The Word and the Christ : An Essay in Analytic Christology

Aims to be a comprehensive summary of the current debate on Christology. It begins by reviewing the arguments against the orthodox position which is then defined and defended. The book ends with a critique of the arguments of the first section which, it concludes, are misconceived.

Among the wide range of criticisms of Christological orthodoxy now current, there has appeared until now no comprehensive summary of the attacks, and, consequently, no full defence of the orthodox position. By filling both needs this book makes a real contribution to the detailed and controversial discussion of incarnational Christology.The structure of the book falls into three parts. In the first, Dr Sturch presents a complete overview of current objections and of the reasons that have led many theologians to believe that traditional Christology needs drastic revision, or rests on a mistake. The second section seeks to analyse orthodox doctrine and the requirements of an accurate Christology. It concludes that the link between God and Man in Christ must reside in some common element, but that this would entail denying His humanity unless the element were some kind of `central self''. The third part considers the objections to traditional orthodoxy raised in the first, and argues persuasively that, in the light of the analysis in the second part, they are either unfounded or misdirected.