Jesus the Priest

by Nicholas Perrin

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.

Genres: Theology, Christian

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2015

About the author

Nicholas Perrin (PhD, Marquette University) is Franklin S. Dyrness Professor of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois. His numerous books include Jesus the Temple, Thomas: The Other Gospel, and Lost in Transmission? What We Can Know about the Words of Jesus.

Reviews

[Christian Raab, OSB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, which seems to be primarily for a scholarly audience, presents a sophisticated and speculative argument, supported by technical exegesis, that Jesus identified as high priest and promoted a priestly identity for those in his movement. Thus the notion of Jesus as priest is not a product of post-paschal theological reflection, introduced by the letter of Hebrews, but was intrinsic to the public life and ministry of Jesus. The priesthood hermeneutic helps explain many otherwise difficult aspects of Jesus' teaching as well as his clash with temple authorities. I found the argument fascinating. It was a book that opened up the New Testament portrayal of Jesus in a new way for me and helped me see some things that I don't think I can un-see. I will be reading this again. Well done Nicholas Perrin.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably just not for me. Weird mix of taking scripture seriously while questioning the authenticity of the gospels, authored by a person more interested in conservative politics.