Jesus as Divine Suicide

The book explores the concept of Jesus' death as a self-sacrifice modeled after established traditions familiar to Roman and Jewish audiences. It highlights Paul's use of this framework in his letter to the Galatians, presenting a premeditated death aimed at cosmic change. Watts examines the concept of devotio through recent scholarship, drawing from Jewish and Roman sources to demonstrate its influence on Paul's language regarding Jesus' death. He argues that this understanding not only aligns with Jewish thought but also enriches the theological implications of Paul's message.