Jesus Among the Gods: Early Christology and the Ancient Theologies of Divinity

Michael Bird's 2020 Leon Morris Lecture
The early church was unanimous that Jesus was “divine.” The question was and remains, in what sense? Many scholars argue that Jesus was considered divine in the sense envisaged by ancient ruler cults, Greek mythology, angelic beings, or something similar. In contrast, this lecture proposes that the ancient world had various categories for divinity, including that of an intrinsic divine nature, and the early church construed Jesus as divine based on his shared being with God. The sense in which Jesus is divine for the early church is explored in relation to Greco-Roman philosophy, Jewish monotheism, and a survey of several Christian sources.

[@vtentm]

Thanks, Mike. I recently opened the class for Christology at my seminary, which deals with your recent monograph, Jesus among the gods. I am surprised that most of the book's contents are already indebted to your lecture, which was delivered two years ago! This lecture offers me a highlighting insight, which is emphasised in your book, so I could recommend others to see this video as well as your monograph. Thanx again for giving me academic stimulation!

[@tabasco7915]

This is perhaps some of the best teaching I have heard on the deity of Christ. Really, really good!

[@TheKimkisun]

thank you very much