Thomas G. WEINANDY, OFM, Cap. Jesus Becoming Jesus: A Theological Interpretation of the Synoptic Gospels. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2018. pp. 478. $34.95 pb. ISBN 9780813230450. Reviewed by Peter DRILLING, retired, Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY 14052. 

Basing his approach on the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation of the Second Vatican Council, Thomas Weinandy has written a lengthy study of the Synoptic Gospels.  It is by no means a Scriptural commentary according to the historical-critical method of biblical exegesis, as Weinandy states explicitly.  Instead, it is "a theological interpretation that would be founded upon and flow from the Church's faith expressed within both Scripture and tradition" (xvi).

More specifically, Weinandy claims that the doctrine of the Incarnation of the Divine Word and the doctrine of the triune God both are quite directly and intentionally expressed in the unfolding of the mysteries of the conception and birth and childhood of Christ Jesus, in the activities and teaching of his brief ministry in Palestine, and in his passion, death, and resurrection.   Here is how the author summarizes his lengthy book in the conclusion: "This theological and metaphysical exposition of the Trinity as the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being perichoretically fully in act may seem far removed from the concrete and down-to-earth Gospel narratives.  Yet such an understanding arises from the Gospels themselves, that is, from the full revelation of the Father, through his Son, Jesus Christ, in the love of the Holy Spirit" (470).  This is a strong statement but, literally, every page of the book contributes to it.

Moreover, this "theological and metaphysical exposition" is carried forward in the revelation of the name Jesus, YHWH-Saves, which also reveals that the Father is YHWH-Saves and the Holy Spirit is YHWH-Saves.  The Gospel is about the action of the triune God bringing about the Kingdom of God.  Or, as Weinandy puts it another way, reminding the reader of his 1995 book, God's action is continually expressive of "the Father's Spirit of Sonship."  As the mysteries of salvation unfold through the economic activity of the Trinity, Jesus moves from "becoming" Jesus to "being" Jesus, i.e., YHWH-Saves, in the acts of His death, resurrection, and ascension (the author considers the latter two to be, in fact, one act).

While Weinandy states directly and frequently that the Gospel reveals the doctrines of the Incarnation and the Trinity, his treatise also indicates regularly how the Gospel reveals the doctrine of the sacraments.  This is expressed in chapters 4, 9 and 12, and then again in the conclusion.  In the latter two references, the intimate relationship between word and sacrament is explained in some detail (see especially pages 430 and 466-467).  In a footnote on page 467, the author criticizes the Protestant emphasis upon word over sacrament. Not surprisingly, in his discussion of the sacraments as expressed in the Synoptic Gospels, the Eucharist first and then baptism are highlighted. 

I would characterize this study as a systematic theology of the Christian doctrine of God.  But, as far as I am aware, it is quite unlike any other systematic theological study written in the last couple of centuries.  This study goes about the task of uncovering a most coherent doctrine of God already explicated quite forthrightly and clearly in the Synoptic Gospels themselves.  For many years I taught a graduate-level course on the Trinity, and I discussed with the students how the doctrine of the Trinity, while not explicated as such until the Church councils of the fourth century, is embedded in the New Testament.  Weinandy goes further by far.  His text unfolds how the Synoptic Gospels demonstrate quite expressly the doctrines chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

It happens that I began to read this book during the season of Advent.  As I read through the first chapters, those that study the infancy narratives, I found my Advent meditations enriched.  While some readers, perhaps many, will surely assess that this study overreaches, and reads into the Scriptures what only emerged in later developments, and I certainly endorse the need to appreciate the historicity of the Gospel accounts, still there is value in examining how the doctrines of the Christian faith are solidly rooted in the Gospel narratives.

On another matter, there are a number of typographical errors throughout the book. This poses an unfortunate distraction as the reader tries to focus on the demanding content of the text.