Overview
The theme of heaven and earth is a much-overlooked aspect of the Gospel of Matthew. In this work, rising scholar Jonathan Pennington articulates a fresh perspective on this key interpretive issue, challenging both the scholarly and popular understandings of the meaning of Matthew's phrase, "kingdom of heaven."
Pennington argues that rather than being a reverent way of referring to God as is typically assumed, "heaven" in Matthew is part of a highly developed discourse of heaven and earth language. Matthew's way of using heaven language serves one overriding theological purpose: to highlight the tension that currently exists between heaven and earth or God and humanity, while looking forward to its eschatological resolution. This affordable North American paperback edition was previously published in hardcover by Brill.
Pennington argues that rather than being a reverent way of referring to God as is typically assumed, "heaven" in Matthew is part of a highly developed discourse of heaven and earth language. Matthew's way of using heaven language serves one overriding theological purpose: to highlight the tension that currently exists between heaven and earth or God and humanity, while looking forward to its eschatological resolution. This affordable North American paperback edition was previously published in hardcover by Brill.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part 1: Clearing Ground and Building Anew
1. Challenging the Circumlocution Assumption
2. A Survey of Heaven in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
3. A Survey of Heaven in Matthew
4. Heaven and Earth in the Context of Matthean Studies and Theology
Part 2: Matthew's Idiolectic Use of Heaven Language and the Theme of Heaven and Earth
5. Οuρανoς and Οuρανοi in the Septuagint and Second Temple Literature
6. Οuρανoς and Οuρανοi in Matthew
7. Heaven and Earth in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
8. Heaven and Earth in Matthew
9. God as Father in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
10. The Father in Heaven in Matthew
11. The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
12. Matthew's "Kingdom of Heaven"
Conclusion: Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew
Appendix: Data from a Synoptic Comparison of Οuρανoς
Indexes
Part 1: Clearing Ground and Building Anew
1. Challenging the Circumlocution Assumption
2. A Survey of Heaven in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
3. A Survey of Heaven in Matthew
4. Heaven and Earth in the Context of Matthean Studies and Theology
Part 2: Matthew's Idiolectic Use of Heaven Language and the Theme of Heaven and Earth
5. Οuρανoς and Οuρανοi in the Septuagint and Second Temple Literature
6. Οuρανoς and Οuρανοi in Matthew
7. Heaven and Earth in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
8. Heaven and Earth in Matthew
9. God as Father in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
10. The Father in Heaven in Matthew
11. The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
12. Matthew's "Kingdom of Heaven"
Conclusion: Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew
Appendix: Data from a Synoptic Comparison of Οuρανoς
Indexes
Author
Jonathan T. Pennington
Jonathan T. Pennington (PhD, University of St. Andrews), a popular speaker, teacher, and preacher, is associate professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also on staff as a preaching pastor at Sojourn East Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Pennington is the host and coproducer of the popular web series Cars, Coffee, Theology and has written numerous books, including The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, Reading the Gospels Wisely, and Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew.