Throughout the history of the church the doctrine of the person of Christ has been a centerpiece of theological reflection. In The Person of Christ Donald Macleod rearticulates this multifaceted doctrine. He begins with the New Testament and recent attempts to understand its Christology. Macleod then turns his attention to Christ in the history of Christian theology, examining the principal issues extending from Arianism in the fourth century to kenotic Christology in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to the current debate over the uniqueness of Christ. The Person of Christ is a valuable point of entrance and a biblical assessment of the full panorama of issues that have shaped orthodox confessions of Christ through the centuries. The pathway of Christian revelation and tradition is clearly charted, with hazards new and old carefully marked.
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Donald Macleod is professor of systematic theology at the Free Church of Scotland College in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This work is an extensive overview of christological issues and positions in the modern church while providing historical understandings, formulations and heresies. Donald Macleod then provides an evangelical response or critique to those positions that are not compatable with mainstream evangelical thought and argues for those positions that are associated with evangelicalism. Macleod takes opposing positions seriously and accurately portrays their concerns and central tenets. He is also willing to face the harshest critiques of his own positions. He answers those crituques when he can and acknoldeges the roles of presuppositions in every party's arguments. A very good introduction to the issues that in his own words is "but the mere beginning of a pilgrimage."
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Thomas Parr
Format:Paperback
When you hear lectures or read books on Christology, you often wonder "what is the relevance of Eutychianism and Monophysitism, and all the other isms?" Christology often seems a morass of dullness, and those who teach it seem incapable of showing how precious it is. Macleod glories in Christology. He seems to have written the book as the Puritans used to say, with "logic on fire with worship." There is both light and heat here, and it is a delight to read. Chapters start out discussing ancient or modern errors and end up with in-depth and poignant statements of the truth from Scripture. As an example of poignancy, consider page 180:
"One final point may be made in connection with the humanity of Christ: he came into, and shared, our environment. This too is made plain in John 1:14. He dwelt among us. This involved the most complete sharing of our experiences on the part of the Son of God, accentuated by the fact that he chose not simply to be born, but to be born in a low condition. Hence the 'low estate' of his mother (Luke 1:48). Hence the manger. Hence the flight to Egypt. Hence Nazareth. Hence the homelessness (Matt. 8:20). Hence the penury which has no money to pay the temple tax (Matt. 17:24ff) and no place to celebrate the Passover. Hence the reputed lack of learning and the scorn of the rulers (John 7:48f). . . . For the Son of God, the incarnation meant a whole new set of relationships: with his father and mother; with his brothers and sisters; with his disciples; with the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadduccees; with Roman soldiers and with lepers and prostitutes.... Read more ›
"One final point may be made in connection with the humanity of Christ: he came into, and shared, our environment. This too is made plain in John 1:14. He dwelt among us. This involved the most complete sharing of our experiences on the part of the Son of God, accentuated by the fact that he chose not simply to be born, but to be born in a low condition. Hence the 'low estate' of his mother (Luke 1:48). Hence the manger. Hence the flight to Egypt. Hence Nazareth. Hence the homelessness (Matt. 8:20). Hence the penury which has no money to pay the temple tax (Matt. 17:24ff) and no place to celebrate the Passover. Hence the reputed lack of learning and the scorn of the rulers (John 7:48f). . . . For the Son of God, the incarnation meant a whole new set of relationships: with his father and mother; with his brothers and sisters; with his disciples; with the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadduccees; with Roman soldiers and with lepers and prostitutes.... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is an excellent argument that Jesus is very much God and very much man. What does it mean to be one of three persons in the Godhead, yet be one in essence? There is one God. Donald Macleod defends that Jesus always existed from eternity past (the preexistence of Jesus), the virgin birth, to be begotten- not made, the miracles of Jesus as recorded in the Bible, the redeeming nature of Jesus death, the redeeming nature of the resurrection, the importance of God becoming man, Jesus always stayed God, What does it mean that Jesus emptied himself, the Sinlessness of Jesus and its importance in redemption.
