Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile: Restoration Eschatology and the Origin of the Atonement

by Brant Pitre

What did Jesus teach regarding the eschatological tribulation? Brant Pitre's answer to this basic question has ramifications for Jesus' understanding of his own identity and mission. Pitre examines key texts pertaining to Jesus' perception of his own death. In line with Jewish eschatological teachings of his day, Jesus taught that an eschatological tribulation would precede the final ingathering of God's exiled people and interpreted his own death as a key triggering event in that sequence. This comprehensive treatment of the Great Tribulation includes a provocative critique of N. T. Wright's understanding of exile and has important consequences for Jesus' messianic self-understanding. This fresh contribution to the question of Jesus and the atonement will be valued by New Testament scholars and biblical theology students alike.

Genres: Catholic, Theology, Old Testament, New Testament

600 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2005

About the author

Dr. Brant Pitre is Professor of Sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized the study of the New Testament and ancient Judaism. He is the author of several articles and the books Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile (Baker Academic, 2005); Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist (Image Books, 2011); and Jesus the Bridegroom (Image Books, 2014). Dr. Pitre is an extremely enthusiastic and engaging speaker who lectures regularly across the United States. He has produced dozens of Bible studies on CD, DVD, and MP3, in which he explores the biblical foundations of Catholic faith and theology. He currently lives in Gray, Louisiana, with his wife Elizabeth, and their five children.

Reviews

[Charles Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pitre's dissertation book, and hard to find now. This was an eye opener! Pitre shows that certain stock phrases like "tribulation" and "last days" surround Jesus's crucifixion, marking it out as an eschatological event. It will challenge conservative readers who see the "apocalyptic" passages (like Mk 13 and Mt 24) in the gospels as straight predictions. Heavy interaction with Daniel and other OT and parabiblical literature.