The Last Adam: A Theology of the Obedient Life of Jesus in the Gospels - Paperback

by Brandon D. Crowe (Author)

There is much discussion today about how we are to understand the life of Jesus in the Gospels. What was Jesus doing between his birth and death and how does this relate to salvation? This book corrects the Christian tendency to minimize the life of Jesus, explaining why the Gospels include much more than the Passion narratives. Brandon Crowe argues that Jesus is identified in the Gospels as the last Adam whose obedience recapitulates and overcomes the sin of the first Adam. Crowe shows that all four Gospels present Jesus's obedient life as having saving significance.

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Crowe's emphasis on the importance of Jesus's ministry combines exegetical detail, attention to reception-history, and a candid theological concern (with particular, but not exclusive, attention to the Reformed tradition). Crowe shows the theological yield of attending to the Gospels' presentation of Jesus as the new Adam who redeems through his life as well as his death.
--L. W. Hurtado, School of Divinity, New College, University of Edinburgh

"The issue of Jesus's relationship to Adam and whether the Savior's life, along with his death, was vicarious is a much-discussed, and sometimes debated, topic in theology. Brandon Crowe's The Last Adam presents a full walk through the issues tied to this discussion. It makes for fascinating reading as we come to reflect more on what Jesus's life and ministry may have been about."
--Darrell L. Bock, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement, Dallas Theological Seminary

"Whereas many Christians regard Jesus's life as little more than an anthology of Sunday school stories before his crucifixion, Brandon Crowe shows us that the Evangelists describe Jesus as the last Adam who saves people by his vicarious obedience to his messianic mission. Crowe explains not only why Jesus died but why he lived! In this book, Crowe provides a thorough description of the meaning of Jesus's life, how Jesus is the covenantal head of a new humanity, and how he lived for us and for our salvation. A great topic and well-written!"
--Michael F. Bird, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

"Crowe makes an intriguing and creative case for Jesus being the last Adam in the Gospels. He demonstrates that Jesus's obedience is vital in the narrative and theology of the Gospels, which is a theme that has not been emphasized sufficiently in New Testament studies. Crowe's text is a genuine contribution to the study of the Gospels. We see in this volume the value of both biblical and systematic theology."
--Thomas R. Schreiner, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Author Biography

Brandon D. Crowe (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is professor of New Testament and New Testament department coordinator at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania. He is the author of numerous books and serves as the book review editor for Westminster Theological Journal.