Who did Jesus think he was?
Book Description
In this thought-provoking exploration of Christian theology, J. C. O'Neill challenges conventional scholarly assumptions about Jesus's self-understanding and messianic awareness. Rather than accepting the popular academic view that Jesus remained unaware of his divine mission, O'Neill presents a compelling alternative perspective rooted in first-century Jewish expectations.
The author argues that contemporary Jewish thought already encompassed the concept of a suffering Messiah, one who would endure hardship and even death as part of his divine purpose. Within this framework, O'Neill suggests that Jesus possessed full knowledge of his messianic identity while understanding the necessity of divine timing for its public revelation. This creates a portrait of Jesus who acted with messianic authority while waiting for the Father's appointed moment of proclamation.
O'Neill addresses the apparent contradiction between Jesus's divine nature and his human capacity for doubt and temptation. The book explores how Jesus could simultaneously embody complete divinity while experiencing genuine human uncertainty, suggesting that this tension was essential to his redemptive mission.
The work also examines the theological foundations of Trinitarian belief within early Jewish-Christian thought, proposing that concepts later formalized in Christian doctrine were already present in the religious understanding of Jesus and his contemporaries. Through careful analysis of gospel sayings and their authenticity, O'Neill constructs a nuanced view of Jesus's self-perception that bridges divine certainty with human vulnerability.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 238 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Knowledge of his own divinity
- ✓ Explore Incarnation
- ✓ Explore Divinity
- ✓ Learn about Gnostic teachings
- ✓ Explore Christologie
- ✓ Explore Incarnatie
- ✓ Explore Jesus christ, person and offices
