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Jesus--God and Man
This highly acclaimed work demonstrates Wolfhart Pannenberg's belief that at the heart of every Christian theology lies its teaching about Jesus Christ. The second edition, available for the first time in paperback, contains an Afterword in which the author reviews other theologians' responses to his thesis and methodology and shows the progression of his own interpretation.
428 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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241 people want to read
About the author
Wolfhart Pannenberg
150 books41 followersWolfhart Pannenberg, born in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland), was a German Christian theologian. His emphasis on history as revelation, centred on the Resurrection of Christ, has proved important in stimulating debate in both Protestant and Catholic theology, as well as with non-Christian thinkers.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 5, 2016
Pannenberg's work is a "theology from below", examining the person of Jesus beginning with his identity as the man from Nazareth. For Pannenberg, everything hinges on the resurrection. He basically ends up with orthodox Christology, but he cautions against speaking of Jesus during his ministry in terms that most of us are comfortable using. Instead, in light of the resurrection we say things about Jesus in retrospect. This is a dense book as he often summarizes the early church, medieval scholastics, reformers and modern theologians (Barth, Rahner, Brunner) before coming to his understanding. Thus it is no easy read, but recommended for any interested in some thoughtful work on Christology.
October 14, 2025
astonishing book! not sure if it's heretical or just heterodox, but you have to respect the breadth and depth of thought that he draws on to make his argument. i think there's something especially productive in learning to situate eternity in the future when we think of God - not just bc it can be a rhetorical bulwark against reactionary retrenchment, but also because it's logically more coherent: everything in its fullness can be perceived from the perspective of eternity, as if it had already happened. I also am charmed by how elegantly he is able to integrate hegelianism into his Christology without devolving into process theology. I do think that his dismissal of a pre-incarnate second person of the Trinity is problematic to say the least, and while it does seem like a category error to apply the term "pre-incarnate" to an extra-temporal being, the intuition of the phrase (that there in an ontological and not just economical Trinity) is a pretty important precondition for Christian theology (God IS bigger than us), but all that said, it's a really mesmerizing piece of work.
October 28, 2012
Pannenberg has written a masterful Christology 'from below' in 'Jesus: God and Man'. As someone just beginning my journey into serious theological reading I found his German academic style of writing a bit dense at times, but overall it was well worth the effort. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone looking to get a feel for modern theology in general and Christology specifically.
July 3, 2021
I just finished "Jesus--God and Man," by Wolfhart Pannenberg.
He has a solid starting point in that theology and Christology are bound together and its the goal of Christology to develope this connection.
Pannenberg talking of the differences between from above and from below approaches is interesting and expressed differently than I've heard but it makes sense: from below assumes to begin with the human Jesus and follows what it sees in him (relationship to Israel, teachings) to see who they end up with. A from above Christology assumes to begin with God so don't care for the teachings and only need to get to the end (really the beginning) for a slain God-man, Jesus. For use in this christological construction Pannenberg will begin from below--the man Jesus and his relationship to God--and end with a high Christology.
Comparing Jesus to the prophets: they predicted events yet to come and Jesus predicted an already-not yet event.
Phenomenal writer and theologian. Summarizes his thoughts often, and widely read to make for a conversation in the book even if its in 1964.
His coverage of the resurrection and history is quite good. Working off of Paul and his use of "spiritual bodies" Pannenberg draws the conclusion that the resurrection was historical but it was experienced as "vision." He does his due diligence here.
I find it interesting that Pannenberg says that a virgin birth Christology and a preexistant Christology are contradictory. I see them together as doubling down on the Christological wow factor but not contradictory.
His coverage of the office of Christ is quite good systematically and historically. Moving into how The Kingdom plays into Christology is insightful.
His coverage of the work of Christ enters penal substitution but from the place of seeing the resurrection as the fulfillment of the atonement. PSA so so often misses this. In dealing with the NT uses of "for us/sin/our sins" and "according to the scripture," Pannenberg says that Pauline use of this phrase "according to the scripture" in 1 Cor automatically excludes a direct Isiah 53 reference because scripture is plural. While he still goes down a substitution path he does so via expiation rather than propiation.
Pannenberg's doctrine of the work of Christ follows closer to Luther's substitution than Calvin's and finds similarity in Barth. This is where the humanity of Jesus takes the substitution rather than the Divinity.
