This book review examines David DaSilva's An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation (2004), assessing its value for students of theology and biblical counseling. The review highlights DaSilva's historical and literary treatment of the Roman and Jewish world that produced the New Testament, his comparative analysis of the four Gospel narratives, and his argument that each Gospel presents a complementary portrait of Jesus rather than a contradictory one. The reviewer draws out practical implications of this exegetical approach for Christian counseling, showing how each Gospel's distinct Christology can serve as a different therapeutic framework for those seeking spiritual guidance.
DaSilva, David. (2004) An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation. New York: Intervarsity Press.
An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation by David DaSilva presents not simply an excellent overview of the Bible as a literary and historical work, as its title might suggest. It also provides a refreshing combination of scholarly insight and deeply felt exegesis about the ministry and teaching methods of the figure of Jesus, and how to interpret this figure across a series of different Gospel contexts. Evidently, the author does not see exegetical scholarship about the literary and historical context of the Bible as incompatible with Christian belief and counseling.
For a reader seeking to formulate a biblical approach to counseling, the most instructive aspect of the text is the way DaSilva's exegetical interpretation is both historically and textually grounded, yet still anchored in a coherent theology of the figure of Christ. The author does not deny the differences of intent and material found in the four Gospel narratives. By isolating how Matthew deviates from Mark — for example, through Matthew's inclusion of the Sermon on the Mount (p. 248) — DaSilva offers a way to marry intellect with feeling for the theology student. More than that, he provides a helpful analytical framework: the Jesuses of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John are not different versions of Christianity, but simply different ways of looking at the same figure within a historical Christian context. A balanced and psychologically astute understanding of Christ emerges from his text.
DaSilva begins his work by painting a multifaceted portrait of the Roman world of Jesus' time, including the debates within first-century Judaism and the contrasting beliefs of ancient Roman and Greek paganism. Before even beginning to analyze the Bible itself, DaSilva helps readers understand the often fraught world that produced it, as well as the culture that gave rise to the Hebraic texts predating the New Testament books. This historical grounding is essential for any reader who wishes to interpret the Gospels responsibly, whether for scholarly or pastoral purposes.
DaSilva characterizes Mark's Gospel narrative as the story of Jesus following the way of the cross — a Jesus who cries out to God in his suffering from upon the cross and who seeks, but often fails to find, understanding of his mission (p. 194). In apparent contrast to Mark, Matthew provides the most Jewish, or Messianic, version of all the Gospels. Matthew's Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of the prophecy of the royal house of David, and Matthew's narrative stands as an example of historical consistency and teaching through text and words (p. 234). True to the Jewish tradition, Matthew stresses verbal as opposed to "felt" or physical interpretations of human missions in life — a notable contrast to the suffering emphasis in Mark.
Luke is the most interior of all the Gospels, stressing the need for Jesus to remain attuned to the heart of the Father in heaven (p. 298). The Gospel of John calls upon Jesus to follow "the one from above," a concept complementary in spirit to Luke but painted with entirely different metaphors — the Word, the Light, and ascension (p. 398). As the only non-synoptic Gospel, John stands in contrast to the synoptic Mark, Matthew, and Luke, and serves as testimony to both the diversity and plurality of vision in Early Christianity.
DaSilva's analysis of the figure of Jesus in these narratives illustrates the historical context and exegetical differences among the books. His interpretation also implies that the fullest vision of contemporary Christianity is one that embraces all versions of Christ across all four Gospel narratives. This has direct implications for biblical counseling.
An individual seeking biblical counseling may first find psychological respite in Mark's image of the suffering Christ, crying out in despair upon the cross. Next, as in Matthew, there may be an attempt to tie an individual's mission, suffering, and life to a larger familial and national tradition of hope, fulfillment, faith, and redemption — achieved through talking and emotional healing. Then, through discussing the Jesus presented in Luke, the heart is opened up in a less intellectual and verbal fashion to a mission of forgiveness, hope, and return to the Father anew. Finally, a greater understanding of the self in a larger context — the relationship of earth to heaven — is achieved through discussing an individual's problems in light of the book of John. Through diversity of understanding of the figure of Jesus comes strength in the Christian mission, and in one's personal mission. This pluralistic approach explains why Jesus' words and deeds were recorded across four distinct narratives.
"Paul, John the Baptist, and the struggles of Early Christianity"
"Exegesis as revelation and tool for pastoral ministry"
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