PART I Introduction

1. Jesus Then and Now

1.1. Angels, Giants and Jigsaws
1.2. Procedure
1.3. The Quests and their Usefulness
1.3.1. Jesus Through History
1.3.2. The Rise of the Critical Movement: from Reimarus to Schweitzer
1.3.3. No Quest to New Quest: Schweitzer to Schillebeeckx
1.3.4. Two Hundred Years of Questing
2. 2 Heavy Traffic on the Wredebahn: The New Quest Renewed?
2.1. Introduction
2.2. The Jesus Seminar
2.3. Burton L. Mack (and the Question of Q)
2.4. J. Dominic Crossan
2.4.1. Introduction
2.4.2. Basic Features
2.4.3. Historical Reconstruction of Jesus
2.4.4. The Early Church
2.5. Jesus the Cynic?
2.6. Marcus J. Borg
2.7. Conclusion: the New New Quest
3. Back to the Future: The Third Quest
3.1. Breaking out of the Straitjacket
3.2. The Questions
3.2.1. How does Jesus fit into Judaism?
3.2.2. What were Jesus Aims?
3.2.3. Why did Jesus die?
3.2.4. How and Why did the Early Church Begin?
3.2.5. Why are the Gospels what they Are?
3.2.6. The Five Questions Together
3.2.7. The Sixth Question: Agenda and Theology
3.3. Conclusion: Future Directions of the Third Quest
4. Prodigals and Paradigms
4.1. Jews, Peasants and Prodigals
4.2. From Parable to Paradigm
4.2.1. Towards a Hypothesis
4.2.2. Of the Telling of Stories
4.2.3. Worldviews and Mindsets

PART II Profile of a Prophet
5. The Praxis of a Prophet
5.1. Jesus Career in Outline
5.2. Jesus Context
5.2.1. First-Century Judaism
5.2.2. Bandits, Peasants and Revolt
5.2.3. John the Baptist
5.3. Jesus as Oracular and Leadership Prophet
5.4. A Prophet Mighty in Word and Deed
5.4.1. Jesus as a Leadership Prophet
5.4.2. An Itinerant Prophet
5.4.3. Mighty in Word
5.4.3.1. Authority and the Kingdom
5.4.3.2. Parables
5.4.3.3. Oracles of Judgment
5.4.4. Mighty in Deed
5.4.4.1. Introduction
5.4.4.2. Mighty Works: Interpretation
5.5. More Than a Prophet?
6. Stories of the Kingdom (1): Announcement
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Contexts
6.2.1. The Jewish Hope
6.2.1.1. Eschatology
6.2.1.2. A Non-Apocalyptic Kingdom?
6.2.2. The Christian Reappropriation
6.2.3. The Kingdom in recent Scholarship
6.3. Kingdom Redefined: The Announcement
6.3.1. Introduction: Summary Announcements
6.3.2. Stories of Israels Paradoxical History
6.3.2.1. Introduction
6.3.2.2. The Sower
6.3.2.3. Other Parables of Israels Story
6.4. Conclusion: Announcing the Kingdom
7. Stories of the Kingdom (2): Invitation, Welcome, Challenge and
Summons
7.1. Introduction: The Open-Ended Story
7.2. Invitation: The Call to Repent and Believe
7.2.1. Repentance
7.2.2. Belief
7.3. Welcome: Sinners and Forgiveness
7.3.1. Who are the Sinners?
7.3.2. The Forgiveness of Sins
7.4. Challenge: The Call to Live as the New Covenant People
7.4.1. Introduction: Community and Praxis
7.4.2. New Covenant, New Community
7.4.3. New Covenant, New Praxis
7.4.3.1. Introduction
7.4.3.2. The Renewed Heart
7.4.3.3. The Sermon on the Mount
7.4.3.4. The Lords Prayer
7.4.3.5. Jubilee: Forgiveness of Debts
7.4.3.6. Revolution, Politics, Community and Theology
7.5. Summons: The Call to be Jesus Helpers and Associates
7.5.1. The Summons to Follow Jesus
7.5.2. The Rich Young Ruler
7.5.3. The Summons to Assist in the Proclamation of the Kingdom
7.5.4. The Summons to Take up the Cross and Follow Jesus
7.5.5. The Great Commandment and the Good Samaritan
7.6. Many Will Come From East and West
7.7. The True Wisdom
7.8. Conclusion: The Renewed People of God
8. Stories of the Kingdom (3): Judgment and Vindication
8.1. Introduction
8.2. The Coming Great Disaster
8.2.1. Introduction
8.2.2. John the Baptist
8.2.3. General Warnings of Judgment on Israel
8.2.4. Warnings of Imminent Judgment on This Generation
8.2.5. Warnings of Judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple
8.3. Assurance of Vindication
8.4. Mark 13 and Parallels: The Coming Destruction and Vindication
8.4.1. Introduction
8.4.2. The Fall of Jerusalem
8.4.3. The Start of the Woes, and the Trials of the Disciples
8.4.4. Specific Signs of Emergency
8.4.5. The Vindication of the Son of Man
8.4.6. Noah, Lot and the Son of Man
8.5. Conclusion: Judgment and Vindication
9. Symbol and Controversy
9.1. Introduction: Kingdom, Symbol, Controversy
9.1.1. The Problem of Symbols
9.1.2. Controversy about Controversy
9.2. Symbols of Israels Identity: Sabbath, Food, Nation, Land
9.2.1. Introduction: Context and Agendas
9.2.2. Sabbath
9.2.3. Food
9.2.4. Nation and Family
9.2.5. Possessions
9.3. Symbols of Israels Identity: The Temple
9.3.1. Introduction
9.3.2. The Temple and its Significance
9.3.3. Jesus Action in the Temple
9.4. Jesus Symbols of the Kingdom
9.4.1. Introduction: Symbols of Return
9.4.2. Restored Land, Restored People
9.4.3. The Redefined Family
9.4.4. The Redefined Torah
9.4.5. The Rebuilt Temple
9.4.6. The Symbolic Focus
9.5. Jesus Leading the People Astray?
10. The Questions of the Kingdom
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Who Are We?
10.3. Where Are We?
10.4. Whats Wrong?
10.4.1. Introduction
10.4.2. The Real Enemy Identified: not Rome, but the Satan
10.4.2.1. The Beelzebul Controversy
10.4.2.2. Who is to be Feared?
10.4.2.3. The Seven Other Demons
10.4.2.4. The Initial Victory
10.4.3. The Enemy Relocated: Israel and the Satan
10.4.4. Conclusion: Jesus Analysis of the Problem
10.5. Whats the Solution?
10.6. What Time is it?
10.7. The Prophet and the Kingdom

