This book investigates the complex and evolving concept of the "Son of Man" figure within early Jewish and Christian eschatology, particularly as it relates to the Enochic tradition. Gabriele Boccaccini, a scholar of early Judaism and Christianity, draws upon extensive textual analysis of the Book of Enoch and other related apocryphal and pseudepigraphical literature. The work aims to demonstrate how the figure of the Son of Man, as presented in these texts, served as a crucial bridge between Jewish messianic expectations and the early Christian understanding of Jesus.

This scholarly work is recognized for its rigorous engagement with primary sources and its contribution to understanding the origins of Christian messianic thought. Scholars in the field of early Judaism and Christian origins typically regard Boccaccini's analysis as a significant, though sometimes debated, interpretation of the Enochic traditions and their influence. The book is considered a dense, academic text, essential for specialists seeking a detailed understanding of the textual and theological underpinnings of early Christian beliefs about the Messiah.