The thesis of this book can be summarized as follows: 'The beginnings of Christian reflection can be traced to interpretations of Israel's Scriptures, and the major focus of that scriptural interpretation was Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah.' Juel argues that the earliest use of the Old Testament Scripture was not to argue in behalf of the Gospel, but rather to understand the gospel, and to clarify the implications of faith in Christ for relating to Israel's God and the world. Furthermore, he feels that the concept of Jesus as Messiah is the central guiding factor in scriptural exegesis.
