The One Who Is to Come

"Messiah" is one of the most contested terms in Christian reflection with many people reading the concept back into early Old Testament texts. In <I>The One Who Is to Come</I> Joseph Fitzmyer contradicts that misreading carefully tracing the emergence of messianism in Judaism to a much later date -- the second century B.C.<BR /><BR /><I>The One Who Is to Come</I> begins with a linguistic discussion of the term "messiah" then demonstrates the gradual emergence of the idea of a future dynasty-continuing David before finally examining the "anointed one" language in the latest biblical text Daniel 9. It also examines the use of the term in the Septuagint and extrabiblical Jewish writings as well as the New Testament Targums and the Mishnah. Fitzmyer's masterful study presents a novel biblical thesis that will appeal to scholars students and all who wish to investigate the complex history of messianism.