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Brant Pitre

“Who did Jesus of Nazareth claim to be? What was his relationship to early Judaism? When and how did he expect the kingdom to come? What were his intentions? Though these key questions have been addressed in studies of the historical Jesus, Brant Pitre argues that they cannot be fully answered apart from a careful historical analysis of the Last Supper accounts. Yet these accounts, both by the Gospel writers and by Paul, are widely neglected by contemporary Jesus research.

“In this book, Pitre fills a notable gap in historical Jesus research as he offers a rigorous, up-t0-date study of the historical Jesus and the Last Supper. Situating the Last Supper in the triple contexts of ancient Judaism, the life of Jesus, and early Christianity, Pitre brings to light crucial insights into major issues driving the quest for Jesus. His Jesus and the Last Supper is sure to ignite scholarly discussion and debate.” [From the book jacket]

“This beautifully written work confirms Brant Pitre’s eminence as a sholar of the very first rank. … Focusing on the Last Supper, Pitre develops such themes as the new bread of the presence, the new manna, the new Passover, the messianic banquet, and the kingdom of God in often surprising but utterly persuasive ways. Catholic participation in the Jesus quest has hereby finally borne its hoped-for fruit, with enormous implications for all Christians. Pitre should win the Ratzinger Priz for this book alone.” Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary.”

Brant Pitre is Professor of Sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana.

1. The Problem of the Last Supper

Jesus and Judaism • The Self-Undestanding of Jesus • The Eschatology of Jesus • Jesus and the Early Church
• Method of Proceeding

2. The New Moses

The New Moses in Early Judaism • The Feeding of the Multitude • The Blood of the Covenant
• The New Bread of the Presence

3. The New Manna

The Manna in Early Judaism • The Lord’s Prayer and the Eschatological Manna
• The Teaching in the Synagogue to Capernaum

4. The Date of the Last Supper

The Apparent Contradiction • The Essene Hypothesis • The Johannine Hypothesis • The Synoptic Hypothesis
• The Passover Hypothesis

5. The New Passover

The Passover in Early Judaism • The Temple Context of the Last Supper • The Body and Blood of the Lamb

6. The Eucharistic Kingdom of God

The Messianic Banquet in Early Judaism • Eating and Drinking with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
• Jesus’ Vow at the Last Supper

Wm. B. Eerdmans, Hard cover, ©2015, 590 pages