This book argues that the gospels are in an important sense "occasions for offense." The Jesus of the gospels is a scandal (skandalon, in the original Greek) and he is never more scandalous than when he is speaking in parables. Interpreters of the gospels over the centuries have consistently labored to domesticate the offense or to eliminate it entirely. David McCracken, focusing on parables, Matthew's narrative contexts, and the gospel of John, seeks to recover the gospels' sense of Jesus as skandalon. To this end, he enlists the help of Kierkegaard, the philosopher of offense, and to a lesser extent that of Bakhtin, both of whom prove to be surprisingly apt conversation partners for the evangelists.
Industry Reviews
"Should be readily accessible to most readers. Recommended not just for biblical scholars but especially for collections of literary criticism of all kinds."--Choice
"This book begins with a powerful reading of the notion of skandalon in the Gospels and its Kierkegaardian exegesis. This beginning provides the basis for a reading of Gospel narrative which is crammed full of fresh and powerful insights."--René Girard, Stanford University
"McCracken compares well with other 'secular' literary critics who have recently tackled the Bible (the Blooms, Alters, Kermodes). His style is clear, elegant, and forceful. He has a great many interesting and original things to say about the gospels in the light of his topic."--Stephen Moore, author of Literary Criticism and the Gospels
"A provocative and insightful exploration of a significant and much neglected Christian concept. This book gives new insight into biblical parables, looking at them in the light of the work of Kierkegaard and Bakhtin."--C. Stephen Evans, St. Olaf College
"`Aha!' Copenhagen's most famous peripatetic, Soren Kierkegaard, will say when David McCracken falls in step with him on some heavenly walking street, 'Aha, a man after my own heart, who sees that there are only two fundamental responses to the Gospel, offense or faith! A man who has not ignored or domesticated the offense but forces readers to encounter it face to face. A man who recognizes scandal as essential to the story of Jesus, who sees the parables not
as example stories conveying ready-made answers, but as scandalous encounters.' And the two will walk and talk and lament a world, indeed, a Christian Church, that no longer sees Christ's Kingdom as
contrary to all other kingdoms--indeed, a paradox!"--Howard and Edna Hong, Hong Kierkegaard Library
"Should be readily accessible to most readers. Recommended not just for biblical scholars but especially for collections of literary criticism of all kinds."--Choice
"This book begins with a powerful reading of the notion of skandalon in the Gospels and its Kierkegaardian exegesis. This beginning provides the basis for a reading of Gospel narrative which is crammed full of fresh and powerful insights."--René Girard, Stanford University
"McCracken compares well with other 'secular' literary critics who have recently tackled the Bible (the Blooms, Alters, Kermodes). His style is clear, elegant, and forceful. He has a great many interesting and original things to say about the gospels in the light of his topic."--Stephen Moore, author of Literary Criticism and the Gospels
"A provocative and insightful exploration of a significant and much neglected Christian concept. This book gives new insight into biblical parables, looking at them in the light of the work of Kierkegaard and Bakhtin."--C. Stephen Evans, St. Olaf College
"`Aha!' Copenhagen's most famous peripatetic, Soren Kierkegaard, will say when David McCracken falls in step with him on some heavenly walking street, 'Aha, a man after my own heart, who sees that there are only two fundamental responses to the Gospel, offense or faith! A man who has not ignored or domesticated the offense but forces readers to encounter it face to face. A man who recognizes scandal as essential to the story of Jesus, who sees the parables not
as example stories conveying ready-made answers, but as scandalous encounters.' And the two will walk and talk and lament a world, indeed, a Christian Church, that no longer sees Christ's Kingdom as
contrary to all other kingdoms--indeed, a paradox!"--Howard and Edna Hong, Hong Kierkegaard Library
"...he presents a forceful challenge, both to biblical scholarship and to the ecclesiastical community, for a renewed look at the scandalous aspects of biblical narratives."--The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
"Daivd McCracken has written a bold work....a challenging book."--New Oxford Review
