The Son of Man Debate
A History and Evaluation

Comprehensive overview of the 'Son of Man' debate spanning 2,000 years' research on the topic.

Delbert Burkett (Author)

9780521037457, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 July 2007

192 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.1 cm, 0.25 kg

"Burkett has given us just what we need at the moment...a comprehensive survey of what everyone has had to say...Burkett's book...offers us the best, most up-to-date, and most comprehensive review of the various views and disputations about the mysterious 'Son of Man'...this is a very informative book that lends needed perspective to current study. It is must reading for anyone working on the gospel tradition or early Christology." Journal of Biblical Literature

The expression 'Son of Man', used in the Gospels almost exclusively by Jesus, has been the object of intensive study since the Protestant Reformation, yet scholars have come to no agreement on its origin or meaning. Research in this area has been described as 'a veritable mine field' and 'a can of worms'. Because of the scope and complexity of the literature, no comprehensive survey of the subject has been written in the twentieth century. Delbert Burkett's book fills this need. It provides a comprehensive historical overview of the debate from the patristic period to 1996, and gives an evaluation of that research and a summation of the present state of the question. Burkett concludes that despite nineteen centuries of 'Son of Man' study there is no consensus concerning the meaning or origin of the expression; the debate is therefore a prime example of the limits of New Testament scholarship.

Preface
List of abbreviations
Introduction
1. Genealogical interpretations
2. The human Son of Man
3. The apocalyptic/messianic Son of Man
4. The question of reference
5. The question of authenticity
6. Miscellaneous sons of men
7. Exit the apocalyptic Son of Man?
8. The idiomatic/nontitular son of man
9. Son of Man in apocalyptic and rabbinic texts
10. Conclusions
Appendix: surveys of research on 'the Son of Man'
List of references
Index of passages
Index of authors
Index of subjects.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]