Synopsis:
Does the Apostle Paul have any use for the person of Jesus presented in the Gospels? Critical scholarship thinks not, but this book argues that Paul not only mentions more than seventy specific details of the historical Jesus, but he also commends the character of Jesus and echoes His teachings repeatedly in his letters and sermons-in full agreement with the Gospel accounts.
Stout examines Paul's intriguing description of the "Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5) and suggests that this title fulfills the OT expectation of God appearing in human history as a man. In his incarnated humanity, the Man Christ Jesus accomplished salvation in the historical events of his life and death, and in his resurrected humanity, he appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road-rooting Paul's Christology deeply in human experience.
Furthermore, Stout shows how Paul rests his concept of salvation on a neglected aspect of his doctrine-that the entire church is associated with the historical events of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, an association which also unites his church with one another in fellowship and service. This book, then, demonstrates that Paul's gospel rests upon Jesus as a man of history who brings salvation into human history in his life, death, and exaltation as the "Man Christ Jesus."
Endorsements:
"For generations modern scholarship has promulgated the idea that Paul either had no interest in or very little knowledge of the historical Jesus. Christianity, we are told, is really the religion of Paul of Tarsus not Jesus of Nazareth. I am grateful for Stephen Stout's careful and extensive study which shows this long-standing scholarly assumption to be false."
-Michael J. Kruger
Professor of New Testament
Reformed Theological Seminary
"Stephen Stout's The "Man Christ Jesus" is the best book on the vexing question of the relationship between Jesus and Paul that I have ever read. This significant work of scholarship affirms the humanity of Jesus in Pauline writing, so often downplayed by modern scholarship, as the foundation of his Christology. Stout brilliantly proves his thesis that the Apostle Paul upholds the humanity of the 'Man Jesus Christ' as a true historical figure. Stout makes an important and welcome contribution to the continuing dialogue in both Christological and Pauline studies."
-Robert Yost
Vice President of Academic Affairs
New Life Theological Seminary
Author Biography:
Stephen O. Stout serves on the Adjunct faculty of New Life Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as Professor of Ministry at the Carolina Graduate School of Divinity in Greensboro. He also serves as pastor of the Shearer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Mooresville, North Carolina. He has earned degrees from Columbia International University, Grace Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, Covenant Theological Seminary, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
