Books like Why Jesus? by William H. Willimon

A scholarly exploration of how Jesus, a young Jewish rabbi, came to be the central figure of Christianity, contrasting the Matthew and Paul perspectives and examining the roots of Christian doctrine and its relation to Judaism.

"A systematic theology of the Christian faith, brief in extent but nonetheless profound and broad in compass. Professor Tanner's bold vision centres on the idea of God as gift-giver. Ecumenical in orientation, and informed by an extraordinary knowledge of the broad history of Christian thought, the book treats a range of topics of current interest from human agency and freedom, and conflict and process in human affairs, to failure and mortality. An exciting and challenging work, written to be accessible to students as well as to scholars. Introduction *Jesus *The Theological Structure of Things *The Shape of Human Life *The End Praise for Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity: "[Tanner's] conception of God's transcendence ... informs a ... robust view of incarnation, one that amplifies the gift-centered nature of salvation, and one that, in addition, preserves both the divinity and humanity of Jesus in a non-truncated way ... [takes] seriously the positive content of Christian doctrine and its implications for understanding the whole of life." Research News & Opportunities in Science and Theology."--Bloomsbury Publishing A systematic theology of the Christian faith, brief in extent but nonetheless profound and broad in compass. Professor Tanner's bold vision centres on the idea of God as gift-giver. Ecumenical in orientation, and informed by an extraordinary knowledge of the broad history of Christian thought, the book treats a range of topics of current interest from human agency and freedom, and conflict and process in human affairs, to failure and mortality. An exciting and challenging work, written to be accessible to students as well as to scholars. Introduction *Jesus *The Theological Structure of Things *The Shape of Human Life *The End Praise for Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity: "[Tanner's] conception of God's transcendence..informs a..robust view of incarnation, one that amplifies the gift-centered nature of salvation, and one that, in addition, preserves both the divinity and humanity of Jesus in a non-truncated way..[takes] seriously the positive content of Christian doctrine and its implications for understanding the whole of life." --Research News & Opportunities in Science and Theology