The Second Category: Traditional Jewish Monotheism, Christian Binitarianism, and Christological Monotheism

Abstract

This chapter explores how the relationship between two distinct figures—Yahweh and Jesus—may be considered ‘monotheism’ or, better, ‘Christological Monotheism’. It employs the concept of generic identity of actions as test case for Christian monotheism and comparatively discusses the views of Christological Monotheists, James D.G. Dunn (Jesus as representative of God), Larry W. Hurtado (Jesus as divine agent who receives cultic worship alongside God), and Richard J. Bauckham (Jesus who shares in the divine identity of God). Unlike the previous chapter which espouses unashamedly Jewish ditheism, dualism, and tritheism, the point of departure here is Jewish Monotheism. The Binitarian pattern of Christological Monotheism is seen as rooted in Jewish ontological traditions, and this accounts for why it was natural for early Jewish Christians to worship Jesus as God.