How did Jesus of Nazareth become the Christ of the Christian tradition? And why did the early Christian communities develop different theological images of Jesus? In this exciting new book, Paula Fredriksen answers this question by placing the various canonical images of Jesus within their historical context-the Hellenistic and Judaic cultures from which the Christian communities grew. Carefully examining the New Testament texts, she provides fascinating insights into such issues as the social and religious problems facing early Christian communities, the content of Jesus’ ministry, and the circumstances of his crucifixion.
