This book is about the processes by which Christians of the first century came to understand Jesus as they did. Some writers represent these as 'evolutionary', as though a merely human teacher came to be thought of as a divine figure (a new species, so to speak). Professor Moule suggests that 'development' is a preferable analogy, implying not the evolution of a new species of figure, but the development of understanding of what was there in Jesus from the beginning. The author re-examines four familiar characterizations of Jesus as 'the Son of Man', 'the Son of God', 'Christ' and 'Lord'; then he considers the reflexion in the Pauline epistles of an experience of Jesus as more than individual. In his concluding chapter Professor Moule speculates, in dialogue with Dr Haddon Willmer, about the implications of his findings for Christian doctrine. The book, which earned for the author the Collins Biennial Religious Book Award in 1977, embodies his 1974 Moorhouse Lectures in Melbourne, Australia. It was first published in June 1977.

‘For the most part we only hear today one side of the argument about the divinity of Jesus, that which asserts that time means decay. The other side needs to be put with equal force and perhaps with equal publicity! Here at least Professor Moule has made a splendid start with the New Testament evidence.’

Source: The Church Times

‘ … a stimulating and original study on one of the key topics of current New Testament research … the whole book forms an impressive defence of the thesis that there was a genuine continuity between the thinking of Jesus and that of the early church.’

I. Howard Marshall Source: British Book News

‘ … careful and detailed attention to the evidence we expect from Professor Moule … perceptive and enlightening …’

Source: The Expository Times