He says that the Chalcedonian "fully man..." has gotten in the way of the historical Jesus who was fully man. Not to take away from His divinity in stating it that way but to not focus on Jesus rather than "man-substance" is to miss He who was here.
There was a lot going on here and sometimes I was in over my head. This was good but dense.
#WolfhartPannenberg #Pannenberg #JesusGodAndMan #Christology #SystematicTheology #GermanTheologians
He has a solid starting point in that theology and Christology are bound together and its the goal of Christology to develope this connection.
Pannenberg talking of the differences between from above and from below approaches is interesting and expressed differently than I've heard but it makes sense: from below assumes to begin with the human Jesus and follows what it sees in him (relationship to Israel, teachings) to see who they end up with. A from above Christology assumes to begin with God so don't care for the teachings and only need to get to the end (really the beginning) for a slain God-man, Jesus. For use in this christological construction Pannenberg will begin from below--the man Jesus and his relationship to God--and end with a high Christology.
Comparing Jesus to the prophets: they predicted events yet to come and Jesus predicted an already-not yet event.
Phenomenal writer and theologian. Summarizes his thoughts often, and widely read to make for a conversation in the book even if its in 1964.
His coverage of the resurrection and history is quite good. Working off of Paul and his use of "spiritual bodies" Pannenberg draws the conclusion that the resurrection was historical but it was experienced as "vision." He does his due diligence here.
I find it interesting that Pannenberg says that a virgin birth Christology and a preexistant Christology are contradictory. I see them together as doubling down on the Christological wow factor but not contradictory.
His coverage of the office of Christ is quite good systematically and historically. Moving into how The Kingdom plays into Christology is insightful.
His coverage of the work of Christ enters penal substitution but from the place of seeing the resurrection as the fulfillment of the atonement. PSA so so often misses this. In dealing with the NT uses of "for us/sin/our sins" and "according to the scripture," Pannenberg says that Pauline use of this phrase "according to the scripture" in 1 Cor automatically excludes a direct Isiah 53 reference because scripture is plural. While he still goes down a substitution path he does so via expiation rather than propiation.
Pannenberg's doctrine of the work of Christ follows closer to Luther's substitution than Calvin's and finds similarity in Barth. This is where the humanity of Jesus takes the substitution rather than the Divinity.
He says that the Chalcedonian "fully man..." has gotten in the way of the historical Jesus who was fully man. Not to take away from His divinity in stating it that way but to not focus on Jesus rather than "man-substance" is to miss He who was here.
There was a lot going on here and sometimes I was in over my head. This was good but dense.
#WolfhartPannenberg #Pannenberg #JesusGodAndMan #Christology #SystematicTheology #GermanTheologians
November 8, 2025
Review
Penetrating Christology.
Pannenberg, the greatest theologian since Barth, has an uncanny ability to get to the root of theological issues. In this work, he looks at Christology and probes for weaknesses, flaws, or contradictions in the current Christological theories.
He does not proceed exegetically, although clearly he understands the ultimate source of all Christology. He assumes the exegetical background and even the Biblical theological background. His focus is on the clarification of the systematic belief about Jesus of Nazareth, the man who is God. He is particularly sensitive to philosophical errors or weaknesses. He explores the ideas most often in a historical manner, tracing the development of different approaches from the Patristics through Scholastics, Reformation, and modern theology. In this, he is without peer. The clarity with which he traces the ideas through various developments is inspiring. Always respectful of every view, even when he disagrees.
One could also say that the resurrection as a historical event is the cornerstone of Pannenberg’s total theology. Binding the historical nature of revelation with the key ontological role of the resurrection in the inbreaking of the Kingdom.
He is an exceptionally clear writer for a philosophical, systematic theologian. Impeccable outlines and unfailingly logical. Although some would quibble with his methodology and his historical-critical approach to the gospels, it is hard to position him as a liberal when he vigorously defends the historicity of the physical (supra-physical) resurrections as well as defending a vicarious penal substitutionary atonement, albeit in a modified form.
This work on Christology is superseded only by the Christology in his own Systematic Theology, published 30 years after this work.
Highly recommended
Penetrating Christology.
Pannenberg, the greatest theologian since Barth, has an uncanny ability to get to the root of theological issues. In this work, he looks at Christology and probes for weaknesses, flaws, or contradictions in the current Christological theories.
