God Crucified : Monotheism and Christology in the New Testament

What it's about

Richard Bauckham argues that early Christians did not view Jesus as a separate divine being. Instead, they included Jesus directly within the unique identity of the one God of Israel.

Key ideas

• Divine Identity: New Testament writers define God by his unique relationship to the universe as Creator and Ruler rather than by a set of abstract attributes.
• Inclusion of Jesus: The early church identified Jesus as sharing the same status as the Creator, placing him within the singular identity of God.
• Crucifixion as Revelation: The cross is not just a historical event but the primary way God reveals his true nature to humanity.
• Humiliation and Exaltation: The movement from the cross to glory is the definitive pattern that shows who God is and how he acts.

You'll love this book if...

• You want a rigorous academic explanation for how early Christians reconciled monotheism with the worship of Jesus.
• You are interested in how the crucifixion fundamentally changes the Christian understanding of divinity.

Best for

Theologically engaged readers looking to understand the intersection of Jewish monotheism and the origins of Christology.

Books with the same vibe

• The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight
• Simply Jesus by N.T. Wright
• The Meaning of Jesus by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright