Jesus the Priest

This insightful theological contribution to Jesus studies argues that seeing Jesus as priest sheds crucial light on the kingdom of God. Following his critically acclaimed book Jesus the Temple, Nicholas Perrin offers a fresh paradigm for understanding the historical Jesus. Perrin challenges the "standard reading" of classic texts (including the Parable of the Sower, the Beatitudes, and the Lord's Prayer) to argue that the historical Jesus primarily identified himself not as sage or prophet but as Israel's eschatological high priest. As priest, Jesus claims to reveal God's unchanging character through his own person and he announces the impending climax of God's eschatological purpose, constituted by the arrival of the heavenly temple on earth. Jesus the Priest identifies Jesus's priesthood as a mediating understanding that sheds crucial light on the kingdom of God. Perrin's insightful theological contribution synthesizes the best in traditional/conservative and liberal reconstructions of Jesus's life and teaching. It will be of interest to professors and students in New Testament and Jesus courses, scholars, and anyone interested in theologically engaged historical-Jesus study. Publisher's description Following his critically acclaimed book Jesus the Temple, Nicholas Perrin here offers an insightful theological contribution to Jesus studies that synthesizes the best in traditional/conservative and liberal reconstructions of Jesus's life and teaching. Some view Jesus as an eschatological prophet (conservative tradition) while others view him as a teacher of wisdom (liberal tradition). Perrin identifies the priesthood of Jesus as a mediating understanding that sheds crucial light on the kingdom of God. By viewing Jesus as priest, we understand that the central aim of God's kingdom is not the salvation of individual souls or the creation of a better society but rather the establishment of authentic worship Following his critically acclaimed book Jesus the Temple, Nicholas Perrin offers a fresh paradigm for understanding the historical Jesus. Perrin challenges the "standard reading" of classic texts (including the parable of the sower, the Beatitudes, and the Lord's Prayer) to argue that the historical Jesus primarily identified himself not as sage or prophet but as Israel's eschatological high priest. Perrin's insightful theological contribution synthesizes the best in traditional/conservative and liberal reconstructions of Jesus's life and teaching. He identifies Jesus's priesthood as a mediating understanding that sheds crucial light on the kingdom of God.