Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus [Paperback]

Gerald O'Collins SJ (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019955787X | ISBN-13: 978-0199557875 | Publication Date: August 31, 2009 | Edition: 2

In this fully revised and updated second edition of his accessible account of systematic Christology, Gerald O'Collins continues to challenge the contemporary publishing trend for sensationalist books on Jesus that are supported neither by the New Testament witness nor by mainline Christian beliefs.

This book critically examines the best biblical and historical scholarship before tackling head-on some of the key questions of systematic Christology: does orthodox faith present Jesus the man as deficient and depersonalized? Is his sinlessness compatible with the exercise of a free human will? Does up-to-date exegesis challenge his virginal conception and personal resurrection? Can one reconcile Jesus' role as universal Saviour with the truth and values to be found in other religions? What should the feminist movement highlight in presenting Jesus? This integral Christology is built around the resurrection of the crucified Jesus, highlights love as the key to redemption, and proposes a synthesis of the divine presence through Jesus. Clear, balanced, and accessible, this book should be valued by any student reading systematic theology, anyone training for the ministry in all denominations, as well as interested general readers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This new edition strengthens the case for the reliability of the gospels ... The content and tone is ecumenical and critical but conservative, lending itself to use ina variety of denominational settings. Summing up: Highly recommended." --Choice

About the Author

Gerald O' Collins is Research Professor of Theology at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, and Honorary Adjunct Professor of Australian Catholic University. He has published, alone or with others, 47 books, including Jesus Our Redeemer, Salvation for All, and Catholicism (all OUP). Author of hundreds of articles in professional and popular journals, he has lectured at many universities and colleges in the British Isles, India, New Zealand, the United States, his native Australia, and elsewhere.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition (August 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019955787X
• ISBN-13: 978-0199557875
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who do you say I am?, September 3, 2010

By 

matt (the reading room) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus (Paperback)

This has always been one of my favorite books on the subject, and I am glad to see it reissued. O'Collins is a master of the subject matter, he writes very well, and every page has at least one useful insight that you can commit to memory or mull over. His Christology is biblical/Nicene/Chalcedonian (if you don't know what that is, you will love this book), and while he doesn't deviate from that position, he is fully engaged in the historical and modern challenges to Orthodox Christology.

You can use the look inside function to get the general idea of his plot. It flows perfectly as a book, but each section can stand alone for easy reference. After reading this book you will have:
1. a very strong introduction, really much more than a mere introduction, to the main points of the New Testament,
2. a clear grasp of the covenant that is fulfilled in Christ,
3. an understanding how the followers of Jesus understood him to be both the Christ (Messiah) and God, while remaining monotheistic,
4. a handle on how the early Church hashed out theological differences, approaches and trends while maintaining faithfulness to the tradition handed down to them,
5. an appreciation for how later Christians grappled with new challenges to the identity of God in Christ,
6. an understanding of why some modern approaches to Christ fall short,
7. a renewed faith in the reasonableness of the Gospel on historical, biblical and logical grounds.

While not meant to be an apologetic per se, the text can function this way easily. It is a solid piece of scholarship and, to me, the main book to have on hand when thinking about the issues.

Other books of interest may include: The God of the Gospel of John is excellent and one of the best books on scripture that I have read, Christ in Eastern Christian Thought by Meyendorff is concise and a needed corrective to the overlooked East (O'Collins does not overlook them, happily), Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity is a massive tome, but incredibly useful, Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of the Atonement (Spck Classics) shows how the dominant Medieval Roman/Protestant Christology needs some historical corrective, Cross of the Son of God is an irreplaceable collection of essays, Behr's The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death reminds us to be biblical in our minds and hearts, and Pelikan's Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture is a very compelling survey by THE master historian of dogma.

Enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Welcome Revised Edition to the Study of Christology, December 17, 2011

By 

Eleanor Capper "Sr. Eleanor Capper rsj" (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus (Paperback)

The author has revised this book as a result of 'enriched thinking about what faith in Christ involves intellectually, as well as for Christian life and worship. He has brought this book into the third millenium in a systematic way by making use of the wealth of material from Biblical, historical and systematic thinking over the past ten years. This book provides a valuable framework for any investigation of Christology today.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, clear, readable book!!! Christology by O'Collins, June 26, 2010

By 

Doreen Casey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus (Paperback)

Wonderful, clear, readable book Christology by O'Collins. He has written over 30 books on this same subject. Glad I found it. """"" Catholic