American systematic theologian Purdy analyzes and evaluates contributions to the doctrine of the person of Christ by Scottish theologian Macquarrie (1919-2007), who sought to incorporate contemporary philosophies such as existentialism into an understanding of Christianity. Among his topics are the anthropocentric shape of modern theology, the language of theology, systematic christology in the existential-ontological key, Macquarrie's interpretation of contemporary New Testament christology, his evaluation of christology from classical to modern, the nature and crisis of modern christology, and dialectical theism and anthropology. The study began as his 2007 doctoral dissertation for the Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)