Consider Jesus by Elizabeth A. Johnson: A Chapter Review
This paper provides a chapter-by-chapter overview of Elizabeth A. Johnson's Consider Jesus, tracing Johnson's exploration of Christ's living tradition, humanity, self-knowledge, historical life, and ministry of justice. The review also addresses Johnson's treatment of Liberation and Feminist Christology, the theological significance of the Cross, and the doctrine of salvation. Throughout, the paper highlights how Johnson presents Jesus as both fully human and fully divine, and how her work invites readers — whether lifelong Christians or newcomers to the faith — to engage seriously with the person and meaning of Jesus Christ.
- Introduction and Overview: Overview of Johnson's book and its themes
- The Living Tradition and Humanity of Jesus: Christ's living tradition and human nature
- Self-Knowledge, History, and Justice: Jesus's self-awareness, biography, and ministry of justice
- Liberation and Feminist Christology: Different theological interpretations of Christ
- The Cross, Salvation, and God's Grace: The crucifixion, atonement, and eternal life
- Conclusion: Johnson's portrayal of divine grace and sacrifice
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper follows the book's chapter structure systematically, giving readers a clear, organized sense of Johnson's argument as it unfolds.
- It balances descriptive summary with brief analytical commentary, noting, for example, the tension between Jesus's divine and human natures without over-editorializing.
- Concrete textual examples — the woman at the well, the money-changers in the temple — ground abstract theological claims in narrative detail.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates annotated chapter review as an academic form: rather than arguing a single thesis, it synthesizes a multi-chapter theological work into a coherent narrative summary while preserving each chapter's distinct contribution. This is a useful skill for book reviews and literature surveys in theology and religious studies courses.
Structure breakdown
The paper moves sequentially through Johnson's chapters, grouping related themes (humanity and self-knowledge; Christology types; Cross and salvation) for readability. An implicit thesis — that Johnson reveals the grace of God through Christ's dual nature and sacrifice — emerges across the review rather than being stated at the outset, giving the paper a reflective, cumulative quality appropriate to the genre.
Introduction and Overview
Consider Jesus, by Elizabeth A. Johnson, begins with a preface that addresses Christianity and the common, important themes the faith faces today. The book moves chapter by chapter through the person and meaning of Jesus Christ, examining His tradition, humanity, self-knowledge, historical life, ministry, and ultimate sacrifice.
The Living Tradition and Humanity of Jesus
Chapter One focuses on the living tradition of Christ — how He is both gone from this world (having ascended to Heaven) and yet alive, because there is life after death. He is part of a remarkable tradition, but not one that is merely historical or without present and future value. Instead, He is part of a living tradition in which a great number of followers still carry on in His name and strive to be more like Him every day.
In Chapter Two, Johnson addresses the humanity of Jesus. While He was God, He was also God made man. Because of that, He struggled with the human condition and experienced human feelings alongside His divine understanding. For example, several times before His crucifixion He asked God to remove the burden from Him — He did not want to die, which was a deeply human dimension of His existence.
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