What do you think of Jesus Christ?No human question is more pivotal. No thoughtful answer fails to stretch our language, our categories or our aspirations.In recent years numerous books have been written on Jesus, books that are shaped by faith orskepticism or follow the Western academic quest for the historical Jesus. The result has been a kaleidoscope of Jesuses, a thicket of viewpoints, some troubling to faith, some puzzling to the intellect, and a few that enrich our vision as they explore familiar terrain from new and promising angles.Here is a book written by one who for a lifetime has followed Christ with heart, mind, soul and strength. John Stott offers us a vision of Christ whose portrait is discerned in the mosaic pattern of Scripture, whose influence is traced in the great currents of history, and whose compelling call has shaped the story line of ordinary humans who have been charged with extraordinary faith and courage.The minimalist criteria for weighing the authenticity of Jesus' sayings and deeds yield only a thin outline of Jesus, the barely discernible image of a Jewish sage or prophet. But the criteria of Scripture's testimony and the effective power of Jesus in lives and history point to a multidimensionalChrist who defies categorization and measurement. Jesus is the one figure who, like no others, has changed lives, shaped culture and offers one sure hope for the future. He is the incomparable Christ.
Table of Contents:
Foreword - Dr George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Chairman's Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. The Centrality of Jesus
2. History and Theology
Part I: The Original Jesus (or How the New Testament Witnesses to Him)
The Four Gospels
1. The Gospel of Matthew: Christ the Fulfillment of Scripture
2. The Gospel of Mark: Christ the Suffering Servant
3. Luke's Gospel and the Acts: Christ the Savior of the World
4. The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh
5. The Fourfold Gospel
6. Jesus and Paul
The Thirteen Letters of Paul
7. A Polemical Letter (Galatians): Christ theLiberator
8. The Early Letters (1 2 Thessalonians): Christ the Coming Judge
9. The Major Letters (Romans, 1 2 Corinthians): Christ the Savior
10. The Prison Letters (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians): Christ the Supreme Lord
11. The Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy, Titus and 2 Timothy): Christ the Head of the Church
Three More Jewish Authors
12. The Letter of James: Christ the Moral Teacher
13. The Letter to the Hebrews: Christ Our Great High Priest
14. The Letters of Peter: Christ the Exemplary Sufferer
Conclusion: Diversity in Unity
Part II: The Ecclesiastical Jesus (or How the Church Has Presented Him)
Introduction: "Another Jesus"
1. Christ the Complete Fulfilment: Justin Martyr
2. Christ the Unique God-Man: The Early Councils
3. Christ the Perfect Monk: St. Benedict
4. Christ the Feudal Debtor: Anselm
5. Christ the Heavenly Bridegroom: Bernard of Clairvaux
6. Christ the Ethical Exemplar: Thomas à Kempis
7. Christ the Gracious Savior: Martin Luther
8. Christ the Human Teacher: Earnst Renan and Thomas Jefferson
9. Christ the Tragic Victim: John Mackay
10. Christ the Social Liberator: Gustavo Gutierrez
11. Christ the Jewish Messiah: N. T. Wright
12. Christ the Global Lord: Mission in the Twentieth Century
Conclusion: Authenticity Versus Accommodation
Part III: The Influential Jesus (or How He Has Inspired People)
Introduction: The Story of Jesus
1. The Bethlehem Stable: Francis of Assisi
2. The Carpenter's Bench: George Lansbury
3. The Ministry of Compassion: Father Damien
4. The Sermon on the Mount: Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
5. The Love for Children: Thomas Barnardo
6. The Washing of Feet: Samuel Logan Brengle
7. The Cross: Toyohiko Kagawa
8. The Resurrection: Joni Eareckson Tada
9. The Exaltation: Henry Martyn
10. The Gift of the Spirit: Roland Allen
11. The Second Coming: Anthony Ashley Cooper
12. The Last Judgment: William Wilberforce
Conclusion: The Radical Nature of Christ's Influence
Part IV: The Eternal Jesus (or How He Challenges Us Today)
Introduction: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"
1. Christ Claiming to Be the First and the Last, and the Living One (Rev. 1)
2. Christ Supervising His Churches on Earth (Rev. 2--3)
3. Christ Sharing God's Throne in Heaven (Rev. 4--5)
4. Christ Controlling the Course of History (Rev. 6--7)
5. Christ Calling the World to Repentance (Rev. 8--11)
6. Christ Overcoming the Devil and His Allies (Rev. 12--13)
7.Christ Standing on Mt. Zion with His Redeemed People (Rev. 14:1--15:4)
8. Christ Coming Like a Thief in the Night (Rev. 15:5--19:10)
9. Christ Riding in Triumph on a White Horse (Rev. 19:11--20:15)
10. Christ Coming as the Bridegroomto Claim His Bride (Rev. 21--22)
Epilogue (Rev. 22:6-21)
Conclusion: One Book in Four Parts
Notes
About the Author :
John R. W. Stott (1921–2011) was known worldwide as a preacher, evangelist, and communicator of Scripture. For many years he served as rector of All Souls Church in London. A leader among evangelicals in Britain, the United States, and around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). His connections in and heart for the global church led him to found Langham Partnership. Langham continues its work today, equipping key leaders to preach God's Word clearly, faithfully, and relevantly in over 140 countries. Stott's many books, including Basic Christianity and The Cross of Christ, have sold millions of copies.
Review :
"John Stott's books are always eagerly awaited. . . . His books always penetrate to the heart of the matter being expounded and are expressed in clear, attractive prose and as simply as the subject allows. [The Incomparable Christ] is a gem."
