Drawing on examples from literature, art, and popular culture, as well as theology, this engaging book reveals the importance of the question, "e;whose was he?"e; in fully understanding the life and legacy of Jesus. A concise, accessible and engaging exploration of Jesus's life and enduring influence Charts the changing global status and influence of Jesus, a Galilean Jew born when the ancient Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean world, and how he has come to be honored as the Christ and recognized by billions of people around the world Traces the reception history of Jesus and his story over the past two millennia, through art, literature, and culture, as well as theology Draws on a fascinating range of materials - from ancient texts, creeds, and theological treatises, to the visual and dramatic arts, including books like The DaVinci Code and films such as The Passion of the Christ

Drawing on examples from literature, art, and popular culture, aswell as theology, this engaging book reveals the importance of thequestion, "whose was he?" in fully understanding the life andlegacy of Jesus.* A concise, accessible and engaging exploration of Jesus's lifeand enduring influence* Charts the changing global status and influence of Jesus, aGalilean Jew born when the ancient Roman Empire ruled theMediterranean world, and how he has come to be honored as theChrist and recognized by billions of people around the world* Traces the reception history of Jesus and his story over thepast two millennia, through art, literature, and culture, as wellas theology* Draws on a fascinating range of materials - from ancient textscreeds, and theological treatises, to the visual and dramatic artsincluding books like The DaVinci Code and films such asThe Passion of the Christ

List of FiguresPreface and AcknowledgmentsPrologue: Jesus, a Jew from Galilee1. Jesus and Christian Beginnings (First to Fourth Centuries)A Strange Case: Paul and his LettersAnonymous Narratives: Three Gospels and One SequelAn Author Called John: A Fourth Gospel, More Letters, and an ApocalypseChristianity's Earliest Writings: Literary Diversity, Theological UnityChristianity's Transformation: From a Jewish Sect to a Gentile ReligionEmerging Christianity: A "Catholic" Church"Gnosticism": The Nag Hammadi LibraryLiving as Christians in the Roman Empire: The Threat of PersecutionChristianizing the Roman Empire: Constantine the GreatMaterial Culture: Manuscripts, Architecture, and the Visual Arts2. Jesus and the Triumph of Christian Orthodoxy (Fourth and Fifth Centuries)The Council of Nicaea I (325): The Relation of the Son to God the FatherThe Council of Constantinople I (381): God as Trinity, One Substance, Three PersonsTransition: From the Trinity to the IncarnationThe Council of Ephesus (431): The Incarnate Son, One Person, Not DividedThe Council of Chalcedon I (451): The Incarnate Son, One Person, Two NaturesEarly Monasticism: From Martyr to MonkMaterial Culture: Manuscripts, Architecture, and the Visual Arts3. Jesus and Medieval Christian Orthodoxy (Fifth to Fifteenth Centuries)Rome, the Papacy, and the Eastern Church: A Church DividingThe Iconoclastic Controversy: Can Images of Jesus be Created and Venerated?The Filioque Controversy: Does the Holy Spirit also Proceed from the Son?Jesus as the Christ of Eastern Orthodoxy: Creed, Liturgy, and SpiritualityThe Crusades: Warriors for ChristBeyond Monasticism: Monks, Mendicants, and MysticsScholastic Theology: The Trinity, the Incarnation, and the At-one-mentJesus as the Christ of Roman Catholicism: Creed, Liturgy and SpiritualityRome and the Papacy: Exile, Schism, and DissentMaterial Culture: Architecture and the Visual Arts4. Jesus and Challenges to Christian Orthodoxy (Since the Fifteenth Century)The Renaissance:: Back to the ClassicsThe Reformation: Back to the BibleThe Enlightenment: Not Revelation, but ReasonMaterial Culture: Architecture, Visual Arts, and Printed Books5. Jesus and the Historical Quest (Since the Eighteenth Century)Pre-Quest Period: Christ = Jesus (before 1778)Old Quest Period: Christ // Jesus (1778-1906)No Quest Period: Christ // Jesus (1906-1953)New Quest Period: Christ > Jesus (1953-1985)Third Quest Period: [Christ] Jesus (since 1985)Dramatic Arts: From Passion Plays to Jesus Films6. Jesus and Christological Diversity (Since the Eighteenth Century)Modern Protestant Theology: Liberalism (Nineteenth Century)Modern Protestant Theology: Neo-Orthodoxy (Twentieth Century)Modern Catholic Theology: Two Vatican Councils (Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries)Beyond Liberalism and Neo-Orthodoxy: Process Theology (into the Twenty-First Century)Liberation Theology: Latin America (into the Twenty-First Century)Black Theology: The United States and Beyond (into the Twenty-First Century)Feminist Theology: The United States and Beyond (into the Twenty-First Century)Womanist Theology: The United States and Beyond (into the Twenty-First Century)Theology in the Third World: Latin America, Africa, Asia (into the Twenty-First Century)Dramatic Arts: Christ-Figure Films and Literary Imagination7. Jesus and World Religions (Since the First Century)Judaism: Jesus, a Jew, but No MessiahIslam: Jesus, a Prophet, but No Son of GodReligions of South and East Asia: Jesus, the OutsiderMaterial Culture: From Stone to CelluloidEpilogue: Jesus, a Global ChristSelect Bibliography and Further ReadingIndex