Brief description: John Paul Heil is Professor of New Testament at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. His other books include 'The Meal Scenes in Luke-Acts' and 'Transfiguration of Jesus'.
Review Quotes: ""John Paul Heil both draws the reader into Matthew's narrative of Jesus' death and resurrection and brings Matthew's Jesus out of the text into the reader's world. The rigorous analysis of alternating and interlocking scenes will aid scholars and students who seek to understand thoroughly Matthew's sophisticated composition. The author's clear style and argument open the book to clergy and serious readers as well. The conflicts and tensions elucidated by Heil are as gripping today as in the first century: Jesus' sovereignty in the face of oppression and the human response to him, either faith and union or rejection and separation. These complex and rich themes of the passion are integrally related to the gospel narrative which has prepared the reader to see Jesus die and rise."" Anthony J. Saldarini ""Heil practices narrative criticism, with emphasis on the responses of the implied reader, yet manages to avoid the technical jargon that often obfuscates treatments of this sort. The result is as readable for students and clergy - and for serious-minded people, too - as it is valuable for scholars. Usually overlooked parallels, contracts, and rhythms in Matthew's version of the Passion and Resurrection come to light."" Robert H. Gundry