Did Jesus claim to be the long-awaited "messiah"? Going against much contemporary scholarship, Australian scholar Michael Bird argues that he did. He begins by exploring the messianic expectations in the Old Testament and Second Temple Jewish literature. Next, Bird points out weaknesses in current arguments that "Messiah," or "Christ," was a title given to Jesus by the early church but not used by Jesus himself. Bird then examines the Gospels and related literature, finding in Jesus's words and actions evidence that he saw himself as the messiah described in the Scriptures of Israel and believed that Israel's restoration hinged on the outcome of his ministry.
- ISBN10 0801036380
- ISBN13 9780801036385
- Publish Date 1 August 2009
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Baker Publishing Group
- Imprint Baker Academic, Div of Baker Publishing Group
- Format Paperback
- Pages 208
- Language English