Christological Evolution

Nick Norelli has posted on the subject of pagan influence on early Christology, and I’ve already joined in the conversation. As I argued in John’s Apologetic Christology, I too find unpersuasive and problematic the idea that Jesus went from (as Maurice Casey put it) Jewish prophet to Gentile God. But the other major view, which suggests that there is little significant development and the earliest Christology is already as “high” as the latest, seems to also face serious difficulties.

What is your view of the development of Christology in early Christianity? Let’s keep this conversation going, whether here, at Nick’s blog, or both!