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ReSourcing Theological Anthropology shows why theological anthropology must begin with Christology and offers a constructive theological proposal that explores relevant biblical texts, theological issues, methodology, and case studies on particular anthropological issues including gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and death and suffering.
List of contents
Part One: An Empty Cipher
1. The Glory of Christ, the Image of God, and the Christological Orientation of Theological Anthropology
Part Two: Centered on Christ through the Centuries
2. What is a 'Will'?: Maximus' Cosmological Christology and Human Volitionality
3. Prototype, Archetype, and Gender-type: Gregory of Nyssa and the Christological (De)gendering of the Human Person
4. Cross-Centered Vocation: The Theology of the Cross in Luther's Theological Anthropology
5. Consciousness of God, Awareness of Self: Schleiermacher's Reconstruction of the imitatio Christi
6. Summoned into Being: Body, Soul, and Eternal Election in Barth's Theology
7. Person, Persons, and Personhood: Zizioulas and the Ecclesial Nature of Humanity
8. The Black Christ: James Cone and the Race-ing of the Human Person
Part Three: Tentative Steps Forward
9. Reforming Our Anthropological Vision: Some Concluding Thoughts on the Shape of a Christ-Centered Theological Anthropology
About the author
Marc Cortez (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is author of Theological Anthropology and Embodied Souls, Ensouled Bodies and has published articles in academic journals such as International Journal of Systematic Theology, Scottish Journal of Theology, and Westminster Theological Journal. Marc blogs at Everyday Theology (marccortez.com), writes a monthly article for Christianity.com, and had articles featured on The Gospel Coalition and Christian Post.
Summary
Theologians working in theological anthropology often claim that Jesus reveals what it means to be "truly human," but this often has little impact in their actual account of anthropology. ReSourcing Theological Anthropology addresses that lack by offering an account of why theological anthropology must begin with Christology. Building off his earlier study on how key theologians in church history have understood the relationship between Christology and theological anthropology, Cortez now develops a new proposal for theological anthropology and applies it to the theological situation today.
ReSourcing Theological Anthropology is divided into four sections. The first section explores the relevant Christological/anthropological biblical passages and unpacks how they inform our understanding of theological anthropology. The second section discusses the theological issues raised in the course of surveying the biblical texts. The third section lays out a methodological framework for how to construct a uniquely Christological anthropology. The final section builds on the first three sections and demonstrates the significance of Christology for understanding theological anthropology by applying the methodological framework to several pressing anthropological issues: gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and death and suffering.
Additional text
'Cortez is making a compelling case for a “comprehensive Christological anthropology,” by which he means the normativity of the person of Jesus Christ for our understanding of human nature. Current on biblical scholarship, sensitive to contemporary issues such as gender, race, and sexuality, and exhibiting a remarkable analytical clarity, this is the perfect introduction to what is currently an exciting conversation in theology.'
