Banished Messiah: Violence and Nonviolence in Matthew’s Story of Jesus

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By arguing that Matthew’s Gospel can be read as a homecoming story according to the ancient formula of the Banished and Returning Prince, Robert Beck offers a fresh and provocative reinterpretation of the Gospel. He exploits this understanding of the narrative to disclose new elements within the plot, to identify a fresh resolution to conflict development within the tale, and to arrive at an unprecedented explanation of the place of violence and nonviolence within Matthew’s text. The traditional roles of Usurper, Impostor, and Mentor are examined for insight into what Matthew’s narrative achieves as well as, perhaps more importantly, what it excludes in the way of cultural expectations of violent reprisal.