Incarnation

'A valuable collection of reflection on the origins of Christian belief in the incarnation, and of its consequences and presentation in the modern world... its division into manageable-sized essays makes it possible for the busy preacher to pick it up and read it in stages.' -Church of England Newspaper 'This is a weighty and richly rewarding book, worthy of a place alongside the best twentieth-century monographs and volumes of essays on the greatest mystery of all.' -Brian Horne, The Tablet 'Impressive not only in its unity but also in its depth of scholarship.' -Brian Horne, The TabletTwenty-four scholars from different universities, churches, and continents gathered in New York at Easter 2000 for the Incarnation Summit, a meeting exploring the belief that Jesus is the Son of God who took on the human condition. The scholars are experts in different fields; the Bible, ancient Christian writers, ancient Jewish writers, theology, philosophy, literature, modern art, and preaching. This book is the result of that meeting: a well-researched, skilfully argued, and, at times, provocative volume on the central Christian belief: the Incarnation of the Son of God.

Table of Contents:
1. The Incarnation; Critical Issues; 2. THEOPHANY, ANTHROMORPHISM, AND THE IMAGO DEI: SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE INCARNATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; 3. Jesus' Self-Understanding; 4. St Paul and the Incarnation: A Reassessment of the Data; 5. Romans 8: the Incarnation and its Redemptive Impact; 6. The Incarnation: The Jewish Milieu; 7. WHAT DOES CHALCEDON SOLVE AND WHAT DOES IT NOT?: SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE STATUS AND MEANING OF THE CHALCEDONIAN 'DEFINITION'; 8. Nature and the 'Mode of Union': Late Patristic Models for the Personal Unity of Christ; 9. Aquinas' Metaphysics of the Incarnation; 10. WAS JESUS MAD, BAD, OR GOD?; 11. The Self-Emptying of Love: Some Thoughts on Kenotic Christology; 12. A Timeless God Incarnate; 13. A WORD MADE FLESH: INCARNATIONAL LANGUAGE AND THE WRITER; 14. The Incarnation and Virtue Ethics; 15. The Incarnation in Twentieth-Century Art; 16. The Incarnation in Selected Christmas Sermons

About the Author :
Stephen T. Davis is Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, Claremont McKenna College, California Daniel Kendall, S.J.is Professor of Theology, University of San Francisco Gerald O'Collins, S.J. is Professor of Systematic and Fundamental Theology, Gregorian University, Rome

Review :
... it succeeds in demonstrating that a comprehensive rational case for the orthodox tradition can still be made, and remains a significant element of inter-Christian dialogue. The Journal of Theological Studies A valuable collection of reflection on the origins of Christian belief in the incarnation, and of its consequences and presentation in the modern world ... its division into manageable-sized essays makes it possible for the busy preacher to pick it up and read it in stages. Church of England Newspaper This is a weighty and richly rewarding book, worthy of a place alongside the best twentieth-century monographs and volumes of essays on the greatest mystery of all. Brian Horne, The Tablet Impressive not only in its unity but also in its depth of scholarship. Brian Horne, The Tablet