The Messianic Theology of the New Testament

“While one may not agree with all that Joshua Jipp contends for in this book, there is much good material for thought, which has been well-established in scholarship. Throughout this book Jipp highlights the key theme unifying the documents of the New Testament: the messiahship of Jesus. ‘Christ’ is not a meaningless name; rather, the name expresses Jesus’s messianic identity. Jipp stresses the importance of union with the Messiah, especially with respect to the Messiah’s people participating in his rule. The resulting book gives a good overview of how the idea of Jesus’s messiahship is woven throughout the New Testament and how it forms part of the skeletal structure of New Testament theology.”

“I was initially skeptical about the value of a new New Testament theology, but Jipp makes a convincing argument that asking about the unity of these twenty-seven pieces of literature remains a vital question. While respecting the diverse voices of the twenty-seven books, he builds upon a growing consensus in scholarship to discover that unity in the radical claim that Jesus is the singular messianic king. With thorough exegesis, theological synthesis, and demanding ethics, Jipp provides an invaluable resource for serious study and application of the entire New Testament.”

“It is striking and indeed curious that, for all the other things about which they differ widely, almost all the texts comprising the New Testament agree in calling Jesus the Christ or Messiah. In this fine book, Joshua Jipp carefully explores what writers as different as Paul and Matthew, or books as different as Revelation and the Gospel of Luke, mean by acclaiming Jesus as the Christ. What is more, along the way Jipp manages to breathe new life into the venerable but nowadays rather shabby discipline of New Testament theology.”

“Fantastically productive. ‘Jesus is the Christ’ is the core gospel confession. Yet how should it shape our theology and behavior? By a thematic reading of the New Testament that is creative yet faithful, Joshua Jipp shows that Jesus's messianic identity is theologically generative and integrative in surprising ways. An important scholarly synthesis that feeds the mind, stirs the theological imagination, and encourages transformation into the king's pattern of life.”

“The Messianic Theology of the New Testament is a triumph of thoughtful scholarship and engaged theology. Whether readers are interested in how the Messiah can be traced through the New Testament or the impact of messianic theology on the New Testament, they will be thrilled with Jipp’s accessible writing and meaningful depth. Pastors, students, and scholars alike will find this book a joy to read and a source for messianic theology for years to come!”