The Son of God: The Origin of Christology and the History of Jewish-Hellenistic Religion

This work significantly advances the critical discussion of New Testament Christology. Hengel examines the titles Son and God. He points toward an inner consistency and dynamic in the development of the doctrine of Christ in primitive Christianity as the movement proceeded from the Gospels account of the death of Jesus to the high Christology present in the Pauline writings. Historical scholarship and theological -- one might even say dogmatic -- questions must not stand in unresolved contradiction. On the contrary the historian misunderstands the nature of New Testament Christology if he does not grasp its theological concern and its inner consistency while a dogmatic approach that does not take seriously the historical course of Christianity is in danger of becoming no more than abstract speculation. It is therefore vitally important to unite historical research and the theological search for truth. All students of New Testament Christology will benefit from this book. --Interpretation Martin Hengel is Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism at the University of Tuebingen Germany. He is the author of many books including Victory Over Violence & Was Jesus a Revolutionist? Between Jesus and Paul Judaism and Hellenism Studies in the Gospel of Mark and The Hellenization of Judaea in the First Century after Christ. Hengels most recent books include Studies in Early Christology and The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ.