Michael F. Bird is lecturer in theology and Bible at Crossway College in Toowong, Australia. He is the author of several books, including Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission and Are You the One Who Is to Come? The Historical Jesus and the Messianic Question, as well as numerous essays, articles and reviews.
"Bird does succeed in demonstrating how the identity of Jesus as
Messiah represents a central christological claim of the gospels
and Acts. . . . The book will serve as a useful resource for
students and ministers who wish to have a firmer grasp of the
distinctive ways the gospels develop a picture of Jesus as
Messiah."--Susan Wendel, The Review of Biblical Literature, January
2015
"How would we read the Gospels if we took as fundamental the
declaration that 'Jesus is the Messiah'? That is what Michael Bird
does in this book ideally suited for undergraduates and beginning
seminarians. Once he defines the bedrock function of Jesus as
Messiah, he reads each Gospel from that perspective, offering a
quick trip through the Synoptics and John. In his zeal, Bird at
times probably stretches the evidence too far (e.g., the use of the
article with Messiah) or perhaps gets it wrong (e.g., on John
20:30-31), but for the most part this is a good introduction to
seeing Jesus as the Messiah."--Stanley E. Porter, president and
dean, and professor of New Testament, McMaster Divinity College,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
"Michael Bird tackles one of the hottest topics currently debated
among New Testament scholars--what early believers understood by
their confession that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah of
Israel. This is a splendid study, written by an expert in the
field, in engaging style and displaying clarity of thought. There
is much to be learnt on every page."--Paul Foster, lecturer in New
Testament, Edinburgh University
"The four Gospels announced to the first-century world that Jesus
is the Christ. The twenty-first-century world needs to hear this
announcement afresh. Michael Bird's exposition of this core aspect
of the Gospels' message will considerably help this contemporary
hearing."--Peter Bolt, lecturer in New Testament, Moore Theological
College, Sydney, Australia
"This is the place to begin a study of Jesus in the Gospels, to
understand their common thrust and their unique portraits of Jesus
the Messiah. Sailing against some stiff breezes of scholarship,
with enviable clarity Michael Bird sets out to show that Jesus'
messiahship is the 'mother of all Christology.' There are touches
of humor and flashes of insight. Wearing his knowledge lightly,
Bird has given us a lively introduction to the Christology of the
four Gospels and Acts. It is a compelling book, keeping the reader
close to the biblical text and in touch with contemporary
scholarship."--Graham Twelftree, Distinguished Professor of New
Testament, Regent University School of Divinity
"Bird's study is a provocative, necessary reminder of what too much
contemporary biblical scholarship has attempted to deny."--Cornelis
P. Venema, Mid-America Journal of Theology
"The confession 'Jesus is the Christ' was central to early
Christian belief, and it played a crucial role in how the Gospel
writers framed their narratives. This work would also be helpful
for readers trying to gain a better understanding of messianic
expectations and conceptions in the second temple period."--Eric
Roseberry, Themelios, 38.3
"This is a helpful little volume. Bird writes in a clear and
engaging style and shows good awareness of secondary literature. He
provides a convincing case that Jesus' identity as Israel's Messiah
is foundational for all Gospel Christology. Especially insightful
is Bird's lengthy chapter on John. . . . As a model for how to do
biblical theology, this volume would be an excellent supplemental
text for college or graduate level courses on the Gospels, NT
theology or NT survey."--Mark L. Strauss, Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society, March 2014
"On balance, this book would make a good text for a christology
class. There is an evangelical slant, but it hardly feels like a
'slant.' The four Gospels are clearly distinguished; positions are
thoughtfully argued; and the endnotes alert the reader to lines of
research, including differing viewpoints."--Stephen Finlan, The
Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 76, 2014
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