Jesus and His Death

Recent books on the historical Jesus illustrate how compelling scholars and general readers alike find the topic of Jesus' death. But these books also illustrate a major problem-some studies depend upon some grand interpretive theory, while others rivet their attention on exegetical details and disregard developmental questions. Widely read, Scot McKnight does both. He moves back and forth with careful transitions between contemporary hermeneutics and the ancient texts. As he does so, he also provides a rich and often entertaining account of the secondary literature. The volume can be read both as an address of its central questions and as a well-informed introduction to New Testament theology.

~Bruce Chilton, Bard College

This is a brave book. With due awareness of the historical traps and with a mastery of the recent relevant literature, McKnight here asks the crucial question, How did Jesus interpret his own death? His answer, which hearkens back to Albert Schweitzer, does full justice to Jesus' eschatological outlook and makes good sense within a first-century Jewish context. Even those who see things differently--I do not--will enjoy how the detailed and rigorous argument develops and will find themselves learning a great deal.

~Dale C. Allison Jr., Errett M. Grabe Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scot McKnight is fully aware that making claims about the historical Jesus is like entering a minefield. But he combines wide-ranging knowledge of and a willingness to interact with the extensive literature to build a careful, brick-by-brick argument. The sheer breadth of issues covered separates this work from what might otherwise have been its competitors. In ways reminiscent of Stephen Neil, McKnight also has written a book that is never dry or dull.

~Joel B. Green, Dean and Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary

McKnight has provided in Jesus and His Death a very dense, scholarly, meticulous discussion of how Jesus perceived his death. His conclusions are largely convincing… He is lucid and clear, and I highly recommend it for those who are willing.

~Johnny Walker, FREEDOM IN ORTHODOXY Christian Origins, Theology and Philosophy

McKnight leaves few stones unturned in this comprehensive analysis. The book is well written and engaging, with many original ideas. Its greatest strengths are its breadth of coverage, mastery of secondary literature, and cautious scholarly conclusions.

~Mark L. Strauss, Bethel Seminary, San Diego, Bulletin for Biblical Research

It is the measure of a good book that it manages to stir up serious discussion and rethinking on a subject that is an already very heavily trod path by scholars. If the book can also manage to shoo away a few sacred cows which should have been put out to pasture long ago, so much the better (like the notion that obedience to God has little do with salvation since it is sole fidei, sola gratia). If the book can also do this in a perspicuous and svelte manner, this is a plus as well, since there are far too many obese books on Romans. Scot McKnight’s new book entitled Reading Romans Backwards, accomplishes all this and more.

~Ben Witherington III, The Bible and Culture