Jesus, Gnosis and DogmaIn Jesus, Gnosis and Dogma Roukema investigates and assesses the various views of Jesus in early Christianity, basing his approach on a distinction between historical and theological statements about Jesus. Historical statements can be arrived at through a critical study of the earliest records, although Roukema recognizes that scholars differ widely here. Theological statements about Jesus are to do with what has been and is believed about him. Roukema demonstrates that Gnostic traditions about Jesus mostly derive from the earlier traditions preserved in the New Testament writings and do not give a more accurate view of the historical Jesus. He shows that the view of Jesus as the divine Lord (Yahweh) and Son of God is inspired by an early Jewish pattern that was exploited by the very first Christians. In spite of some later dogmatic precisions, there is more continuity between the New Testament picture of Jesus and the Nicene creed than between the historical Jesus and the Jesus of early Gnosticism. Even the essence of the Trinitarian dogma appears to have Jewish roots. |
Contents
1 Introduction | 1 |
2 Jesus Origin and Identity | 18 |
3 Jesus Teaching | 60 |
4 Jesus Death Resurrection and Exaltation | 88 |
5 Interim Conclusions and New Questions | 114 |
6 Jewish Christianity | 121 |
7 Did Jesus Have a Secret Teaching? | 132 |
8 Does Jesus as Lord and Son of God Fit into Early Judaism? | 145 |
9 Jesus and the Dogma of Gods Trinity | 164 |
10 Conclusions and Evaluation | 191 |
Bibliography | 199 |
| 217 | |
| 229 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according adoptianistic Alexandria angels appears Arius baptism begotten Brill called catholic Cerinthus chapter Christology church Clement conclude Corinthians Creator death and resurrection descended disciples divine early Christian early Jewish earth earthly eternal evangelist Evangelium exalted Exodus explained Father Galatians Genesis gnostic God the Father God’s Gospel of John Gospel of Judas Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Thomas Greek heaven heavenly Hebrew historical Holy Spirit human interpretation Irenaeus Isaiah Israel Jesus Christ Jesus says Jewish Christian John the Baptist Leiden letters Logos LORD Mary means mentioned Messiah Moses Nag Hammadi Old Testament Ophites origin and identity Paul Peter Philo pre-existence prophets Psalm quotes refers regarded Romans Roukema salvation Saviour second century secret teaching soul synoptic gospels Targum Tertullian Testament gospels Testament writings testimonies theological tradition translation Tripartite Tractate Valentinian views on Jesus Whoever Wisdom words