Donald Macleod compares and debunks many false concepts of Jesus by other theologians. He uses theological terms and defines the words well. One need not be an academic to understand this book. I am trying to say the book is not a difficult read but neither would I recommend the book as introduction to these concepts, but as one who wants to get a fuller grasp. Anyone who presumes to train adults or teenagers should be able to understand this work and not find it to daunting to read. It is important to able to make arguments for the supernatural nature of God in the whole Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This book is an excellent argument against today's Postmodern Heresies. The author makes many arguments about past heresies in Church history about the nature of Jesus. An excellant argument about who Jesus is and what Jesus is not.
Donald Macleod compares and debunks many false concepts of Jesus by other theologians. He uses theological terms and defines the words well. One need not be an academic to understand this book. I am trying to say the book is not a difficult read but neither would I recommend the book as introduction to these concepts, but as one who wants to get a fuller grasp. Anyone who presumes to train adults or teenagers should be able to understand this work and not find it to daunting to read. It is important to able to make arguments for the supernatural nature of God in the whole Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This book is an excellent argument against today's Postmodern Heresies. The author makes many arguments about past heresies in Church history about the nature of Jesus. An excellant argument about who Jesus is and what Jesus is not.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Probably closer to 3.5 stars. It gets better in chapter 4. His discussion of the passion in that chapter and of kenosis in chapter 8 are highlights. He interacts with contemporary (for when it was written) thinking. He generally proceeds from refutation to affirmation, a classic approach to systematic theology. I think this work would feel more focused if he developed his theology first, then interacted with other voices in the second section of the book. Still, solid theology.
By J. Tomes
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
After more than a decade Macleod's The Person of Christ remains the best introduction to Christology. Macleod surveys Ancient and Modern reflections on these important doctrines, while offering insightful interaction and synthesis. This text remains useful in the seminary classroom and in the Church.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Macleod is one of the clearest, most thorough, and provocative (in the good sense of the word) theologians today. He interacts with theolgians, ancient and modern, and lays out the biblical case for what the Holy Scriptures teach about the person of Jesus Christ. Whether you disagree or agree, you will not regret a penny you spent in buying this book. For that matter, buy everything Macleod has written.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Articulates the doctrine through polemics
A wide ranging, sometimes meandering, yet stunningly comprehensive introduction to the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. Omelianchuk
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful, but prepare yourself before reading
This book has serious highs and lows. First off, this book functions far better as an apologetic to the historic orthodox position of the person of Christ within Christians that... Read more
Published on December 28, 2009 by Brett M. Sweet
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not for the Newbie, Deep historical context
Let me start of by saying that im a newbie in taking Seminary classes. I think this was the 2nd book I had to read. I must say this book definitely was a hard one to read. Read more
Published on November 20, 2007 by C. J. Maldonado
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 99
books:
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7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- The Human Face of God by John A.T. Robinson on 5 pages
- God as Spirit: The Bampton Lectures 1976 (Oxford Scholarly Classics Series) by G. W. H. Lampe on 4 pages
- Institutes of the Christian Religion (Two Volumes in One) by John Calvin on 4 pages
- The Myth of God Incarnate by John Hick on 4 pages
- Jesus and the Word by Rudolf Bultmann on page 110, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 99 books this book cites
- Know the Truth: A Handbook of Christian Belief by Bruce Milne on page 165, page 179, and page 188
- The Preexistent Son: Recovering the Christologies of Matthew, Mark, and Luke by Simon J. Gathercole on page 87, page 147, and Back Matter
- Liebe Und Sein: Die Agape Als Fundamentalontologische Kategorie (Theologische Bibliothek Töpelmann) (German Edition) by Bernt Knauber on page 74, and Back Matter
- Soil and Soul: People versus Corporate Power by Alastair McIntosh in Back Matter
- The Trinity & Subordinationism: The Doctrine of God & the Contemporary Gender Debate by Kevin Giles on page 101
See all 7 books citing this book
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