DESCRIPTION

How should followers of Christ live in a multi-religious world? This book argues that the example of Jesus has something fresh and helpful to say to those who ponder the question. It takes something old-the-example: of Jesus-to say something new to our pluralist world. Most of the book examines the meetings of Jesus with Gentiles and Samaritans. These are found in some of the most poignant and dramatic encounters and teaching passages in the Gospels: a synagogue address with near-murderous consequences; the healing of a pagan centurion's servant; the setting free of the afflicted child of a Gentile mother; a moving encounter at a Samaritan well; the unlikely story of a compassionate Samaritan-and more. This is a scholarly but accessible discussion of what it might mean to "have the same attitude of mind that Christ Jesus had" in our contemporary multi-religious world.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 Judaism and Gentiles: Jesus, Galilee, and Gospels 40

2 Some Key Encounters with Gentiles 81

3 Elsewhere in the Gospels: Purity, Temple, Parables 126

4 Samaritans and Jesus 167

5 Some Implications for the Encounter with Islam 200

6 Some Conclusions about Jesus, Gentiles, and Samaritans 228

Bibliography 271

Scripture Index 287

Subject Index 289