The Zion Traditions and the Aims of Jesus

A re-interpretation of the sayings and actions of Jesus in the context of the first century Zion traditions, first published in 1997.

Kim Huat Tan (Author)

9780521580069, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 January 1997

292 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.1 cm, 0.52 kg

This 1997 book provides an exciting re-interpretation of the sayings and actions of Jesus. Setting him firmly in the context of first-century Judaism, it asks how important the city of Jerusalem and the theological traditions centred on it were to Jesus. At this time, Zion had become 'the symbol of the life, beliefs and hopes of all Jews'. Those Jews who expected the coming of a messianic Davidic king assumed that he would reign from Zion. Dr Tan argues that, as a prophet, Jesus was attracted inevitably to the city of Zion. Skilfully integrating what Jesus is recorded to have said with what he is recorded to have done in the last weeks of his life, Dr Tan suggests that an understanding of the importance to Jesus of the Zion traditions not only helps us to understand the unifying aim behind Jesus's ministry, but also provides us with the key to the riddle of who Jesus thought he was.

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Part I. The Background: 1. Introduction
2. Zion in the first and second temple periods
Part II. The Sayings: 3. The attraction of Jerusalem (I): the city where prophets die
4. The attraction of Jerusalem (II): the city of the great king
5. 'To gather Jerusalem' (Q. 13.34-5)
Part III. The Actions: 6. Jesus in Jerusalem (I): the 'triumphal' entry
7. Jesus in Jerusalem (II): the incident in the temple
8. The last supper: restoration, covenant and people
9. Jesus and the Zion traditions
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]