The Community of the Faithful: Jesus as a Personification of Servant Israel
Ebook
Based on an extension of the traditional Jewish theological interpretations of the texts of Daniel 7 and Isaiah 53, we can develop the perceptual lens that Jesus' role was to singularly personify the collective nation of Israel and to not only relive their history, but to carry out their ultimate destiny in a microcosm. The Jewish prophets spoke of a death and resurrection experience that Israel would have to undergo, and these took place in both the bondage and slavery in Egypt (death) and the subsequent restoration to the promised land (resurrection), and a second time in the exile to Babylon (death) and then restoration to the Holy Land and re-consecration of the temple by the Persians (resurrection). But this death and resurrection experience was actualized and finalized by Jesus himself, who singularly represented and personified his people, Israel. This act became the literal fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament and conclusively restored the House of Israel to their promised place based on the original covenant as extended to Abraham and his descendants.
“While himself coming from outside of the Christian tradition,
Khaira embarks on a challenging scholarly journey through the deep
waters of Messianic interpretation based on the key narratives of
the prophetic writings in the Tanak in relation to the Gospels of
Matthew and Luke. The reader follows Khaira in his analysis via
various theological approaches, from redaction criticism to
Jewish/Christian typology. A worthwhile study that has sprung from
a very creative mind.”
—Gerald S. Krispin, President and Vice-Chancellor emeritus,
Concordia University of Edmonton
“Here we see a fresh and insightful treatment of the Son of Man and
Suffering Servant motifs in the New Testament. Khaira has a
sensitive and appreciative awareness of how the Jewish foundations
of these key concepts informed the actions and teachings of Jesus.
Recommended.”
—Steven Muir, Professor of Religious Studies, Concordia University
of Edmonton
“Khaira has rightly emphasized the corporate nature of the ‘Servant
of Yahweh’ concept in Isaiah 40–66, which is later carried on in
the term ‘Son of Man’ as the faithful in Daniel 7. In the Gospels,
the relationship between the individual and the community of the
faithful intensifies but, as Khaira shows, the corporate nature of
these terms is not to be forgotten.”
—Adrian M. Leske, Professor of Religious Studies emeritus,
Concordia University of Edmonton
- Title: The Community of the Faithful: Jesus as a Personification of Servant Israel
- Authors: Arsh Khaira, Steven Muir
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666708318, 9781666708295, 9781666708301, 1666708313, 1666708291, 1666708305
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666708318
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T19:50:58Z
Arsh Khaira is a scholar, musician, writer, and poet from
Sherwood Park, Alberta. He holds an MA in Biblical and Christian
Studies (Concordia Edmonton), an MBA (University of Alberta), and a
PhD in Music (University of Alberta). He has previously taught
courses in religious studies, music, and marketing at both
Concordia University Edmonton and the University of Alberta. To
learn more about his scholarly work and music, please visit
www.ArshKhaira.com.