PREFACE
The following chapters are the lectures given in the spring of 1919 on the Haskell Foundation of Oberlin College. They have been somewhat expanded in the course of preparation for the press, but have not been materially changed.
At the time of the delivery of these lectures I was busy with the chapter on "Primitive Christianity" in the Prolegomena to Acts, and was glad of the opportunity to re-state some of the conclusions reached in that book in a less technical form and with more attention to their bearing on some of the larger questions of religion and thought, such as the Teaching of Jesus, the Hope of Immortality, and the Development of Christology. I did not hesitate to make use of one or two paragraphs from the larger book, and I think that my friend, Mr. C. G. Montefiore, will forgive me for having borrowed two beautiful stories from his chapter in it.
I am greatly indebted to the Faculty of Oberlin College not only for the privilege of lecturing to them, but also for the hospitality extended to me during a very pleasant week and for the beginning of new and delightful friendships.
KIRSOPP LAKE.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., April 1920.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I [GALILEE] | |
| PAGE | |
| Introduction—The history of Christianity as a series ofsyntheses—The Jewish world—The Kingdom of God—Repentance—Theteaching of Jesus as compared with his Jewish contemporaries | 1 |
CHAPTER II [JERUSALEM] | |
| The Synoptic Problem and Acts—Inspiration—Communism—Messianicdoctrine—The Christ—The Son of Man—The Son of God | 36 |
CHAPTER III [ANTIOCH] | |
| The spread of Christianity—Damascus—The Hellenistmissionaries—Paul's visit to Jerusalem—The source-criticismof Acts—The traditions of Jerusalem and Antioch | 57 |
CHAPTER IV [CORINTH] | |
| Christianity as a Graeco-Oriental cult—Salvation—Thereasons for the victory of Christianity—Jesus as an historicperson—The personality of Jesus—The Fatherhood ofGod—Baptism—Immortality | 73 |
CHAPTER V [ROME AND EPHESUS] | |
| Paul's contribution—Adoptionism—Romandocuments—Romans—Hebrews—1 Peter—1 Clement—Hermas—Baptismand repentance—Pre-existent Christology—The later Epistles—TheFourth Gospel—The doctrine of the Logos—JustinMartyr—Origen—Conclusion | 98 |
[APPENDIX] | |
| The Interpretation of The Shepherd of Hermas. By F. S.Mackenzie | 137 |
| [ADDITIONAL NOTE] | 141 |
| [INDEX] | 143 |