KNOWING CHRIST IN THE CHALLENGE OF HERESY
by Steven Tsoukalas
University Press of America, 240 pages, $24.50

It’s not too unusual or difficult to find a good book that expounds on the deity of Jesus Christ. Since Christ’s divine nature is the very bedrock of the Christian faith, it is a subject that has been thoroughly defended. However, the vast majority of these volumes establish only the biblical testimony for the doctrine, they do not specifically respond to heretical teachings surrounding the person of Christ.

As the Church enters a new millennium, polished campaigns against the deity of Jesus proliferate at an accelerated rate at the hands of cults and aberrant sects. With the body of Christ facing these new “challenges of heresy,” volumes which answer the false christologies are not only welcome, but sorely needed.

The latest book by Steven Tsoukalas is one of the finest treatises of the subject for those wishing to study the deity of Christ by way of comparing what the Scriptures state against the backdrop of cultic teaching. Tsoukalas provides for the reader a virtual catalog of erroneous christologies. All the major challengers are detailed, such as the Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Way International and the New Age movement. Additionally, sometimes overlooked, sects also are examined because of their repudiation of the deity of Christ in less subtle forms. These groups include the Word-Faith movement, United Pentecostal Church, liberal Protestantism and others. Still other, non-Christian religious bodies, such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are also briefly studied.

Tsoukalas examines not only the nature of Christ as the “Incarnate Deity,” but explores the “Pre-existent Deity” as well. His is a volume packed to help equip every believer. One will even find a secondary wealth of information conveniently placed in many of his expounded footnotes. As in any scholarly treatment, Tsoukalas does not pass over citing New Testament Greek grammar. But when he does present it, it is done in a way that is not beyond the grasp of the lay person. General (topical) and Scriptural indexes are provided and make for easy retrieval of the information.

In a day when the Church has lost a passion for doctrine and developed an attitude of apathy toward the cults, Tsoukalas reminds us that God can use heresy and challenges us with these words:

“I hope that the reader may know Christ better, as was the case with myself. I was challenged by heresy to formulate my understanding of Christ. As I searched the Scriptures to answer attacks, something much more than mere refutation occurred. I worshiped Him more adoringly. I grew to love Him more as I read about Him and studied the biblical passages.”

—MKG

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