Book Notice: Andrew Streett, The Vine and the Son of Man

Andrew Streett

The Vine and the Son of Man: Eschatological Interpretation of Psalm 80 in Early Judaism
Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013.
Available at Amazon.com

This is a good book on the use of Psalm 80 in early Judaism and in the NT, esp. the Gospel of John. Streett shows how Psalm 80 was given an explicitly eschatological and often messianic interpretation by many readers. According to Street, the allusion to Psalm 80 in John 15:1-8 shows that John “interpreted it as a prophecy of the restoration of the Israel vine through the messianic Son, a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus (p. 219) and “John 15:1-8 interprets Psalm 80 messianically and eschatologically, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy of the son/branch that continues Israel’s role” (p. 221).

I also wrote a blurb for this book with the words: “In this fine study, Andrew Streett examines the reception history of Psalm 80 in ancient Jewish and Christian literature. In particular, Streett shows how Psalm 80 contributes to the Johannine conception of the Son of Man as the one who actualizes the destiny of Israel. Streett has provided an exemplary survey of Psalm 80, which plots the various interpretations that emerged and shows how Psalm 80 provided scriptural impetus for New Testament Christology. The Vine and the Son of Man is a finely written study for anyone interested in biblical intertextuality.”