Product Description

"Who do you say that I am?". Jesus of Nazareth posed this question to his followers nearly two thousand years ago, but the question still hangs in the air, requesting an answer from every person. Indeed, the question of the identity of Jesus Christ is the most important theological issue of all human history, because he claimed to be the human Son of the one true God. In this 680 page biblical research book, ONE GOD & ONE LORD, the authors carefully re-examine the biblical evidence in light of modern textual research and a thorough survey of scholarly opinion. They argue that the biblically accurate answer to the question of his identity is provided by Peter, John, Mary, Paul and other first-century believers who unanimously proclaimed him to be "the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Building an impressive and compelling case for the unity of the biblical testimony concerning the true humanity of Jesus, "the last Adam," the authors reveal the profound significance of the two aspects of his coming: suffering and glory. They seek a view of Christ that allows for a total appreciation of his steadfast obedience to God in the face of temptation, suffering and even a humiliating death. Vindicated by his resurrection, he entered into glory and now sits in a position of functional equality with God, analogous to the relationship of Joseph and Pharaoh in the Book of Genesis. ONE GOD & ONE LORD shows how the traditional view of Jesus Christ actually demeans both his accomplishments and his heroism by attributing to him "intrinsic deity" that essentially eliminates the possibility of either authentic temptation or failure.

Because the Gospel of John is often isolated and magnified to establish and fortify orthodox Christology, the authors explore in depth the unique depiction of Christ in "the Fourth Gospel". They succeed in placing John's testimony harmoniously and understandably within the margins of the prophetic portrait of the Messiah. This portrait had already been drawn out in detail in the Hebrew Scriptures and was then fleshed out in the Synoptic Gospels. Nowhere in this portrait is it clear that Messiah was "God incarnate," "God the Son," or a pre-existent divine visitor.

Appealing primarily to scriptural authority and logical reasoning, ONE GOD & ONE LORD also thoroughly examines the historical process by which traditional Christian orthodoxy came to be established. A combination of misguided Christian piety and pagan speculation are shown to be responsible for the intrusion of unbiblical concepts into basic Christian thought and doctrine.

ONE GOD & ONE LORD is challenging, but profoundly encourages both Christian devotion and a deep appreciation for the integrity of the Bible. It will reward the careful attention of the critic of Christianity, the new Christian, students of the Bible, pastors, teachers and scholars.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #501891 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-31
• Binding: Textbook Binding
• 680 pages

Customer Reviews

loosen up....loool
Before i actually ordered this Book I took some time to read the reviews here.This particular subject is something i(need a life)study daily for many years now and am familiar with most of the pro vs. con arguments.NO this is probably not as scholarly as most of us would like to see being that would assuage the fact we actually are hung-up on this sorta thing as opposed to maybe American Idol or MTV Films Jackass the movie e.g. But this is why I'm Thrilled about this lil undertaking......
THE AVERAGE GUY ON THE STREET HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT DOES NOT QUOTE JESUS CHRIST SAYING "YES MY CHILD,I AM IN FACT MYSELF GOD" OR EVEN "BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED"
This is my point, there is at least the possibility that the age old teaching of a "trinity" may be a misinterpretation(is that the correct spelling?...lol) and there are folks walking this Planet that call themselves christians who see the Bible as teaching there is no "trinity"(besides,Arius lost but by a very few votes...lol).
trust me,this is News to many peeps.so its nice to see this subject in an easy to understand and entertaining format.
I believe this will be the 1st time many will even broach($10.00) this subject.
"trinitarians", why complain this Book is not too Scholarly if you're correct?
"Unitarians"(i know,i know...loool)be ecstatic that its not too Scholarly,its a great introduction.
very,very cool Book

The Last Word on The Word of God
Covers the subject from every angle, and is presented in an enjoyable, easy- to-read style. In the process of relating the uniqueness of Christ, the work again shows that Holy Scripture is God-breathed, with no contradictions. Apparent "contradictions" will enter in when Scripture is asked to justify man-made doctrine. Appendix A shows that the verses used to try to validate Trinitarian doctrine say something totally different than what Trinitarians have inferred from them. Anyone whose goal is getting to the Truth of God's Word should have and read this book.

An easy-to-read defense of the anti-Trinitarian position.
The interesting thing about this book is that although the authors reject the traditional dogma that Jesus is literally God incarnate, they nonetheless accept the salvation theology that is usually thought to require the divinity of Christ. Thus for the authors, as for St. Paul, Jesus is the new Adam whose sacrificial death takes away the sins of the world.

Much of the first part of the book is a defense of that theology, and its implications for such things as prayer, worship, and life-after-death.

For me, the most valuable part of the book is the section of appendices which refute - one by one - the various scriptural passages traditionally used in support of the doctrine of the Trinity. Contrary to the claims of several reviewers, this part of the book is very well referenced and draws upon legitimate scholarship; it is NOT just the "opinions" of the authors.

I give the book four stars instead of five because of the sometimes annoying folksiness of the presentation, but more importantly because the authors do not apply the same critical logic to the doctrine of salvation as they do to the doctrine of the Trinity. Why, after all, is the death of Jesus "logically" required - as the authors claim - for the remission of sins? Why cannot an all-powerful God do this without the sacrificial death of a perfect human being?

Those quibbles aside, I would recommend this book as a clear presentation of a theology that remains Christ-centered while rejecting the Divinity of Christ.