The Vehement Jesus composes a fresh examination and interpretation of several perplexing passages in the Gospels that, at face value, challenge the conviction that the mission and message of Jesus were peaceful. Using narrative analysis and various forms of intratextual critique in the service of a hermeneutic of shalom, the author makes the case that Gospel portrayals of the vehement Jesus are compatible with, perhaps even indispensable to, the composite canonical portrait of Jesus as the Messiah of Peace. As a result, this exploration in New Testament theology and ethics makes an invaluable contribution to the crucial conversation about the role of Jesus' life and teaching in Christian reflection on the morality of violence today.

""This engaging work of patient and passionate scholarship is theologically productive. Neville is well-informed, fair-minded, meticulous, creative, and--above all--honest."" --Dale C. Allison, Jr., Princeton Theological Seminary

""Do the Gospels present Jesus as committed to the practice of non-violence? Tackling a set of especially challenging texts in the Gospels and vigorously engaging the counter-arguments of other scholars, David Neville makes a convincing case for a vehement, yet non-violent Jesus. This is an important book on a topic of biblical interpretation and ethics that has urgent relevance for our time."" --John T. Carroll, Union Presbyterian Seminary