The Politics of JesusTradition has painted a portrait of a Savior aloof from governmental concerns and whose teachings point to an apolitical life for his disciples. How, then, are we to respond today to a world so thoroughly entrenched in national and international affairs? But such a picture of Jesus is far from accurate, argues John Howard Yoder. Using the texts of the New Testament, Yoder critically examines the traditional portrait of Jesus as an apolitical figure and attempts to clarify the true impact of Jesus' life, work, and teachings on his disciples' social behavior. The book first surveys the multiple ways the image of an apolitical Jesus has been propagated, then canvasses the Gospel narrative to reveal how Jesus is rightly portrayed as a thinker and leader immediately concerned with the agenda of politics and the related issues of power, status, and right relations. Selected passages from the epistles corroborate a Savior deeply concerned with social, political, and moral issues. In this thorough revision of his acclaimed 1972 text, Yoder provides updated interaction with publications touching on this subject. Following most of the chapters are new "epilogues" that summarize research conducted during the last two decades -- research that continues to support the insights set forth in Yoder's original work. Currently a standard in many college and seminary ethics courses, The Politics of Jesus is also an excellent resource for the general reader desiring to understand Christ's response to the world of politics and his will for those who would follow him. |
Contents
The Possibility of a Messianic Ethic | 1 |
The Kingdom Coming | 21 |
The Implications of the Jubilee | 60 |
God Will Fight for Us | 76 |
The Possibility of Nonviolent Resistance | 89 |
Trial Balance | 93 |
The Disciple of Christ and the Way of Jesus | 109 |
Christ and Power | 130 |
Revolutionary Subordination | 158 |
Let Every Soul Be Subject Romans 13 and the Authority of the State | 189 |
Justification by Grace through Faith | 208 |
The War of the Lamb | 224 |
Index of Names | 244 |
Index of Scripture References | 247 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept according affirmation already apostle argument assumed assumption authority become beginning believers biblical chapter Christ Christian church claim clear concept concern concrete context continuing creation critical cross cultural deal death direction disciples divine early eschatology ethical example fact faith follow further give given God's Gospel Haustafeln human individual interpretation Jesus Jewish Jews John jubilee kind kingdom language later less live Lord Luke meaning meant ministry moral move nature original parallel particular passage Paul person political position possible present problem proclamation prophetic question readers reading reference rejection relevant responsibility Romans scholars seek sense simply slave social society speak specific statement story structures subordination suffering teaching temple Testament theme theology things thought tradition understanding vision York Zealot
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Politics of Jesus Volume 35 of The Christian family library |
| Author | John Howard Yoder |
| Edition | revised |
| Publisher | Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1994 |
| ISBN | 0802807348, 9780802807342 |
| Length | 257 pages |
| Subjects | › › Religion / Christian Theology / Christology Religion / Institutions & Organizations Religion / Theology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |