The One Who Is to Come
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
“Messiah” is one of the most contested terms in Christian reflection, with many people reading the concept back into early Old Testament texts. In The One Who Is to Come Joseph Fitzmyer offers up an alternative perspective, carefully tracing the emergence of messianism in Judaism to a much later date—the second century BC.
The One Who Is to Come begins with a linguistic discussion of the term “messiah,” then demonstrates the gradual emergence of the idea of a future, dynasty-continuing David, before finally examining the “anointed one” language in the latest biblical text, Daniel 9. It also examines the use of the term in the Septuagint and extra-biblical Jewish writings, as well as the New Testament, Targums, and the Mishnah. Fitzmyer’s masterful study presents a novel, biblical thesis that will appeal to scholars, students, and all who wish to investigate the complex history of messianism.
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If you like this resource be sure to check out Eerdmans Early Judaism Collection (7 vols.)
- Traces the emergence of messianism in Judaism to a much later date–the second century BC
- Provides a linguistic discussion of the term “messiah”
- Presents a novel, biblical thesis for those who wish to investigate the complex history of messianism
- The Term “Messiah”
- The Use of חישמ in the Old Testament
- Other Old Testament Passages Often Regarded as the Background of the Term “Messiah”
- Old Testament Passages That Reveal a Developing Understanding of the Davidic Dynasty
- The Role of Daniel 9:25-26 in the Emergence of Messianism
- The Septuagint’s Interpretation of Some Old Testament Passages
- Extrabiblical Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period
- The Use of Messiah in the New Testament
- The Use of Messiah in the Mishnah, Targums, and Other Rabbinic Writings
Top Highlights
“There is no reference to a king as משיח in the Pentateuch in any sense, either to a reigning king or an awaited one.” (Page 11)
“Eventually, especially when the monarchy was no more because of the deportation of kings of Judah to Babylon, משיח was applied to the High Priest of the time. He was the ‘anointed priest’ in a special sense, the heir of the kings.” (Page 11)
“Judah became a Persian and later a Hellenistic province (יהוד, Yĕhûd, or Ἰουδαία), with Jerusalem as its capital, and when the hope for the restoration of the monarchy or the Davidic dynasty grew.” (Page 12)
“The only place in the Old Testament where משיח may be applied to prophets is found in 1 Chr 16:22, which is identical with Ps 105:15: ‘Touch not My anointed ones, do no harm to My prophets!’” (Page 18)
“Thus there arose an ideal kingship in ancient Israel, in which the king is clearly ‘the Lord’s Anointed One.’20” (Page 10)
Vintage Fitzmyer—corrective, comprehensive, and compelling. Surely The One Who Is to Come will become the benchmark for all further discussion of the concept of ‘Messiah’ in both Judaism and Christianity.
—Karl P. Donfried, Elizabeth A. Woodson 1922 Professor Emeritus of Religion, Pontifical Bible Institute, Smith College
This magisterial work is destined to become the standard in the field for years to come. With impeccable scholarship, Joseph Fitzmyer examines the use of ‘messiah’ in Jewish and Christian literature, clarifying the development of messianism in early Christianity and Judaism—a topic often misunderstood and misrepresented. Christians and Jews are indebted to Fitzmyer for elucidating a concept that has often divided them. After reading this work, scholars will reevaluate many cherished assumptions.
—Karp P. Donfried, Pontifical Bible Institute, Smith College
Joseph A. Fitzmyer SJ, is professor emeritus of biblical studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is a noted scholar of New Testament and Aramaic, and has taught at Woodstock College, University of Chicago, Fordham University, and Weston School of Theology. He has authored over twenty books, including The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins, and he is coeditor of the New Jerome Biblical Commentary.