Jesus Christ for Today's World

This week I finished reading Jesus Christ for Today’ World by Jürgen Moltmann. Moltmann is a German Reformed theologian who is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at the University of Tubingen is known for his own form of liberation theology which is based on the view that God suffers with humanity while promising a future through the hope of Christ’s resurrection which points to God who will restore everything and gather everything into his future kingdom. In this book based which is based on Moltmann’s public lectures we are provided an accessible introduction to the Christology of one of Europe’s great theologians.

The overarching question of “who is Christ for us today?” is answered thematically in each of the show more eight chapters attempting to answer the key question posed. Then each chapter is divided into three sections where Moltmann first looks at the biblical text relating to the topic of that chapter. Secondly he then provides his theological reflection on the topic and then proceeds to provide some direction for this theology to be fleshed out in Christian practice. He attempts to share the thought that what we know about Christ does effect what we do as Christians. He states it this way in one part of this volume:

“Believing in the resurrection does not just mean assenting to a dogma and noting a historical fact. It means participating in this creative act of God’s … Resurrection is not a consoling opium, soothing us with the promise of a better world in the hereafter. It is the energy for a rebirth of this life. The hope doesn’t point to another world. It is focused on the redemption of this one.” ― Jürgen Moltmann, Jesus Christ for Today's World

While this book serves as only as a general introduction to Moltmann’s theological thought surrounding Christ may lead readers to delve deeper into Moltmann’s other more exhaustive academic books which address these questions in deeper larger detail. I find this book a great primer to Moltmann’s Christology and great addition to anyone’s library. show less

Moltmann's view of Christ stands as one of the most compelling of recent times. He rejects all interpretations of Christ's militaristic second coming as antithetical to the whole of his teaching life. Instead, Moltmann points to the cooperative nature of Jesus's life, of his insistence on equality and social justice, and finds a more suitable Christology there.