Monotheism is a powerful religious concept shaped by competing ideas and the problems they raised. Surveying New Testament writings and Jewish sources from before and after the rise of Christianity, James F. McGrath argues that even the most developed Christologies in the New Testament fit within the context of first century Jewish monotheism. McGrath pinpoints when the parting of ways took place over the issue of God's oneness, and explores philosophical ideas such as "creation out of nothing" which caused Jews and Christians to develop differing concepts and definitions about God.

James F. McGrath is Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University. He is the author of John's Apologetic Christology: Legitimation and Development in Johannine Christology and The Burial of Jesus: History and Faith.

Preface   vii
1. Monotheism and Method: An Introduction to the Study of Early Jewish and Christian Thought about God   1
2. Worship and the Question of Jewish Monotheism in the Greco-Roman Era   23
3. Monotheism and the Letters Attributed to Paul   38
4. Monotheism and the Gospel of John   55
5. Monotheism and Worship in the Book of Revelation   71
6. Two Powers Heresy: Rethinking (and Redating) the Parting of Ways between Jewish and Christian Monotheism   81
Conclusion   97
Notes   105
Bibliography   131
Index of Modern Authors   149
Index of Subjects   152
Index of Ancient Sources   154