PART III The Aims and Beliefs of Jesus
11. 11 Jesus and Israel: The Meaning of Messiahship
11.1. Introduction
11.2. Messiahship in Judaism and Early Christianity
11.2.1. Messiahship in the Jewish World of Jesus Day
11.2.2. Messiahship in Early Christianity
11.3. Jesus and Kingship: Events in Jerusalem
11.3.1. Introduction
11.3.2. The Temple-Action
11.3.3. Royal Riddles
11.3.3.1. Destroy and Rebuild
11.3.3.2. Say to this Mountain
11.3.3.3. John the Baptist
11.3.3.4. Tenants, Servants, Son and Stone
11.3.3.5. Tribute to Caesar
11.3.3.6. Davids Lord and Davids Son
11.3.3.7. Royal Riddles: Jesus and the Evangelists
11.4. Temple, Messiah and Son of Man
11.4.1. Temple Destroyed, Jesus Vindicated
11.4.2. Jesus on Trial
11.5. Messiahship as the Secret of Jesus Prophetic Ministry
11.5.1. Caesarea Philippi
11.5.2. Messianic Praxis in the Early Ministry
11.5.3. Messianic Sayings in the Early Ministry
11.5.4. A Messianic Beginning to the Ministry?
11.5.5. A Prophetic/Messianic Ministry
11.6. Conclusion: Jesus and the Return from Exile
12. The Reasons for Jesus Crucifixion
12.1. Introduction
12.2. The Roman Charge
12.3. The Jewish Charge
12.4. The Intention of Jesus (1): The Key Symbol
12.4.1. Introduction
12.4.2. The Last Supper: Symbol and Significance
12.4.2.1. Introduction
12.4.2.2. Last Supper and Passover
12.4.2.3. From Symbol to Word
12.4.2.4. Conclusion
12.5. The Intention of Jesus (2): The Sayings and the Symbol
12.5.1. Introduction
12.5.2. The Riddles of the Cross
12.5.2.1. The Rejected Son
12.5.2.2. The Great Commandment
12.5.2.3. Anointing for Burial
12.5.2.4. The Green Tree and the Dry
12.5.2.5. The Hen and the Chickens
12.5.2.6. The Baptism and the Cup
12.5.2.7. Riddles and Authenticity
12.5.3. Predictions of the Passion
12.6. The Intention of Jesus (3): Eschatological Redemption in Judaism
12.6.1. Introduction
12.6.2. The Controlling Story: Exile and Restoration
12.6.3. The First Sub-Plot: The Messianic Woes
12.6.4. The Second Sub-Plot: Specific or Individual Suffering
12.6.5. According to the Scriptures
12.6.6. Conclusion: Jesus Jewish Context
12.7. The Intention of Jesus (4): The Strange Victory
12.7.1. Introduction
12.7.2. Proposal: Eschatology and the Cross
12.7.3. The Cross and the Scriptures
12.7.4. The Messianic Task
12.7.5. The Victory of God
12.7.6. Conclusion
13. The Return of the King
13.1. Introduction
13.2. The Jewish World of Meaning
13.2.1. The Hope of YHWHs Return
13.2.2. Sharing the Throne of God
13.2.3. Symbols for God and Gods Activity
13.3. Jesus Riddles of Return and Exaltation
13.3.1. Stories of YHWHS Return to Zion
13.3.1.1. Introduction
13.3.1.2. Talents and Pounds
13.3.1.3. Other Stories of the Return of YHWH
13.3.2. Riddles of Exaltation
13.3.3. Conclusion
13.4. Vocation Foreshadowed
13.5. Conclusion

PART IV Conclusion
14. Results
15. Appendix: Kingdom of God in Early Christian Literature
16. Bibliography
16.1. Abbreviations
16.2. Primary Sources
16.3. Secondary Literature
17. Indexes
17.1. Index of Ancient Sources
17.1.1. Old Testament
17.1.2. Apocrypha
17.1.3. Pseudepigrapha
17.1.4. Qumran
17.1.5. Josephus
17.1.6. Philo
17.1.7. Rabbinic Works
17.1.8. New Testament
17.1.9. Other Early Christian and/or Gnostic Works
17.1.10. Pagan Sources
17.1.11. Persian Texts
17.2. Index of Modern Authors
17.3. Index of Selected Topics