From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of
the New Testament Images of Christ
by Paula Fredriksen
From Jesus Christ To Jesus
How did Jesus of Nazareth become the Christ of the Christian tradition?
And why did the early Christian communities develop different theological
images of Jesus? In this exciting new book, Paula Fredriksen answers
this question by placing the various canonical images of Jesus within their
historical context-the Hellenistic and Judaic cultures from which the
Christian communities grew. Carefully examining the New Testament
texts, she provides fascinating insights into such issues as the social and
religious problems facing early Christian communities, the content of Jesus
ministry, and the circumstances of his crucifixion.
Personal Review: From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of the New
Testament Images of Christ by Paula Fredriksen

Paula Fredriksen's "From Jesus to Christ" is a minor gem in the field of
New Testament criticism. Following primarily on the work of E.P. Sanders
(whose "Jesus and Judaism" ought to be required reading for any reader
interested in the Historical Jesus), Fredriksen gives a forthright and
convincing analysis of the various images we get of Jesus in the four
gospels and the letters of Paul. Her survey paves a healthy middle path
between skepticism and generosity, always critical but also gentle and
approachable. The progression of the image from fiery preacher of the
imminent end to a heavenly stranger unconcerned with eschatology is well
laid out and, refreshingly, its anachronisms are also presented (why should
the two accounts most distant on the timeline, Paul and John, have such
similar and disproportionate interest in the spiritual meaning of the risen
Christ?). I am currently reading Fredriksen's follow-up, "Jesus of Nazareth:
King of the Jews," which presents another 11 years of research and
decidedly different results from this work. We should be glad that scholars
of Fredriksen's honesty and critical receptiveness have had such crossover
scholarly-popular success.
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