The Knohl Conundrum
Andrew is also impressed by The Gabriel Revelation (that’s two new Bourne titles for you). But the Expert Testimony is a little suspect, methinks:
“His mission is that he has to be put to death by the Romans to suffer so his blood will be the sign for redemption to come. This is the sign of the son of Joseph. This is the conscious view of Jesus himself. This gives the Last Supper an absolutely different meaning. To shed blood is not for the sins of people but to bring redemption to Israel,” – Israel Knohl, professor of Bible studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Why is it beyond Dr. Knohl’s ken that the arrival, death, and resurrection of Jesus can easily be understood as triggering both the redemption of Man and the redemption of Israel? Indeed, wouldn’t that be the most plausible account of the purpose of Christ? What could be more Godly than an irruption into the lives of Jews and Gentiles alike that fulfills both their divine destinies? There is simply no good reason why Dr. Knohl should think these things are “absolutely” incompatible, unless, of course, he is trying to ride the wave of the latest big splash in Biblical studies.
MORE…Rod Dreher’s worldview has not been thrown into crisis either.