SUGG: Jesus and the Land (Gary M. Burge)

Rosie Perera

Burge, Gary M. Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to "Holy Land" Theology (Baker Academic, 2010)

Product Description

This accessible volume describes first-century Jewish and Christian
beliefs about the land of Israel and offers a full survey of New
Testament passages that directly address the question of land and faith.
Respected New Testament scholar Gary M. Burge examines present-day
tensions surrounding "territorial religion" in the modern Middle East,
helping contemporary Christians develop a Christian theology of the land
and assess Bible-based claims in discussions of the Israeli-Palestinian
struggle.

From the Back Cover

"Gary Burge has made a valuable contribution to the ongoing matter of
the 'Holy Land' so contested by Israelis and Palestinians. He recognizes
the powerful impulse to a territorial dimension in much of Judaism. But
then he reflects on New Testament texts--notably those by Luke, John,
and Paul--to see that Jesus and the early church distanced themselves
from any territorial dimension of faith. This leads Burge to offer a
powerful, compelling critique of 'Christian Zionism,' to which 'the NT
says: No.' Clearly a faith that intends to reach Gentiles must,
perforce, refuse any closed tribalism that makes exclusive territorial
claims. Burge's reading of Scripture is persuasive and provides a fresh
way to think about 'faith and land.'"--Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

"Burge
writes out of a deep knowledge of Scripture and personal acquaintance
with the Middle East to demonstrate how the concern for the geographical
land in the Old Testament is transmuted into concern for a spiritual
inheritance for God's believing people, both Jewish and Gentile, in the
New Testament. His exposition of the biblical material offers a gracious
corrective to some inadequate and misinformed ideas about the role of
Israel in the plan of God and about the Palestinian-Jewish situation and
has important consequences for Christian belief and behavior. I warmly
commend this thorough and scholarly but nevertheless clearly and simply
written presentation."--I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen

"Burge
may be American evangelicalism's foremost expert on a biblical theology
of the land of Israel. This book reintroduces sanity, common sense, and
exegetical acumen into a discussion that often sadly lacks these
traits. Absolutely essential reading for any Christian who wants to hold
a biblically defensible position on the topic."--Craig L. Blomberg, Denver Seminary

"Burge's
accessible consideration of 'holy land theology' in relation to New
Testament texts cannot be overlooked. From now on, Christians who wish
to engage responsibly with this highly charged and controversial issue
will need to interact fully with Burge's careful, constructive, and
challenging presentation."--Bruce W. Longenecker, Baylor University

 

 

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