In this study Jurgen Becker presents a new historically grounded explanation of the phrases "kingdom of God" and "God's reign" - the central terms of Jesus' proclamation. He draws on a range of sources to trace Jesus'special position within early Judaism. At the same time, he retains his focus on Jesus' ministry, viewed as the beginning of the history of early Christianity. The proclamation of the kingdom is thus seen by Becker as the founding moment of a distinct community of faith.

Francois Bovon's magisterial commentary on the Gospel of Luke is justly renowned for its combination of judicious historical and literary treatment of the Evangelist's context and for its theological sensitivity, informed by the wealth of the Christian interpretative tradition. Luke is clearly writing history in the manner of his Hellenistic and Jewish contemporaries, but Bovon insists he remains as well "a theologian of the Word of God." This volume completes the three-volume work (based upon Bovon's four volumes in the German EKK series) and represents the author's careful revision and updating of the German original.

The birth narrative, the baptism and temptation of Jesus, the beginnings of his Galilean ministry, and the Sermon on the Mount are all brilliantly illumined by Ulrich Luz's expert textual and historical-critical analysis and theological commentary. Luz brings special attention to the subsequent history of Christian appropriation of Matthew in homiletical and artistic interpretation, and addresses the terrible legacy of Christian anti-Judaism. This volume completes Luz's three-volume commentary on the Gospel of Matthew in the Hermeneia series. A translation of the earlier German edition of Matthew 1-7 appeared in Fortress Press's Continental Commentary series. The text has been thoroughly revised and updated.

This is the second of a three-volume commentary on the gospel of Matthew from Europe's leading Matthew scholar. Volume 1 Matthew 1-7 was previously published in the "Continental Commentaries" series. Luz's commentary is especially noteworthy, not only for his incisive exegesis, but also his keen eye for the importance of the history of interpretation and his attention to the relevance of the New Testament for contemporary Christian ethics. This commentary includes excursuses on Son of David; Matthew's Interpretation of the Parables; Peter in the Gospel of Matthew; and Son of Man.