Many thanks to the good folks at University of Illinois Press – especially Michael B. who responded so rapidly to my inquiry -for the review copy of James McGrath’s new book, The Only True God: Early Christian Monotheism in Its Jewish Context (July 2009). With a title like that, I’m bound to like it! Anyway, it came in the post today, and I will be offering my review shortly.

Until then, here’s the TOC and the blurbs from the back:

Table of Contents (PDF)

“This work puts forward a compelling thesis, questioning the default assumption that what separated first-century Jews and Christians was the Christian elevation of Jesus of Nazareth to divine status as equal with YHWH. McGrath shows decisively that this was not so, arguing with clarity and force and engaging the relevant bodies of primary and secondary literature with precision. A significant and useful book.”–Paul J. Griffiths, author of Lying: An Augustinian Theology of Duplicity

“If anyone thinks that the concept and definition of ‘monotheism’ are clear-cut, they need to read this book. Similarly, if you think that the issue of ‘early Christian monotheism’ or the question of Jesus’s status within or in relation to ‘early Christian monotheism’ (as maintained by the writers of the New Testament) can be neatly resolved in straightforward terms, then McGrath will enable you to make a more informed judgment, and hopefully to reach a more mature view.”–James D. G. Dunn, author of Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry Into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation