Synopses & Reviews
In this book James D. G. Dunn explores the nature of the religious experiences that were at the forefront of emerging Christianity. Dunn first looks at the religious experience of Jesus, focusing especially on his experience of God in terms of his sense of sonship and his consciousness of the Spirit. He also considers the question of whether Jesus was a charismatic. Next Dunn examines the religious experiences of the earliest Christian communities, especially the resurrection appearances, Pentecost, and the signs and wonders recounted by Luke. Finally Dunn explores the religious experiences that made Paul so influential and that subsequently shaped Pauline Christianity and the religious life of his churches. The result is a thorough and stimulating study that not only recovers the religious experiences of Jesus and the early church but also has important implications for our experience of the Spirit today.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [457]-475) and indexes.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction -- Part one. The religious experience of Jesus. II. Jesus' experience of God - sonship -- III. Jesus' experience of God - spirit -- IV. Was Jesus a charismatic? -- Part two. The religious experience of the earliest Christian communities. V. Resurrection appearances -- VI. Pentecost -- VII. Enthusiastic beginnings in Lukan retrospect -- Part three. The religious experience of Paul and of the Pauline churches. VIII. The charismatic spirit - the consciousness of grace -- IX. The body of Christ - the consciousness of community -- X. The spirit of Jesus - the consciousness of Christ -- Conclusion. XI. A glance across the second generation of Christianity and concluding remarks.