Black Theology and the Profound Self-Understanding of Jesus

This book explores the sayings of Jesus in the Gospels, focusing on how He understood and articulated His identity, and applies these insights to Black theology for spiritual formation. Hakim J. Lucas contends that Jesus' famous "I Am" statements from the Gospel of John not only provide insights on Christ's personhood but Christian theology. By analyzing the Aramaic meanings behind the phrases Jesus used to describe Himself, this book offers a unique perspective that resonates deeply with the spiritual and cultural context of the Black church. This work connects Jesus’ identity to the historical and contemporary struggles of African American Christians, drawing parallels between Christ’s mission and the liberative theology emerging from the Black church tradition. Lucas blends linguistic analysis, theological reflection, and cultural application and uniquely applies Jesus’ self-understanding to the lived experience of the Black church, providing a theological framework for resilience, justice, and spiritual empowerment. By situating Christological inquiry within this interpretive location, the volume addresses questions of identity formation, theological meaning, and ethical orientation that have shaped Christian thought, while contributing to ongoing scholarly conversations in Christology and Black theology.