Jesus the Saviour

I. Howard Marshall's comprehensive study emerged from his decades of New Testament scholarship and teaching, addressing the need for a systematic examination of salvation themes across the entire New Testament canon. Writing as a prominent evangelical scholar, Marshall sought to demonstrate the theological unity underlying the diverse New Testament writings while maintaining careful attention to their distinct voices and contexts. The work responds to both liberal dismissals of New Testament theology as incoherent and conservative treatments that minimize the genuine diversity within the biblical texts.

Marshall methodically traces the development of salvation theology from the Synoptic Gospels through the Pauline corpus, the Johannine literature, and the remaining New Testament books. He argues that despite significant theological development and varied emphases among different authors, a fundamental coherence exists in how the New Testament presents Jesus as Savior. The study examines key soteriological concepts including atonement, justification, reconciliation, and redemption, showing how each New Testament writer contributes to a comprehensive understanding of salvation while addressing particular pastoral and theological concerns. Marshall demonstrates particular skill in synthesizing historical-critical methodology with theological reflection, arguing that proper exegesis naturally leads to coherent doctrinal formulations.

The work has remained influential in evangelical New Testament scholarship for its methodological rigor and its successful integration of critical scholarship with confessional commitment. Marshall's approach has provided a model for evangelical scholars seeking to engage seriously with historical-critical methods while maintaining theological convictions about biblical authority and coherence. This study should be read by students and scholars of New Testament theology, pastors seeking deeper understanding of biblical soteriology, and anyone interested in evangelical approaches to critical biblical scholarship. Those looking for devotional material or popular-level treatments of salvation will find Marshall's academic approach too technical for their purposes.