W. Barnes Tatum is Jefferson-Pilot Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Greensboro College. He is the author of two books on Jesus: Jesus at the Movies: A Guide to the First Hundred Years (2004) and In Quest of Jesus (1999), along with numerous articles. He is a long-standing member of the Jesus Seminar and is the author of John the Baptist and Jesus: A Report of the Jesus Seminar (1994).

"The author draws on a range of materials, including ancient texts, creeds, theological treatises, and sources from the visual and dramatic arts, such as The Da Vinci Code and The Passion of Christ." (Journal of Contemporary Religion, January 2011) "A topically arranged, select bibliography, chapter endnotes, and a single subject/proper name index enhance this introductory text's classroom usefulness." (CHOICE, January 2010)

• List of Figures Preface and AcknowledgmentsPrologue: Jesus, a Jew from Galilee1. Jesus and Christian Beginnings (First to Fourth Centuries)A Strange Case: Paul and his LettersAnonymous Narratives: Three Gospels and One SequelAn Author Called John: A Fourth Gospel, More Letters, and an ApocalypseChristianity’s Earliest Writings: Literary Diversity, Theological UnityChristianity’s Transformation: From a Jewish Sect to a Gentile ReligionEmerging Christianity: A “Catholic” Church“Gnosticism”: The Nag Hammadi LibraryLiving as Christians in the Roman Empire: The Threat of PersecutionChristianizing the Roman Empire: Constantine the GreatMaterial Culture: Manuscripts, Architecture, and the Visual Arts2. Jesus and the Triumph of Christian Orthodoxy (Fourth and Fifth Centuries)The Council of Nicaea I (325): The Relation of the Son to God the FatherThe Council of Constantinople I (381): God as Trinity, One Substance, Three PersonsTransition: From the Trinity to the IncarnationThe Council of Ephesus (431): The Incarnate Son, One Person, Not DividedThe Council of Chalcedon I (451): The Incarnate Son, One Person, Two NaturesEarly Monasticism: From Martyr to MonkMaterial Culture: Manuscripts, Architecture, and the Visual Arts3. Jesus and Medieval Christian Orthodoxy (Fifth to Fifteenth Centuries)Rome, the Papacy, and the Eastern Church: A Church DividingThe Iconoclastic Controversy: Can Images of Jesus be Created and Venerated?The Filioque Controversy: Does the Holy Spirit also Proceed from the Son?Jesus as the Christ of Eastern Orthodoxy: Creed, Liturgy, and SpiritualityThe Crusades: Warriors for ChristBeyond Monasticism: Monks, Mendicants, and MysticsScholastic Theology: The Trinity, the Incarnation, and the At-one-mentJesus as the Christ of Roman Catholicism: Creed, Liturgy and SpiritualityRome and the Papacy: Exile, Schism, and DissentMaterial Culture: Architecture and the Visual Arts4. Jesus and Challenges to Christian Orthodoxy (Since the Fifteenth Century)The Renaissance:: Back to the ClassicsThe Reformation: Back to the BibleThe Enlightenment: Not Revelation, but ReasonMaterial Culture: Architecture, Visual Arts, and Printed Books5. Jesus and the Historical Quest (Since the Eighteenth Century)Pre-Quest Period: Christ = Jesus (before 1778)Old Quest Period: Christ // Jesus (1778–1906)No Quest Period: Christ // Jesus (1906–1953)New Quest Period: Christ > Jesus (1953–1985)\Third Quest Period: [Christ] Jesus (since 1985)Dramatic Arts: From Passion Plays to Jesus Films6. Jesus and Christological Diversity (Since the Eighteenth Century)Modern Protestant Theology: Liberalism (Nineteenth Century)Modern Protestant Theology: Neo-Orthodoxy (Twentieth Century)Modern Catholic Theology: Two Vatican Councils (Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries)Beyond Liberalism and Neo-Orthodoxy: Process Theology (into the Twenty-First Century)Liberation Theology: Latin America (into the Twenty-First Century)Black Theology: The United States and Beyond (into the Twenty-First Century)Feminist Theology: The United States and Beyond (into the Twenty-First Century)Womanist Theology: The United States and Beyond (into the Twenty-First Century)Theology in the Third World: Latin America, Africa, Asia (into the Twenty-First Century)Dramatic Arts: Christ-Figure Films and Literary Imagination7. Jesus and World Religions (Since the First Century)Judaism: Jesus, a Jew, but No MessiahIslam: Jesus, a Prophet, but No Son of GodReligions of South and East Asia: Jesus, the OutsiderMaterial Culture: From Stone to CelluloidEpilogue: Jesus, a Global ChristSelect Bibliography and Further ReadingIndex