The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing

Description

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most influential portions of the Bible. It is the most studied and commented upon portion of the Christian Scriptures, with every Christian generation turning to it for insight and guidance. In this volume, a recognized expert on the Gospels shows that the Sermon on the Mount offers a clear window into understanding God's work in Christ. Jonathan Pennington provides a historical, theological, and literary commentary on the Sermon and explains how this text offers insight into God's plan for human flourishing. As Pennington explores the literary dimensions and theological themes of this famous passage, he situates the Sermon in dialogue with the Jewish and Greek virtue traditions and the philosophical-theological question of human flourishing. He also relates the Sermon's theological themes to contemporary issues such as ethics, philosophy, and economics. Contents Translation of the Sermon on the Mount Introduction: An Overall Reading Strategy for the Sermon Part 1: Orientation 1. The Encyclopedic Context of the Sermon 2. Makarios: Macarisms underneath and in the Beatitudes 3. Teleios: Wholeness throughout the Sermon 4. Seven More Key Terms and Concepts in the Sermon 5. The Structure(s) of the Sermon and Its Setting within Matthew Part 2: Commentary 6. Matthew 5:1-16 7. Matthew 5:17-48 8. Matthew 6:1-21 9. Matthew 6:19-34 10. Matthew 7:1-12 11. Matthew 7:13-8:1 Part 3: Theological Reflection 12. The Sermon on the Mount and the Theology of Human Flourishing: A Sketch Indexes