The Servant of the Lord and His Servant People: Tracing a Biblical Theme Through the Canon

by Matthew S. Harmon, D. A. Carson (Editor)

Overview

It is often recognized that the title "servant" is applied to key figures throughout the Bible, culminating in Jesus Christ. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume Matthew Harmon carefully traces this theme from Genesis to Revelation with the intention of seeing how earlier servants point forward to the ultimate Servant. While this servant theme certainly is significant in its own right throughout redemptive history, it also plays a supporting role, enhancing and enriching other themes such as son, prophet, and king.

Harmon shows how the title "servant" not only gives us a clearer understanding of Jesus Christ but also has profound implications for our lives as Christians. When we grasp what it means to be servants of Christ, our love for him and our obedience to him deepen. Understanding that the ultimate Servant Jesus Christ indwells his people to empower them to serve others in love has the potential to transform how we interact with fellow believers and the world around us.

Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830810352
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	01/26/2021
Series:	New Studies in Biblical Theology , #54
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Matthew S. Harmon (PhD, Wheaton College) is professor of New Testament studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. His books include Rebels and Exiles, Making All Things New, and Asking the Right Questions: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Applying the Bible as well commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, 2 Peter, and Jude.

D. A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Table of Contents

Series preface ix

Author's preface xi

Abbreviations xiii

1 Introduction 1

Preliminary issues 1

2 Adam: the first servant 7

God creates a servant 8

The servant fails 26

God calls a servant 32

Conclusion 38

3 Moses: the servant prophet 41

Setting the stage 41

Moses as servant of Yahweh in the Torah 43

Moses as servant of Yahweh in the Prophets and Writings 54

Conclusion 58

4 Joshua: the servant conqueror 61

The transition from one servant to another 62

Joshua does what Moses the servant commanded 66

Yahweh performs similar acts through Joshua 68

The death of Joshua the servant 76

Conclusion 77

5 David: the servant king 79

Israel's need for a servant 79

The life of David the servant 82

Solomon the servant's son 97

The eschatological hope in David the servant 102

Conclusion 107

6 The Isaianic servant: the suffering servant 109

Servant references in Isaiah 1-39 110

The servant in Isaiah 40 - 66 111

Conclusion 141

7 Jesus: the servant par excellence 143

Servant language applied to Jesus 144

Jesus as the fulfilment of previous servants 172

Conclusion 178

8 The apostles: servants of Christ 179

Paul the servant of Christ 179

Paul's ministry co-workers 193

Peter the servant of Christ 196

James the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ 197

Jude the servant of Christ 197

John the servant of Christ 198

Conclusion 199

9 The church: a servant people 201

Gospels and Acts 202

Paul's letters 209

Catholic epistles 214

Revelation 215

Conclusion 220

10 Conclusion 223

Implications 224

Bibliography 229

Index of authors 243

Index of Scripture references 246

Index of ancient sources 262