Core Message

Understanding Christ and scripture requires looking both backwards and forwards - the disciples only understood Christ's identity after his resurrection, and through that lens reinterpreted all of scripture to reveal his mystery.

Key Themes

Scripture as Treasury

"The scriptures were not used merely as a narrative of the past, but rather as a thesaurus, a treasury of imagery, for entering into the mystery of Christ."

The Old Testament serves not just as historical record but as a lens through which to understand Christ.

Understanding Through the Cross

"The disciples did not simply come to understand Christ in the light of the Passion. Rather, only when turned again to the scriptures did they began to see there all sorts of references to Christ."

The full meaning of Christ's identity and mission only became clear after his death and resurrection.

The Living Interpretation

"The truth of Christianity is not protological, but rather eschatological, residing in Christ whose return Christians still await."

Christianity looks forward as much as backward, finding its fullest meaning in what is yet to come.

Key Insights

  • The earliest Christian texts (Paul's letters) were written in response to errors in understanding
  • The Cross serves as the axis mundi - the still point around which all interpretation revolves
  • Scripture gains new coherence and unity when read through the lens of Christ's passion
  • Looking backwards allows us to better appreciate how to look forwards