He does not proceed exegetically, although clearly he understands the ultimate source of all Christology. He assumes the exegetical background and even the Biblical theological background. His focus is on the clarification of the systematic belief about Jesus of Nazareth, the man who is God. He is particularly sensitive to philosophical errors or weaknesses. He explores the ideas most often in a historical manner, tracing the development of different approaches from the Patristics through Scholastics, Reformation, and modern theology. In this, he is without peer. The clarity with which he traces the ideas through various developments is inspiring. Always respectful of every view, even when he disagrees.
One could also say that the resurrection as a historical event is the cornerstone of Pannenberg’s total theology. Binding the historical nature of revelation with the key ontological role of the resurrection in the inbreaking of the Kingdom.
He is an exceptionally clear writer for a philosophical, systematic theologian. Impeccable outlines and unfailingly logical. Although some would quibble with his methodology and his historical-critical approach to the gospels, it is hard to position him as a liberal when he vigorously defends the historicity of the physical (supra-physical) resurrections as well as defending a vicarious penal substitutionary atonement, albeit in a modified form.
This work on Christology is superseded only by the Christology in his own Systematic Theology, published 30 years after this work.
Highly recommended
September 12, 2025
Who is Jesus? How should one do Christology? These are just some of the light questions that Wolfort Pannenberg deals with in his very important Jesus-God and Man.
Pannenberg wants to do Christology "from below." This means in the vein of the Antiochene Christological scheme, Pannenberg wants to focus on the historical Jesus and then develop a Christology from there.
The key focus for Pannenberg is the resurrecion, which for him provides the key understanding of Jesus' life, unity with God and the hope that is to come. The resurrection provides the interpretative key to understand the life and mission of Jesus.
Pannenberg is very dense and at times very hard to understand. However, if the reader perseveres they will be richly rewarded.
I highly recommend for those interested in theology.
Grade: A
Pannenberg wants to do Christology "from below." This means in the vein of the Antiochene Christological scheme, Pannenberg wants to focus on the historical Jesus and then develop a Christology from there.
The key focus for Pannenberg is the resurrecion, which for him provides the key understanding of Jesus' life, unity with God and the hope that is to come. The resurrection provides the interpretative key to understand the life and mission of Jesus.
Pannenberg is very dense and at times very hard to understand. However, if the reader perseveres they will be richly rewarded.
I highly recommend for those interested in theology.
Grade: A
September 7, 2025
Wolfhart Pannenberg's "Jesus—God and Man" was a tough read, over the past month, but ultimately worthwhile, demonstrating how "Because Jesus' unity with God is first decided by his resurrection, only through Jesus' resurrection is the creation of the world fulfilled. Jesus' resurrection from the dead and thus the incarnation of the Son of God in Jesus is that event in time through which the Son mediates the creation of the world and executes God's royal Lordship. Through the power of this historical event that at the same time remains the eschatological future of the world, Jesus exercises his Lordship over the whole of the world process."
June 26, 2020
By acting as the helper of the distressed, Jesus assumed his royal duty”. P.234
This book is a wonderful guide to understanding the identity of Jesus as human and God. The quote I addressed lead all my reading and kept my eyes to the reality that being human does not mean less than God.
This book is a wonderful guide to understanding the identity of Jesus as human and God. The quote I addressed lead all my reading and kept my eyes to the reality that being human does not mean less than God.
January 24, 2019
Good read, but not sure I agree with his theology.
August 11, 2020
To be charitable, I don't think Pannenberg knew what he was talking about any more than we know what he was talking about. The cistern is broken, seek drink elsewhere.
October 2, 2025
Forced to more or less memorize this
August 2, 2023
Summary:
Pannenberg , Wolfhart. Jesus God and Man. SCM Press, 26 Jan. 2013.
"Jesus—God and Man" by Wolfhart Pannenberg is a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between Jesus' divinity and humanity. Pannenberg engages deeply with historical sources and theological analysis to affirm the historical reality of the resurrection, which he considers pivotal for verifying Jesus' divine nature. Through a systematic approach, Pannenberg connects Christology with Trinitarian theology, highlighting the significance of Jesus' relationship with God the Father. While the book's historical emphasis and resurrection-centric argumentation are strengths, potential drawbacks include the overshadowing of faith and the potential neglect of alternative Christological viewpoints. Overall, Pannenberg's work enriches the discourse on Jesus' identity and contributes to Christological scholarship.
