“One of Germany’s best-known New Testament scholars, Prof. Peter Stuhlmacher of TubingenÂexegete and theologian, scholar and pastorÂoffers here three outstanding essays on Jesus Christ, his death, and the Lord’s Supper. Ever concerned with the relationship of history and theology, Stuhlmacher focuses intently on the correlation of facts and faith. Recognizing that the New Testament is concerned with both what happened in Jesus and what Jesus’ person and work mean, Stuhlmacher sketches the dynamic trajectory from the concrete to the confessional.
The first essay examines how ‘the proclaimer’ became ‘the proclaimed.’ The second essay recognizes the several levels of New Testament interpretation of Jesus’ death, moving from the merely factual understanding to the thoroughly theological explanation. The third essay examines the elements of Jesus’ ministry that are often related to the church’s later celebration of the Lord’s Supper, arguing that the practice looked back to Jesus’ death and resurrection and gave concrete expression to the church’s ongoing experience of the Risen Lord’s presence and power until his eschatological return.
Stuhlmacher’s careful work is concerned to discover and demonstrate what from the Jesus of history, from the life of the early church, from the New Testament itself, and from historical Christian faith is ‘incumbent upon us.’ All persons concerned with Jesus, with faith in him as God’s Christ, and with faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ as Lord will find this book instructive and inspiring.”
ÂMarion L. Soards, Professor of New Testament Studies, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary