Jesus the Eternal Son

By Michael F. Bird

Book Description

In the landscape of Christian theology, few questions carry more weight than understanding the true nature of Jesus Christ. Michael F. Bird tackles one of the most significant debates in biblical scholarship, examining whether early Christians viewed Jesus as a human figure who later became divine, or as God incarnate from the beginning.

This scholarly exploration challenges the widely accepted theory of adoptionism, which suggests that Jesus was portrayed in Scripture as a man who was adopted as God's son during his baptism or resurrection. Bird methodically investigates pre-Pauline materials, the Gospel of Mark, and early church writings to present a different perspective on how the earliest Christian communities understood Christ's divine nature.

Through careful analysis of biblical passages frequently cited to support adoptionist interpretations, including key texts from Romans and Acts, Bird builds a compelling case that early Christian theology was fundamentally incarnational rather than adoptionist. He demonstrates that the belief in Jesus as eternally divine emerged much earlier than commonly assumed, while full adoptionist theology developed centuries later.

Engaging with prominent scholars in the field, Bird offers readers a thorough examination of how Christological understanding evolved in the early church. The work concludes by exploring how adoptionist ideas have resurfaced in contemporary theological discussions, providing valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of Christian belief about the nature of Christ.