Andreas J. K&ouml - The First Days of Jesus: The Story of the Incarnation

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This latest work on the incarnation and nativity is an excellent example of serious scholarship served up in a most readable manner. No birth in history had such prophetic preparation, which is a powerful, central theme in these pages that celebrate the start of the greatest life ever lived. This is a welcome antidote to the cheap sensationalism in recent books on Jesus that try to demolish every reason for regarding Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year.

Paul L. Maier, Professor of Ancient History, Western Michigan University; author, In the Fullness of Time

The First Days of Jesus is a revealing look at the earliest days of Jesus in Matthew, Luke, and John set against some of the skeptical takes on these passages. Add to this a taste of Jewish messianic expectation and you have a nice overview of the start of Jesuss career and where it fits in Gods plan. Solid yet devotional, it is a great introduction to the first days of our Lord.

Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director of Cultural Engagement, Howard G. Hendricks Center, and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

The First Days of Jesus combines Scripture passages, historical background, scholarly insight, and practical application to cast Christs incarnation in fresh light. Few tasks are more urgent than for todays Christians worldwide to rediscover and deepen their connections with their origins. This book is a valuable resource for achieving that aim. Like the star of Bethlehem itself, this volume leads those who seek God to find him afresh in the events of Jesuss historical appearance, the prophecies that preceded, the apostolic testimony that accompanied, and the social world that God split wide open when he sent his Son.

Robert W. Yarbrough, Professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary

Kstenberger and Stewart admirably unpack the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke along with that beautiful first movement of Johns Gospel against both the grand sweep of biblical history and the nitty-gritty details of first-century events and culture. The result may dismantle a few of your nativity-scene notions about the Christmas story even while building up your faith in and commitment to the Word become flesh.

George H. Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Union University

Kstenberger and Stewart provide for us a faithful and useful guide to the early days of Jesus. This book should serve well those desiring to learn about the early chapters in the Gospels and those who desire to preach and teach these narratives.

Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Written with exceptional clarity, The First Days of Jesus pays close attention to the key biblical texts on Christs nativity in an illuminating way. It deals briefly yet helpfully with critical scholarship and presents the events surrounding Jesuss conception and birth in both a canonical and a chronological fashion. It addresses unashamedly the difficulties with these birth stories, tackling the problem of variant accounts, the use of sources, the nature of prophecy and typology, and much more. It challenges us readers to respond to the Word of God with the obedience of faith, like Mary did, and with praise, worship, and witness, as the shepherds did. I know of no other book that so masterfully weaves together these infancy narratives on so many fronts. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

Gregg R. Allison, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

There is more to Christmas than you may think. Cut through the layers of tradition and the fog of nostalgia, and discover the scandal of how it all started. The Bible has more to say about Jesuss earliest days than you might expect, and this book is a reliable guide. The First Days of Jesus blends world-class scholarship with real-world concern for everyday Christians. Here attention to detail, in the text and in history, complements warm devotion and pastoral care.

David Mathis, Executive Editor, desiringGod.org; Pastor, Cities Church, Minneapolis

In this accessible and reliable guide to how the Gospels present the early years of Jesus Christs life, Kstenberger and Stewart provide an exceptionally helpful study, informed by the best of modern scholarship. Drawing on what we know of the historical context, they expound with clarity both the meaning of the biblical text and its relevance for modern readers. In doing so, they enable us to grasp afresh how a detailed appreciation of Jesuss first days contributes significantly to a deeper understanding of his whole life.

T. Desmond Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies, Union Theological College, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

THE FIRST
DAYS OF
JESUS

THE STORY OF THE INCARNATION

ANDREAS KSTENBERGER
& ALEXANDER STEWART

FOREWORD BY JUSTIN TAYLOR

The First Days of Jesus: The Story of the Incarnation

Copyright 2015 by Andreas J. Kstenberger and Alexander E. Stewart

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Adam Green

Cover image: Robby Sawyer

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-4278-7
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4281-7
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4279-4
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4280-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kstenberger, Andreas J., 1957

The first days of Jesus : The story of the incarnation / Andreas Kstenberger and Alexander Stewart ; foreword by Justin Taylor.

1 online resource.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-4281-7 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-4279-4 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-4280-0 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-4278-7 (print)

1. Jesus ChristNativity. 2. MessiahProphecies. 3. Jesus ChristMessiahship. I. Bible. English. Selections. English Standard. 2015. II. Title.