Jesus as a Person Flashcards
Jesus as a wisdom teacher: “Do not think…”
“Do not think I have come to abolish the law of the prophet but to fulfil”
What do some people think Jesus as a wisdom teacher means?
Some argue that Jesus is the son of God and is bringing a new kingdom. Others think that Jesus meant the Torah was not being followed properly and that he was a reformer wanting to return us to its original purpose. The supernatural elements of Jesus’ story are dismissed as unscientific inventions by the early church to suggest Christ’s divinity. Christianity is not in competition with other religions because Jesus was one of many wisdom teachers.
What are three examples of Jesus’ moral teachings?
1) forgiveness and repentance - The Greek word for repentance is metamoia meaning a radical change of mindset. For example, after Jesus met a tax collector the man paid back those he cheated. This is also shown in the parable of the prodigal son. When asked how often we should forgive Jesus said “seventy times seven”
2) Motive and purity - Jesus criticized the Pharisees but admired their righteousness. He saw morality as character development. In the Sermon on the Mount, he said people should control their thoughts by “checking their anger”. He said the aim of humanity is to be as “perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.”
3) Personal Responsibility - Morality requires personal responsibility not blind obedience to the rules. For example, he said “the Sabbath was made for the man, not the man for the Sabbath” and cured the sick despite risking the death penalty.
What did John Hick argue about Jesus as a person?
He suggests he was one of many wisdom teachers which he describes as “gifts to the world”. He says that once we interpret the supernatural elements of Christianity as symbolic we can interact in interfaith dialogue. This is a pluralist view.
Who are the scholars who saw Jesus as a liberator?
- Brandon
- Gustavo Gutierrez
- Camilo Torres
Who took inspiration from Jesus as a liberator?
During the time of civil war and massive exploitation of the poor in 1960-1990s Latin America, many Catholic priests found inspiration in Jesus as a liberator. They started the movement called ‘Liberation theology’ and argued that for too long Jesus has been portrayed as a pacifist who did not challenge the social/economic structure. They suggested that he was biased towards the poor wanting justice on earth here and now.
What evidence is there for Jesus as a Liberator?
The zealots were freedom fighters in Jesus’ day who used violence in an attempt to rid Palestine of Romans. One of Jesus’ disciples Simon was a Zealot and Nazareth where Jesus grew up was a Zealot stronghold. Jesus choose to mix with ‘tax collectors and sinners’ - those marginalised in society. Sinners were considered impure and if a practicing Jew came across one he was required to take a ritual bath. Sinners included the sexually impure and heretics (Samaritans) and Jesus surrounded himself with them and ‘people of the land’ such as farmers, fishermen, and servants. Jesus’ teaching was revolutionary because it was aimed at ordinary people rather than those who studied the Torah He said: “the last shall be the first and the first shall be the last.”
What did Brandon say about Jesus as a liberator?
Brandon wrote a book called ‘Jesus and the Zealots’ in which he argued Jesus was a politically driven freedom fighter but the gospel writers made him more of a pacifist.
What did Gustavo Gutierrez argue about Jesus as a liberator?
He was known as the father of liberation theology. He argued we should recognize that Christ faced the same problems as us and was not “limited to a purely spiritual plane”.
What did Camilo Torres argue about Jesus as a liberator?
He left the Catholic priesthood and joined the Communist People’s Army and was killed in action. He said, “if Jesus was born today he would be a guerrillero”.
How can Jesus as a liberator be criticized?
- Many saw Jesus’ authority as spiritual, not political eg) when Pilates asked if he was king of the Jews he said “My kingdom is not of this world”
- He also said “live by the sword die by the sword”
- If he was a revolutionary leader his disciples would have been arrested as well
What are the three ways Jesus can be seen?
- as a wisdom teacher
- as a liberator
- as the son of God
high Christology / low Christology / was he unique?
How can Jesus be seen as the son of God?
- For many Christians, Jesus’ authority comes from acting on God’s behalf as he is a man who carries out God’s will
- Others argue he is God in human form
- For Jews ‘Son of God’ meant ‘Messiah’ - a human being anoited by God to carry out his work
- Jews in Jesus’ day were hoping for a new political leader like King David as well as a spiritual leader
- In Greek (Romans) son of God meant a human being who has been elected to a divine status
- Over time these ideas converged so Jesus was born fully human and divine
- Early church leaders were divided over was possible - Nestorius, Apollionorius, and Docetism
What did Nestorius say about Jesus as the son of God?
He argued that the divine and humans are completely separate but only become one when Jesus’ human will becomes one with God’s will
What did Apollinaris say about Jesus as the son of God?
He argued that Jesus’ human reason had been replaced with God’s will
