Jesus Remembered: Christianity in the Making, vol. 1

Preface
ual traditions function within each Gospel are for a later volume. It will not surprise
those who know the commentary literature, therefore, that I have found the
greatest help and most fruitful dialogue with W. D. Davies and Dale Allison on
Matthew, Rudolf Pesch on Mark, and Joe Fitzmyer on Luke. Others are certainly
drawn in where appropriate, but the frequency of reference to those named indicates
the extent of my debt. I have also endeavoured to limit what would otherwise
have become an all-inclusive bibliography by focusing entries on the primary
subject matter of the volume, but including neither dictionary articles nor
most of the once-mentioned articles on individual texts. I hope the footnotes to
each chapter are sufficiently detailed to indicate further reading as well as my
own engagement with it.
In 1979, when I had nearly completed the manuscript of my inquiry into
the origins of the doctrine of the incarnation, I was disappointed to learn that the
intended title 'The Beginnings of Christology' had been pre-empted by other authors.
In some frustration I turned to John Bowden, Editor of the SCM Press for
advice. He responded at once that a better because stronger title would be Christology
in the Making. I warmed to the title immediately and used it for the 1980
publication. The strength of the phrase still resonates for me, and so, in the (no
doubt vain) hope that I will not cause too much confusion on booksellers'
shelves, I have christened the three-volume project Christianity in the Making.
May the reading of volume 1 give as much pleasure and profit as I received in the
writing of it.
January 6 (Epiphany), 2002
A major compositional concern in the chapters which follow has been to leave
the main text as uncluttered as possible, to facilitate continuity of reading. The
footnotes are there to document points made in the text, to justify assertions
made too baldly, and to indicate the wider scope of debate and bibliography regarding
issues referred to. Those less interested in such finer details should have
no qualms in passing over the footnotes with only an occasional glance. They are
for those who want to be kept aware of how tentative some of the claims have to
be, or to follow up points of detail, or to consult some of the varied (though far
from complete) bibliography provided. At least they may give readers less familiar
with the myriad debates some assurance that the more controversial opinions
voiced in the following pages have not been reached without substantial reflection
and consultation. Read well!
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