Pauline Christology

Gordon Fee's magisterial study emerges from decades of wrestling with the christological implications of Paul's letters, particularly the tensions between Paul's Jewish monotheism and his worship of Christ as divine. Writing as both a Pentecostal scholar and rigorous exegete, Fee addresses the scholarly debate over whether Paul's high Christology developed gradually or was present from the earliest Christian proclamation. His work represents a comprehensive attempt to let Paul's own theological vision speak on its own terms rather than through the lens of later doctrinal formulations.

Fee argues that Paul's Christology is fundamentally narrative rather than metaphysical, rooted in the story of God's saving action through Christ rather than abstract speculation about divine nature. He demonstrates how Paul consistently presents Christ as the preexistent Son who became incarnate, died, was raised, and now reigns as Lord while remaining fully integrated with the Father's identity and purposes. The study traces how Paul's christological thinking centers on Christ as both the divine agent of creation and the means of new creation, examining key passages like Philippians 2:6-11, Colossians 1:15-20, and 1 Corinthians 8:6 to show how Paul includes Christ within the divine identity without abandoning Jewish monotheism. Fee contends that Paul's Christology is early, consistent, and already fully developed in his earliest letters, challenging developmental theories that see high Christology as a later Hellenistic innovation.

This work has become essential reading for understanding how the earliest Christians conceived of Christ's divinity, offering a compelling alternative to both adoptionist and purely metaphysical readings of Paul. Fee's integration of careful exegesis with theological reflection has influenced both biblical scholarship and systematic theology, particularly in discussions of early high Christology. Who should read this: serious students of Pauline theology and anyone seeking to understand how the New Testament presents Christ's divine identity, though readers unfamiliar with technical exegetical methods may find the detailed textual analysis challenging.