EPS Blog

In recent years, there has been considerable debate concerning the origin of divine Christology. Nevertheless, the proposed theories are beset with problems, such as failing to address the evidence of widespread agreement among the earliest Christians concerning divine Christology, and the issues related to whether Jesus' intention was falsified. This book offers a new contribution by addressing these issues using transdisciplinary tools. It proposes that the earliest Christians regarded Jesus as divine because a sizeable group of them perceived that Jesus claimed and showed himself to be divine, and thought that God vindicated this claim by raising Jesus from the dead. It also provides a comprehensive critique of alternative proposals, and synthesizes their strengths. It defends the appropriateness and merits of utilizing philosophical distinctions (e.g. between ontology and function) and Trinitarian concepts for explaining early Christology, and incorporates comparative religion by examining cases of deification in other contexts.

• Addresses scholarly issues such as the evidence of widespread agreement among the earliest Christians concerning the divinity of Christ, and issues related to whether Jesus' intention was falsified.
• Synthesizes the strengths of alternative proposals while avoiding their weaknesses, helping readers to better appreciate other proposals, and understand that a more holistic response can be offered.
• Utilizes the tools of historical-criticism, philosophy, theology, and comparative religion to demonstrate that a transdisciplinary approach can be useful for biblical scholars and historians studying the New Testament and Christian origins.