Christology: A Global Introduction: An Ecumenical, International, and Contextual Perspective
Overview
Christology provides an ecumenical, international, and contextual introduction to the person of Christ in contemporary theology, both in the Western academy and in two-thirds world theologies. It offers three main perspectives on Christology (biblical, historical, and contemporary) and combines classical and contextual work done in Christology over the course of church history.
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen begins with a survey of the various approaches to studying New Testament Christology on the basis of contemporary biblical studies. He compares and contrasts the Gospels’ testimonies to Christ as well as the outline of Pauline Christology.
Next, Kärkkäinen explores Christology from a historical perspective. He outlines the early Christological debates, including those at Nicea (325) and Chalcedon (451), and describes their relevance to later history and contemporary theology. Kärkkäinen then describes the search for the historical Jesus and its relevance to Christology, as well as the reasons for its ultimate failure.
An extended discussion of 10 major Western Christologies forms the next section and provides the primary focus of the book. Included is an introduction to the work of ecumenically and theologically representative theologians, such as Karl Barth, Jurgen Moltmann, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Karl Rahner, as well as Norman Kraus, Stanley Grenz, and John Hick.
Finally, Christology delves into contextualized interpretations of Christ in various parts of the world. North American, feminist, process, black, and postmodern Christologies are discussed and evaluated. Asian (“Christ as universal Savior”), African (“Christ as Ancestor”), and Latin American (“Christ as Liberator”) Christologies round out the discussion.
Christology should fit textbook needs in a variety of traditional and contemporary theology classes. The book will be a natural complement to a standard doctrine of Christ textbook in that it provides in one place materials that normally can be found only in several scattered sources. Additionally, it offers valuable insight for scholars, pastors, and readers interested in contemporary Christology.
Essential for students, scholars, pastors, and laypeople, this informative volume brings fresh perspectives on theological matters. With the Logos Bible Software edition, searching by topic or Scripture references will further help your understanding—you’ll compare, for example, the systematic theologies of various scholars or denominations.
Key Features
- Provides an expansive introduction to Christology in contemporary theology
- Discusses viewpoints of both ancient and current theologians
- Analyzes interpretations of Christ in different cultures and other parts of the world
Contents
- Christ in the Bible
- The Many Faces of Christ in the Bible
- Christ in the Gospels
- Pauline Christology
- Christ in History
- Early Christological Disputes
- From the Council of Nicea (325) to Chalcedon (451)
- Subsequent Developments
- A New Christological Style
- The Beginning of the Quest of the Historical Jesus
- The Liberal Picture of Christ
- The Collapse of the Original Quest
- Christ in the Contemporary World: Western Christologies
- Karl Barth: Dialectical Christology
- Rudolf Bultmann: Mythological Christology
- Paul Tillich: Existentialist Christology
- John Zizioulas: Communion Christology
- Karl Rahner: Transcendental Christology
- Jürgen Moltmann: Messianic Christology
- Wolfhart Pannenberg: Universal Christology
- Norman Kraus: Disciples’ Christology
- Stanley Grenz: Evangelical Christology
- John Hick: Universalist Christology
- Christ in the Contemporary World: Contextual Christologies
- Process Christology
- Feminist Christology
- Black Christology
- Postmodern Christology
- Christology in Latin America: Search for Freedom
- Jon Sobrino: Christ as Liberator
- Christology in Africa: Search for Power
- Benezet Bujo: Christ as Ancestor
- Christology in Asia: Search for Meaning
- Stanley Samartha: Christ as Universal Savior
Top Highlights
“imate pictures and theological interpretations of Jesus” (Page 22)
Praise for the Print Edition
Christology is profound and insightful in taking issue with various approaches and understandings of Jesus Christ. It is an original and creative masterpiece that introduces Christological issues with intellectual clarity and theological quality. After reading this work, I have no hesitation in recommending it to all students at seminaries and anyone interested in Christianity and theology.
—Paul Chung, associate professor of mission and world Christianity, Luther Seminary
No other book so comprehensively and helpfully surveys contemporary options in Christian thinking about Christ, including Christologies arising out of the two-thirds world. It is a reliable guide to cutting-edge reflection on the history, development, and contemporary contextualization of the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
—Roger E. Olson, professor of theology, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen’s Christology is breathtaking in scope and pace. This introduction is unique in breadth and clarity. Every reader can learn from it.
—Colin Brown, senior professor of systematic theology, Fuller Theological Seminary
Kärkkäinen shows the vast richness of Christological reflection. . . . The breadth of views is remarkable.
—Living Church
Kärkkäinen does a commendable job of presenting the foundations of the various Christological approaches without offering diatribe against the subjects under discussion. Given the range of theologians . . . this discipline shows Kärkkäinen’s professionalism and contributes to the overall effectiveness of the book as a text for students.
—Review and Expositor
Product Details
- Title: Christology: A Global Introduction: An Ecumenical, International, and Contextual Perspective
- Author: Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Publication Date: 2003
- Pages: 304
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Doctrine of Christ