Chapter Three. The Divine Messiah Early Jewish Monotheism And The New Testament

Abstract

This chapter addresses three questions: Firstly, the question of where the identification of Jesus of Nazareth with the Lord arises from-the early Church, Paul, Jesus himself, or his followers in the period before his death? In this matter, the research of the historical Jesus plays a part: what place is given to his divinity or glory in the debate about the historical Jesus? Secondly, the question as to whether the identification of a human being with the Lord has Jewish roots. The question of divine agency plays a part, as well as the question of what perspective did the Jews in the first century before Christ, and towards the end of the Second Temple Period, have on these representatives and intermediaries of God on earth. Thirdly, the question of inclusive and exclusive monotheism comes up, that is to say: what place can one give God's representatives in Jewish monotheistic thought?. Keywords: divine messiah; God; Jesus Christ; Jewish Monotheism; Second Temple Period