I. Introduction
A. Background of Wolfhart Pannenberg
B. Context and Purpose of "Jesus—God and Man"
II. The Historical Jesus
A. Exploration of Jesus' historical context
B. Examination of the sources for Jesus' life and teachings
C. Pannenberg's approach to historical criticism
III. The Christological Question
A. Overview of different Christological perspectives
B. Pannenberg's assertion of the necessity of Christological investigation
C. Discussion of the incarnation and its theological implications
IV. The Resurrection
A. Importance of the resurrection in Christian theology
B. Analysis of the resurrection narratives in the Gospels
C. Pannenberg's argument for the historicity of the resurrection
D. Theological significance of the resurrection for understanding Jesus' identity
V. Jesus as the Son of God
A. Exploration of Jesus' self-understanding as the Son of God
B. Tracing the development of the concept of Jesus' divine sonship in the early Church
C. Pannenberg's critique of alternative interpretations
VI. The Trinity
A. Discussion of the Trinitarian implications of Jesus' divinity
B. Analysis of how Jesus' relationship with God the Father informs the doctrine of the Trinity
C. Pannenberg's contributions to the understanding of the Trinity in the context of Jesus' divinity
VII. Evaluation of Pannenberg's Approach
A. Strengths of Pannenberg's theological framework
B. Critique of potential weaknesses in Pannenberg's argumentation
C. Comparison with other Christological and theological perspectives
VIII. Conclusion
A. Recap of key points
B. Reflection on the significance of Pannenberg's work
"Jesus—God and Man" by Wolfhart Pannenberg is a significant contribution to Christological scholarship that delves into the complex relationship between Jesus' divinity and His humanity. Pannenberg's systematic approach and meticulous historical analysis provide readers with a comprehensive exploration of the theological implications of Jesus' identity.
Pannenberg's engagement with the historical context of Jesus' life and the critical examination of various sources showcase his commitment to grounding theological assertions in historical accuracy. His insistence on the historical reality of the resurrection is a cornerstone of his argument, as he contends that the resurrection is a crucial event that verifies Jesus' divine nature.
One of the strengths of Pannenberg's work is his ability to bridge theology and history. By addressing Christology in tandem with the doctrine of the Trinity, he demonstrates how Jesus' relationship with God the Father informs the understanding of the Triune nature of God. This integration is thought-provoking and enriches the discourse on both Christology and Trinitarian theology.
However, some critiques can be raised. Pannenberg's approach might be criticized for its near-exclusive reliance on historical-critical methods, potentially overshadowing the role of faith and devotional application in theological reflection.
Pannenberg , Wolfhart. Jesus God and Man. SCM Press, 26 Jan. 2013.
"Jesus—God and Man" by Wolfhart Pannenberg is a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between Jesus' divinity and humanity. Pannenberg engages deeply with historical sources and theological analysis to affirm the historical reality of the resurrection, which he considers pivotal for verifying Jesus' divine nature. Through a systematic approach, Pannenberg connects Christology with Trinitarian theology, highlighting the significance of Jesus' relationship with God the Father. While the book's historical emphasis and resurrection-centric argumentation are strengths, potential drawbacks include the overshadowing of faith and the potential neglect of alternative Christological viewpoints. Overall, Pannenberg's work enriches the discourse on Jesus' identity and contributes to Christological scholarship.
I. Introduction
A. Background of Wolfhart Pannenberg
B. Context and Purpose of "Jesus—God and Man"
II. The Historical Jesus
A. Exploration of Jesus' historical context
B. Examination of the sources for Jesus' life and teachings
C. Pannenberg's approach to historical criticism
III. The Christological Question
A. Overview of different Christological perspectives
B. Pannenberg's assertion of the necessity of Christological investigation
C. Discussion of the incarnation and its theological implications
IV. The Resurrection
A. Importance of the resurrection in Christian theology
B. Analysis of the resurrection narratives in the Gospels
C. Pannenberg's argument for the historicity of the resurrection
D. Theological significance of the resurrection for understanding Jesus' identity
V. Jesus as the Son of God
A. Exploration of Jesus' self-understanding as the Son of God
B. Tracing the development of the concept of Jesus' divine sonship in the early Church
C. Pannenberg's critique of alternative interpretations
VI. The Trinity
A. Discussion of the Trinitarian implications of Jesus' divinity
B. Analysis of how Jesus' relationship with God the Father informs the doctrine of the Trinity
C. Pannenberg's contributions to the understanding of the Trinity in the context of Jesus' divinity
VII. Evaluation of Pannenberg's Approach
A. Strengths of Pannenberg's theological framework
B. Critique of potential weaknesses in Pannenberg's argumentation
C. Comparison with other Christological and theological perspectives
VIII. Conclusion
A. Recap of key points
B. Reflection on the significance of Pannenberg's work
"Jesus—God and Man" by Wolfhart Pannenberg is a significant contribution to Christological scholarship that delves into the complex relationship between Jesus' divinity and His humanity. Pannenberg's systematic approach and meticulous historical analysis provide readers with a comprehensive exploration of the theological implications of Jesus' identity.
