Pre-Order Discount - Time Is Running Out

While the estimate that The Only True God: Early Christian Monotheism in Its Jewish Context will be available in July has vanished from the publisher's catalogue, Amazon.com now lists the date as May 26th! There may only be a few more days to benefit from the pre-order discount Amazon is offering of 33% off.

It has been good to see interest in the book's subject matter staying alive in the blogosphere. April DeConick recently turned her blog's attention to the angel of the divine name. Jared Calaway blogged about God as the God of the Gods (and who the gods are of whom god is the god). Nick Norelli has reviewed books by Richard Bauckham and Larry Hurtado on monotheism and Christology. Christology and the Gospels came in as number 6 on Michael Bird's list of the next big things in New Testament studies, although I will be honest, I find Simon Gathercole's arguments for a "high" Christology in the Synoptics underwhelming. Mike Koke discussed monotheism and Christology in the context of the "parting of the ways". Bryan Bibb blogged about teaching the Shema in Hebrew.

Back Cover Blurbs

The online University of Illinois Press catalog provides the two blurbs from scholars that will appear on the back of the book. Here they are:

"This work puts forward a compelling thesis, questioning the default assumption that what separated first-century Jews and Christians was the Christian elevation of Jesus of Nazareth to divine status as equal with YHWH. McGrath shows decisively that this was not so, arguing with clarity and force and engaging the relevant bodies of primary and secondary literature with precision. A significant and useful book."

--Paul J. Griffiths, author of Lying: An Augustinian Theology of Duplicity

"If anyone thinks that the concept and definition of 'monotheism' are clear-cut, they need to read this book. Similarly, if you think that the issue of 'early Christian monotheism' or the question of Jesus's status within or in relation to 'early Christian monotheism' (as maintained by the writers of the New Testament) can be neatly resolved in straightforward terms, then McGrath will enable you to make a more informed judgment, and hopefully to reach a more mature view."

--James D. G. Dunn, author of Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry Into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation