Full Description
From early on, Christians passed down the account of Jesus's agony at the prospect of his own death and his prayer that the cup should pass from him (Gethsemane). Yet, this is a troublesome aspect of Christian tradition. Jesus was committed to his death, but as it approached, he prayed for his escape, even as he submitted himself to God's will. Ancient critics mocked Jesus and his followers for the events at Gethsemane. The 'hero' failed to meet the cultural standards for noble death and masculinity. As such, this story calls for further reflection and interpretation. The present book unfolds discourses from the earliest centuries of Christianity to determine what strategies were developed to come to terms with Gethsemane.
Contents
1 Introducing the Topic
2 A Legacy of Manly Courage
3 Manly Martyrs
4 Jesus' Agony Seen by Foes: A Lack of Manly Courage
5 Mark 14:32-42: Jesus—Righteous Sufferer and Example
6 Matthew: "If Necessary"
7 A Heroic Jesus? Luke's Gospel (Luke 22:39-46)
8 The Fourth Gospel: Gethsemane Reconfigured
9 "With Loud Cries and Tears": Heb 5:7-9 and Gethsemane
10 Justin Martyr: "Autobiographic" Gethsemane
11 Tatian: Gethsemane Harmonized
12 "Orthodox" versus "Non-Orthodox" Gethsemane
13 The Gospel of the Savior (Papyrus Berolinensis 22220): Intercession in Heavenly Gethsemane
14 Origen: A More Severe Martyrdom
15 Gethsemane and the Lord's Prayer
16 "Hippolytus": Gethsemane and Doctrinal Proof
17 John Chrysostom: Gethsemane and Acted Proof
18 Jerome: Gethsemane—An Incident of Propatheia
19 The Empress Eudocia's Cento: Homeric and Emotional Hero at Gethsemane
20 Gethsemane Discourses
