Christology In Paul And John

ÒChristology should be reflections on the experience of the believer. Unless the believer has experienced something in the depth of her being, she has nothing to think aboutÓ (1). How true! And how good it is to have clear insights into the Christology of two early believers, Paul and John. Parish based preachers, compelled to preach on texts from the Gospel of John and the Letters of Paul, are helped by Scroggs in their study for and preparation of sermons. Scroggs' commentary provides the opportunity first of all to grasp and understand the Christ as Paul proclaimed him in his writings. The second part of the book details the Christology of John. While the two respective Christologies are different and not dependent upon one another, put together they do give us rich insight into the question of who Jesus is and what he means for faith. In the comparison it becomes clear that Paul used legal metaphors to describe the new world made possible through the cross, while John saw Jesus as the revelation of divine reality coming from the realm of God the Father into this world of darkness. Following the discussion of the differences between Paul and John - like Òwrestling with two angelsÓ (105) - the author seeks to clarify some essential and underlying similarities in the Christologies of Paul and John. This relationship is discussed under three headings: Creation, The Vision of the Fallen World, and Jesus Christ as Revealer. The last three pages of the book comprise an important word to theological discussions within the church. They point out the importance of theology being Christocentric. ÒThe Christian, just as Paul and John, has experienced God through Jesus Christ, and thus cannot speak about God without speaking about Jesus ChristÓ (111).'Christology in Paul and John' should be in every working pastor's library.

The last fifty years of Pauline scholarship have provided numerous insights to both the academy and the church. Some of those most important discussions have related to the question of Paul's view of Christ with respect to his divinity. While the landscape is rich with scholarly findings, it can be overwhelming to navigate the complex lines of argumentation and the interactions between various key scholars. In The Divine Christology of the Apostle Paul, biblical scholars Chris Bruno, John Lee, and Thomas Schreiner explore the more detailed and often perplexing conversations concerning the divinity of Christ, bringing helpful guidance and clarity to scholars' various articulations, including those of: Richard Bauckham Larry Hurtado Chris Tilling N. T. Wright and others After offering a cohesive and constructive understanding of such landmark studies, they then provide their own insights through the exegetical study of key New Testament passages related to Paul's Christology. Filled with helpful charts, appendixes, and study aids, The Divine Christology of the Apostle Paul is an essential guide for any student, pastor, or scholar looking for an insightful distillation of this key dimension of Pauline studies.

Segundo's groundbreaking exegesis focuses chiefly on PaulÕs treatment of sin, faith, and the impact of their intersection on human existence. In a brilliant concluding chapter, Segundo rejects liberation theologyÕs reading of Paul as apolitical and shows how PaulÕs thought opens up for us a Òhumanizing political realm that no repression can control or render useless.Ó This profound and passionately written study will fascinate advanced students and scholars for years to come.

Marinus de Jonge was Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at Leiden from 1966 to 1991. A former president of Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, the International Society of New Testament scholars, he is best known for his work on the 'Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs' and on the Gospel and Epistles of John. More recently his work on Jesus and early Christology has received critical acclaim: 'Christology in Context. The Earliest Christian Response to Jesus' (1988) and 'Jesus: The Servant-Messiah' (1991). This volume of essays in his honour from a team of international scholars and admirers (from Holland, Great Britain, the United States, Norway and Germany) recognizes his singular and provocative contributions to our understanding of Jesus and New Testament Christology. The essays cover such topics as Jesus' self-understanding, the christological ascriptions of his earliest disciples and followers, the background to New Testament Christology in Judaism, the Christology of Paul, and the Christology of the Gospels, especially John. Together these essays constitute a significant contribution to the discussion about Jesus and the Christology of the earliest Christians.