William R. G. Loader

This book provides a critical reassessment and fresh analysis of Jesus' attitude towards the Law as portrayed in each of the canonical Gospels, Q, Thomas, and the apocryphal Gospels. Representing William Loader's definitive work on the subject, this comprehensive study presents in a clearer picture of Jesus and his message. A special feature of this book is its textually "sequential analysis of the theme of the Law. By taking this unique approach, Loader lets Jesus' stance towards the Law emerge directly out of the Gospel narratives themselves while at the same time highlighting important similarities and differences between the texts. Comparing the canonical Gospels with each other and with crucial noncanonical sources allows Loader to probe behind the tradition in the search for Jesus' true relationship with the Judaism of his day. Despite its focused theme, this is not a book about the historical Jesus. Instead, it works with the ancient materials we actually have before us and so offers a more secure basis for the less certain task of reconstructing the history behind the texts. In treating each Gospel, Loader also begins with a substantial engagement of current and previous research before presenting his own perspectives. As a result, "Jesus' Attitude towards the Law will be valued both as an original scholarly contribution and as an unrivaled sourcebook for studying Jesus, Second Temple Judaism, and the origins of Christianity.

A Study of the Gospels

Jesus' Attitude Towards the Law

Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr

Mikhail Seleznev

This volume includes eighteen essays on the Gospel of Matthew from historical and theological perspectives. They center around three topics: Matthew in Reception and Research; Matthew in Context; and Themes and Motifs in Matthew. The volume includes studies of both the Gospel in its context and its reception history in ancient Christianity and in churches today. All contributors are leading authorities in biblical studies on different continents, in a variety of countries, and of different confessions. The book therefore showcases the present state of inter-confessional and international biblical studies on Matthew.

William R. G. Loader

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