The pacifist Jesus and the violent Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

Journal article

Sim, David C.. (2011). The pacifist Jesus and the violent Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Hervormde Teologiese Studies. 67(1), pp. 1 - 6. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v67i1.860
AuthorsSim, David C.
Abstract

The Gospel of Matthew presents two starkly different depictions of Jesus. The earthly Jesus of the past is a pacifist who teaches non-violence, compassion, non-retaliation, forgiveness and love of enemies, and he lives his life according to these ideals. The other Jesus is the eschatological figure of judgement who is the antithesis of the earthly Jesus. This Jesus is violent, merciless and vengeful in his treatment of the wicked. The evangelist constructed and promoted this terrible figure of judgement to assist his readers to cope with certain situations of crisis, but in doing so he paid a steep christological price by presenting Jesus in contradictory terms.

Year2011
JournalHervormde Teologiese Studies
Journal citation67 (1), pp. 1 - 6
PublisherAOSIS OpenJournals
ISSN0259-9422
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v67i1.860
Scopus EID2-s2.0-80053591376
Open accessOpen access
Page range1 - 6
Research GroupSchool of Theology
Publisher's version
License
Place of publicationSouth Africa
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