Killing Enmity: Violence and the New Testament

by Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld

Overview

Is the New Testament inherently violent? In this book a well-regarded New Testament scholar offers a balanced critical assessment of charges and claims that the Christian scriptures encode, instigate, or justify violence. Thomas Yoder Neufeld provides a useful introduction to the language of violence in current theological discourse and surveys a wide range of key ethical New Testament texts through the lens of violence/nonviolence. He makes the case that, contrary to much scholarly opinion, the New Testament is not in itself inherently violent or supportive of violence; instead, it rejects and overcomes violence. [Published in the UK by SPCK as Jesus and the Subversion of Violence: Wrestling with the New Testament Evidence.]

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801039010
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld (ThD, Harvard Divinity School) is professor of religious studies (New Testament) emeritus at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. He is the author of numerous articles and several books, including Recovering Jesus: The Witness of the New Testament and a commentary on Ephesians.

Table of Contents

I. "Violence" and "New Testament"
II. Jesus and Violence
1. Turning the cheek and loving enemies
2. Parables, Forgiveness, and Judgment
3. Violence in the Temple?
III. Atonement: redemptive violence?
IV. Warfare in the New Testament
V. Concluding Chapter