The Earliest Christologies: Five Images of Christ in the Postapostolic Age

by James L. Papandrea

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2016

Overview

The second century was a religious and cultural crucible for early Christian Christology. Was Christ a man, temporarily inhabited by the divine? Was he a spirit, only apparently cloaked in flesh? Or was he the Logos, truly incarnate? Between varieties of adoptionism on the one hand and brands of gnosticism on the other, the church’s understanding took shape.

In this clear and concise introduction, James Papandrea sets out five of the principal images of Christ that dominated belief and debate in the postapostolic age. While beliefs on the ground were likely more tangled and less defined than we can know, Papandrea helps us see how Logos Christology was forged as the beginning of the church’s orthodox confession.

This informative and clarifying study of early Christology provides a solid ground for students to begin to explore the early church and its Christologies.

Key Features

• Helps us see how Logos Christology was forged as the beginning of the church’s orthodox confession
• Provides a solid ground for students to begin to explore the early church and its Christologies
• Examines five of the principal images of Christ that dominated belief and debate in the postapostolic age

Contents

• Five Images of Christ in the Postapostolic Age
• Christ as Angel: Angel Adoptionism
• Christ as Prophet: Spirit Adoptionism
• Christ as Phantom: Docetism and Docetic Gnosticism
• Christ as Cosmic Mind: Hybrid Gnosticism
• Christ as Word: Logos Christology
• What, Then, Is Orthodoxy?
• Chart: Christology Continuum

Praise for the Print Edition

James Papandrea eloquently introduces readers to dissident images of Jesus in the second-century church. Many groups wrestled with the question ‘Who is Jesus?’ and came to diverse conclusions. In this book, Papandrea helpfully sets out their views and asks what motivated them and why they (inevitably) failed to win the backing of the mainstream church. All in all, an excellent introduction to forms of ‘other’ Christianity and the whole discourse of early Christology. A lively, readable and informed introduction to Christologies deemed to be heretical.

—Michael F. Bird, Ridley College

In The Earliest Christologies, Papandrea enters the messiness of history and ‘heresies’ in order to explain how Logos Christology became the dominant and enduring perspective on Christ and his significance. If you have puzzled over the christological controversies of the past, expect to find clarity in his account.

—David B. Capes, academic dean, professor of New Testament, Houston Graduate School of Theology

Product Details

• Title: The Earliest Christologies: Five Images of Christ in the Postapostolic Age
• Author: James L. Papandrea
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Pages: 144
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9780830899722, 0830899723
• Resource ID: LLS:9780830899722
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T20:50:20Z

About James L. Papandrea

James L. Papandrea (PhD, Northwestern University) is a teacher, author, speaker and musician. He is currently serving as associate professor of church history at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary at Northwestern University, as well as a consultant in the area of adult faith formation and a regular speaker in parish and lay formation programs in the Chicago area. He is the author of The Earliest Christologies, The Trinitarian Theology of Novatian of Rome and Reading the Early Church Fathers. Also a published songwriter, professional musician and teacher of songwriting, Papandrea has written and arranged music for church choirs and has written two musicals. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in music and theatre arts, he received his MDiv degree from Fuller Theological Seminary with a concentration in youth ministry, then spent several years in full time youth and music ministry. He went on to receive a PhD in the history and theology of the early Christian church from Northwestern University, with secondary concentrations in New Testament interpretation and the history of the Roman Empire. He has also studied Roman history at the American Academy in Rome, Italy. Papandrea is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the North American Patristics Society, and the Catholic Association of Music. When he's not teaching or performing music, he can be found traveling with his wife, Susie, taking photographs and making pilgrimages to places like Rome and Assisi.