The Kingship-Cross Interplay in the Gospel of John: Jesus' Death as Corroboration of His Royal Messiahship

Description: Recent studies of the Christology of Johns Gospel have agreed in recognizing the centrality of the concept of messianism but differ markedly in their interpretation of its character. Alongside the traditional understanding of messiahship in terms of a kingly role related to that of David there is a newer understanding that is related to the role of Moses and has little or no Davidic background. Despite the broad scholarly consensus regarding the Johannine connection between crucifixion and messianism little attention has been paid to the role of crucifixion in relation to the nature of messiahship and in particular to the possibility that this may shed light on whether or not Johns messianism is decisively shaped by the kingly or royal background. In The Kingship-Cross Interplay in the Gospel of John Mavis Leung contends that the cross motif plays a major role in authenticating the royal character of messiahship in John over against views that deny or play down this element. Endorsements: Instead of promoting a novel and perhaps speculative thesis some books carefully establish sweeping vistas that are commonly entertained but that have never been probed. This is one of those books. Leung patiently teases out the many links between David kingship motifs and the cross motifs that intertwine in Johns Gospel. In so doing she gently modifies and enriches our grasp of Johannine theology. -D. A. Carson Research Professor of New Testament Trinity Evangelical Divinity School The authors key insight in this book is clear: Outside the passion narrative the complex interplay of Jesus messianic kingship and death has very rarely been the object of systematic analysis. Dr. Mavis Leung achieves at length what has previously been attempted only piecemeal. In Johns Gospel the messiah is truly king but his coronation is essentially his death making the major stepping-stone to his throne the cross. This studys methodical unfolding of a central Fourth Gospel conviction is a significant contribution to Johannine studies. It also marks the maturation of New Testament scholarship from Chinese quarters a welcome complement to dramatic growth in Asian Christianity worldwide at the popular level. In commendable fashion Leung sets the pace and points the direction for fruitful exegetical labor in generations ahead. -Robert W. Yarbrough Professor of New Testament Covenant Theological Seminary About the Contributor(s): Mavis M. Leung (PhD Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Evangel Seminary Hong Kong. She is the author of a number of articles in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society Jian Dao Journal Trinity Journal and Bibliotheca Sacra (forthcoming).