Overview
In this revised introduction, an internationally respected scholar explores biblical, historical, and contemporary developments in Christology. The book focuses on the global and contextual diversity of contemporary theology, including views of Christ found in the Global South and North and in the Abrahamic and Asian faith traditions. It is ideal for readers who desire to know how the global Christian community understands the person and work of Jesus Christ. This new edition accounts for the significant developments in theology over the past decade.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction: What Is Christology? Why Does It Matter?
Part 1: Christ in Biblical Testimonies: Diversity in Unity
1. The Gospel Silhouettes of Jesus
2. Pauline Interpretations of Christ
Part 2: Christ in Christian Tradition: Unity in Diversity
3. The Patristic and Creedal Establishment of "Orthodoxy"
4. Modern Christologies: The Quests of (the Historical) Jesus
Part 3: Christ in the Contemporary World: Diversity and Unity
5. European-American Christologies
6. Christologies from the Global South
7. "Contextual" Christologies in the Global North
Part 4: Jesus Christ among Religions: Diversity without Unity
8. Jesus among Abrahamic Traditions
9. Jesus among Asian Traditions
Epilogue: The Future of Christology
Indexes
Introduction: What Is Christology? Why Does It Matter?
Part 1: Christ in Biblical Testimonies: Diversity in Unity
1. The Gospel Silhouettes of Jesus
2. Pauline Interpretations of Christ
Part 2: Christ in Christian Tradition: Unity in Diversity
3. The Patristic and Creedal Establishment of "Orthodoxy"
4. Modern Christologies: The Quests of (the Historical) Jesus
Part 3: Christ in the Contemporary World: Diversity and Unity
5. European-American Christologies
6. Christologies from the Global South
7. "Contextual" Christologies in the Global North
Part 4: Jesus Christ among Religions: Diversity without Unity
8. Jesus among Abrahamic Traditions
9. Jesus among Asian Traditions
Epilogue: The Future of Christology
Indexes
Endorsements
Praise for the First Edition
"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
"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, faculty lecturer in theology and Asian spirituality, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
"This remarkably accessible panoramic survey introduces the complex world of Christology, the heart of Christian theology. Kärkkäinen has succeeded in the difficult task of drawing together the many strands of Christology in the Bible, in Christian history, and in the contemporary world. This survey, which reflects Kärkkäinen's personal commitment to ecumenicity, is both global and ecumenical. Kärkkäinen has given attention to Christologies from various parts of the world and from different Christian traditions, outlining key representatives of these multifaceted Christologies. The result is a fascinating kaleidoscope of images and reflections on the person of Christ, an essential textbook for the theology classroom, and important reading for anyone wanting to discover the meaning of Christ in this postmodern age."
Allan Anderson, University of Birmingham
"Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen has written an excellent introduction to contemporary Christology. By choosing telling examples and utilizing a lucid style, he is able to cover the full range of today's christological debates in a way that readers will find easy to follow despite the complexities of the issues at stake. What makes this book unique as a textbook is that academic western theology and contextual theological approaches are treated together as if that had always been the natural way to do it. Moreover, often neglected pentecostal and charismatic perspectives have also found their way into the book. This work will be of great use to students and to anyone interested in Christian theology."
Michael Bergunder, theological faculty, University of Heidelberg
"This is a fine and eminently helpful introduction to Christology. Kärkkäinen provides theological students with an overview that effectively enables them to enter into the grand discussion about the person of Christ. Readers will have an easily accessible resource that profiles the key contributors to this conversation--from the early church up to and including the most recent notable voices. All of this serves the author's primary objective: that the Christ who is revealed in Holy Scripture would be known, worshipped, and served."
Gordon T. Smith, associate professor of spiritual theology, Regent College
"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, professor of systematic theology, Fuller Theological Seminary
Author
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (DrTheol, University of Helsinki) is professor of systematic theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where he has taught for over fifteen years. He is also docent of ecumenics at the University of Helsinki, Finland. A prolific writer, Kärkkäinen has authored or edited numerous books, including Christology, The Doctrine of God, and A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, a five-volume project that aims to develop a new approach to and method of doing Christian theology.