Table of contents : Series preface Author's preface Abbreviations
Introduction Why this book? Assumptions Praeparatio evangelica The Plan of the book
1. God prepares the way from the beginning God and God's image The portrayal of God in the beginning Some early Christian commentary God prepares the way to what end? God prepares the way by promise Conclusion Excursus: Would the incarnation have taken place irrespective of the Fall?
2. God prepares the way in his dealings with Abraham and Abraham's Old Testament children The patriarchal story and the 'embodied' God Abraham and the three visitors Jacob and the wrestler The Mosaic story and the 'embodied' God The Judges story and the 'embodied' God The former prophets and the 'embodied' God The latter prophets and the 'embodied' God Conclusion
3. God prepares the way in Israel's hope The hope for a divine Messiah Israel's hope and the incarnation: key texts revisited Intertestamental hopes Typology and incarnation Conclusion
4. The great mystery In retrospect But incarnation? Conclusion Excursus: the pre-incarnate Christ, theophany and the Old Testament debate
5. Cur Deus homo New Testament answers The timing of the incarnation: insight from Thomas Aquinas Conclusion Excursus: Did the divine Son assume fallen or unfallen human nature?
6. The significance of the incarnation Theological significance Existential significance Conclusion
7. Conclusion
Appendix: The theological interpretation of Scripture Bibliography Index of authors Index of Scripture references Index of ancient sources