Glory of the Crucified One

Jorg Frey has devoted decades of his scholarly career to exploring the rich landscape of John's Gospel. Frey chronicles the results of this work in The Glory of the Crucified One, demonstrating how the Gospel sits at the very heart of the New Testament witness.Frey begins by locating his approach to the Gospel in relation to five classic ways John has been interpreted (Part 1) and by offering a summary of the results of his own interpretation, in which Frey argues that the Gospel forms the apex of New Testament theology (Part 5). In between, Frey first untangles several problems, such as questions of anti-Judaism, dualism, and docetism, that are characteristic of any discussion of John's Gospel (Part 2). From there, he focuses attention on the weighty events that, for John, form the crucial "hour" of Jesus - the death, resurrection, and glorification of Christ (Part 3). Frey then builds on this central theme to explore the Christology and theology of John (Part 4).The Glory of the Crucified One underscores the central message Frey sees in the Gospel: "John's post-Easter memory (anamnesis) of the Jesus story aims at communicating that Jesus, who was crucified, has actually been glorified and is present in the realm of God, and in spite of his apparent absence from this world he is present in the community of believers through the Spirit."For John, according to Frey, there is no concealment of the cruel reality of Jesus' death on the cross. The narrative of Jesus' trial and his crucifixion deliberately shapes its readers' perception of the truth of faith visualized in John's narration. In the end, readers should contemplate the ""pierced,"" crucified one as the source of their life and their communion with God.Not for sale in Europe.

"Making available previously untranslated works and new essays, English-speaking New Testament scholars can now more easily access and appreciate Professor Freys extensive and thought-provoking studies on the Gospel and Letters of John. Grounded in mature theological insight and exegetical skill, Frey makes a powerful argument for the climatic place of Johannine theology in New Testament thought as early Christianity developed toward its more recognizable orthodox formulations. Readers of all backgrounds will value the clarity of thought and focus, the wealth of research, and poignant theological insights that help us not only encounter Johns writings in a new light, but also Freys own." Alicia D. Myers, Assistant Professor of New Testament & Greek, Campbell University Divinity School, "One of the leading New Testament scholars of this generation, Jörg Frey here offers a series of mature reflections on the text that has been at the center of his research for many years. Learned essays explore the unique literary character of the Gospel, its engagement with its social setting, its ironic theology, and its profound reflection on the nature and work of Jesus Christ. Impressive learning and deep insight unite in a volume that all students of the Fourth Gospel and of early Christianity in general will want to study." Harry Attridge, Sterling Professor of Divinity, Yale Divinity School, "Jörg Frey is one of the foremost Johannine scholars today. This volume containing some of his most important essays on the Fourth Gospel will be welcomed by English-language readers, who will now be able to access Freys insights on issues that are key to the current scholarly discussion of the Gospel of John. These include the highly fraught question of Johns portrayal of the Jews and the significance of the Gospel for the process by which the early believers in Christ developed identities that were separate from and over against the Jewish context in which the Jesus movement first emerged. This volume will be a must-read for anyone interested in history and theology in the Gospel of John." Adele Reinhartz, Professor of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Ottawa, This is a suggestive and rich set of essays that encourages readers to think in fresh ways not just about individual Johannine themes, but about the links between these themes and the evangelist's reasons for tackling this set of themes in the man­ner they are presented. There are new insights in every essay. As such this volume is an important contribution to the continuing task of understand­ing the theological message of the Gospel of John. -- Paul Foster -- Expository Times

Jörg Frey is Professor of New Testament Studies at the University of Zurich.Wayne Coppins is Professor of Religion at The University of Georgia.Simon Gathercole is Reader in New Testament Studies at the University of Cambridge.