The Historic Mission of Jesus

A Constructive Re-Examination of the Eschatological Teaching in the Synoptic Gospels

by C.J. Cadoux

Book cover: The Historic Mission of Jesus

Extent: 404 pages

Publisher: James Clarke & Co

Subjects: Religious Studies

Series: Foundations in New Testament Criticism

Language: English

PDF (Published)

(July 2022)

ISBN: 9780227178249

Price: $40.00

An unapologetically eschatological approach to the identity and self-perception of the historical Jesus.


First published in 1941, The Historic Mission of Jesus is one of the landmark texts on the life of Jesus, his relation to the Father and his earthly task. Counter to the prevailing scepticism of the reliability of the Synoptic sources chronicling Jesus’ life, Cadoux presents a sweeping yet detailed illustration of the evidence, while advancing theories for its interpretation that would go on to be significant facets of New-Testament study. While not going to the same lengths as Albert Schweitzer, Cadoux nevertheless advances a thoroughly eschatological interpretation of Jesus’ self-perception. He thus emphasises the nation-wide character of his appeal, his concern for the redemption of the Gentiles through Israel’s fulfilment of the universalistic aspirations of the Old Testament, his eager endeavour to avert a military clash between the Jews and the Roman Empire, and his early expectation of being accepted and loyally followed by his fellow-countrymen as a whole. The result is a prime early example of the revival of interest in the historical Jesus on theological grounds.

  • By (author) C. J. Cadoux

"The problems of understanding the categories used by the first Christians, and of unravelling the development of the various ways in which they came to speak of Christ, are under constant review. At the heart of the debate is the vital question of method: by what process does one separate Jesus' own understanding of his person from the beliefs of his followers, and how can one trace the various stages in the growth of their interpretation? Professor Fuller's ... is an important book, for it sets out clearly the principles by which many New Testament scholars today believe they must proceed in this vital task of evaluating the Christological material." Morna D. Hooker, Religious Studies, 1971
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