Pannenberg's engagement with the historical context of Jesus' life and the critical examination of various sources showcase his commitment to grounding theological assertions in historical accuracy. His insistence on the historical reality of the resurrection is a cornerstone of his argument, as he contends that the resurrection is a crucial event that verifies Jesus' divine nature.
One of the strengths of Pannenberg's work is his ability to bridge theology and history. By addressing Christology in tandem with the doctrine of the Trinity, he demonstrates how Jesus' relationship with God the Father informs the understanding of the Triune nature of God. This integration is thought-provoking and enriches the discourse on both Christology and Trinitarian theology.
However, some critiques can be raised. Pannenberg's approach might be criticized for its near-exclusive reliance on historical-critical methods, potentially overshadowing the role of faith and devotional application in theological reflection.
October 14, 2015
Pannenberg struggles mightily to arrive at mostly orthodox positions on the reality of Jesus, his resurrection, his deity, and the Trinity. He has done so by accepting as given the more severe criticisms of both the OT and NT in terms of historical reliability. Nonetheless, the book is valuable in elucidating issues about the relationship of the mission of Jesus to his deity through the resurrection. The discussion of Chalcedon is particularly valuable since it explores in great depth the Chalcedonian solution and the strengths and weaknesses of its Christological statement. Or, more likely, Pannenberg just exposed to me how little I really know about Christology.
August 15, 2016
I am following the knowledge of Jesus' divinity to Jesus the man before God in this strictly reasoned and documented work. This path of the divinity of Christ and the man Jesus leads to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus has only metaphorical and symbolic meaning until the reality of the eschaton of the return of Jesus. In the meantime, my path is to love everybody.
April 17, 2017
The Late Wolfhart Pannenberg (1928-2014), one of the theological giants of the 20th century, was a formative maker of (Western) modern theology. Pannenberg, though not the first to do so but certainly one of the most recent and prominent exemplars, procured a theology 'from below,' contra 'from above.' This is evident in his Jesus-God and Man, which is a misleading title (translators have noted). Though it is a Christological work, it is more of a Christological methodology, specifically an example of Christology 'from below.' Pannenberg, at first, studied under the preeminent Karl Barth; however, after being turned off from Barth's unrelenting protological, 'from above' approach, he transferred to under Otto Weber's tutelage. Pannenberg is also known for his theological epistemology: Truth is and comes from the Eschaton (the end). His catchphrase, prolepsis ('sign from the future'), succinctly encapsulates this idea. The foremost prolepsis being the (undeniable) historic event of Jesus' resurrection: It is from here--and only from here--where one can understand the whole of 'universal truth' (how Pannenberg defines theology) and that Jesus is God and Man (Christology).
Throughout Jesus-God and Man, Pannenberg is relentless towards 'from above,' calling it unstable, problematic, and naive. In his later and masterful three volume Systematic Theology, however, Pannenberg tones down his rhetoric. This move was not only more inviting but also inevitable: Even in Jesus-God and Man, one can sense some 'from above' presuppositions underlying the pages (as a fellow student once said, "He [Pannenberg] can't help but smuggle some 'from above' convictions").
Jesus-God and Man was a product of its time. To appreciate this theologian's first major book, we must come to grips with his context--the 1960s German theological guild--and they spoke very differently than us, today.
cf. www.sooholee.wordpress.com
Throughout Jesus-God and Man, Pannenberg is relentless towards 'from above,' calling it unstable, problematic, and naive. In his later and masterful three volume Systematic Theology, however, Pannenberg tones down his rhetoric. This move was not only more inviting but also inevitable: Even in Jesus-God and Man, one can sense some 'from above' presuppositions underlying the pages (as a fellow student once said, "He [Pannenberg] can't help but smuggle some 'from above' convictions").
Jesus-God and Man was a product of its time. To appreciate this theologian's first major book, we must come to grips with his context--the 1960s German theological guild--and they spoke very differently than us, today.
cf. www.sooholee.wordpress.com
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews