The Jewish Targums and John's Logos Theology (Paperback)
Publisher: Baker Book House
Author: Ronning, John
ISBN-10: 0801047595 | ISBN-13: 9780801047596
Binding: Paperback
List Price: $29.99
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Product Description: At the beginning of his gospel, John refers to Jesus Christ as the logos—the 'Word.' Scholars have long debated the writer's use of the term and its meaning for his understanding of Christ. Some suggest that the designation is imported from Greek thinking through the Jewish philosopher Philo. Others contend that the logos is drawn from the Old Testament Wisdom tradition or from passages in the Old Testament where God's word is personalized.
Ronning makes a case that the Jewish Targums—interpretive translations of the Old Testament into Aramaic that were read in the synagogues in Palestine where John grew up—hold the key to understanding John's concept of the logos. Examining numerous texts in the Fourth Gospel in light of the Targums, Ronning shows how connecting the logos with the Targumic concept of memra clarifies a host of theological themes that run throughout the Gospel, including Jesus' "I am" sayings, the designation of Jesus as the "Son of Man," the meaning of Jesus' going to "prepare a place" for his followers, and Jesus' role as bridegroom and lawgiver.
Heavily referenced to original documents and contemporary scholarship, Ronning's impressive work will be welcomed by researchers in ancient language and New Testament studies. Includes modern author, ancient sources, and subject indices.
315 Pages
Published February 2010
About the Author: John Ronning (PhD Westminster Theological Seminary) is professor of biblical studies and director of the doctoral program at Faith Theological Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. |
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"John Ronning's fresh and stimulating study of the Aramaic tradition and the light it sheds on John's Logos theology represents another important, positive step in Johannine scholarship. The documentation is impressive and the arguments are compelling. There should no longer be any doubt about the role played by the targumic memra ("word") in Johannine Christology. Ronning's book is must-reading for anyone interested in the Johannine writings."
- Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada
"Targum research is an oft-neglected branch of biblical studies, and this book introduces a number of areas where these writings can shed light on the theology and exegesis of John's gospel. While the author expects that it will take some time for interpreters used to other ideas to digest the material in this book, he hopes that perhaps at least there can be immediate agreement that scholars can no longer ignore or give superficial attention to the Targums while trying to explain John's Logos title. An excellently researched and thought-provoking book. Highly recommended."
- Martin McNamara, Professor of Scripture at Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Dublin, editor of The Aramaic Bible
"Aramaic was the principal language of Jesus and his first followers, and the Bible in Aramaic -- available in the Targumim -- was the version of Scripture they often presupposed. For that reason the Targumim are sometimes key to the exegesis of the New Testament. In the past, attention has focused on the Synoptic Gospels. In this book, Ronning shows that a critical reading of John's Gospel is also enriched by taking account of the Targumim."
- Bruce Chilton, Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion, Bard College
"Ronning identifies an astonishing number of parallels that shed new light on John's theology more generally. Even those who may not be persuaded will surely acknowledge that this work is a wonderful education on the subject. More important, it is a contribution that changes the nature of the scholarly debate, and as such it cannot be ignored."
- Moisés Silva, author of Biblical Words and Their Meaning: An Introduction to Lexical Semantics, co-author of An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics, and Invitation to the Septuagint
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