 193
Conclusion: A life of vulnerability to the other 195
Chapter 9 The Cross of God 199
The passion of God: historical perspectives 201
Nineteenth-century reflections 205
Overcoming divine apathy 206
Toward a political theology of the cross 211
Chapter 10 After Atonement? 217
Notes 231
Bibliography 251
Index 259
Overview
Jennings attempts something new: by approaching the question of the meaning of the cross through close attention to the biblical passages that serve as the basis of any reflection on the cross of Jesus and an ...