The person of jesus Flashcards
Christology from above vs from below
Above;
- Focus on Jesus’ divinity
- Known as high christology
- Relies on faith, cannot be proven
Below;
- Focus on Jesus’ message, teaching and the example he sets
- How people respond to Jesus and the way it helps them develop
- Known as low christology
What did jesus think he was?
- If jesus thought he was fully human, how can we claim he knew he was God’s son?
- Perhaps Jesus is fully human and fully god
- In exodus, God reveals his identity as ‘I am who I am’, and jesus used similar statements in John’s gospel.
- Jesus knew he was special from the start, however, Jesus says ‘the father is greater than I am’, suggesting Jesus is powerful but not as powerful as God
Nestorius
Christ’s divine and human natures were completely separate. Humanity and divinity come together when Jesus’ will becomes one with God’s. Jesus is fully human. God sends powers when needed.
Apollinarius
Incarnation means that God’s will replaced Jesus’ human reason. He experienced suffering, but could not sin as he had no internal conflict
Doetic Christians
Incarnation involved God only appearing to assume human flesh. He is still fully God
Evidence of Jesus as the son of God
- Redemption and creation miracles
- Resurection as a miracle
- Doubting Thomas
Redemption and creation miracles
- High and low christian theologists support miracles as a sign of salvation
- E.g, healing of the man who was born blind
- Mark 6 : 47 - 52 Jesus walks on water
- The creation miracle (god making the universe)
Resurrection as a miracle
- Jesus’ ressurection was witnessed by many and marked a ‘new era’
- A unique sign of God’s accomplishment
Doubting Thomas
- When Jesus was resurrected, he looked different than before.
- Thomas didnt really believe it was Jesus, however jesus had wounds which he told Thomas to touch
- Jesus’ body was not just transformed spiritually, but also allows the experience of the presense of God
- ‘Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe’
The prodigal Son
- A man had two sons, one responsible and one rebellious
- The rebellious son runs away with his inheritence, wastes it, and has to end up coming back to his father
- When he returns, the responsible son is angry because the father is happy to see him, and gives him a celebration
- However the father tells the good son that they must celebrate the lost son coming back
- Demonstrates forgiveness as Jesus’ key teaching
Jesus as the living word
- Wittgenstien argues that Jesus’ authority is derived from him as a teacher of wisdom
- Jesus enbodied spiritual and moral, and so was the living word. ‘The word became flesh and dealt among us’
Jesus’ moral teaching
- Jesus uses parables, short sayings, actions, examples, and healings to express his moral message
- Tom Wright argues that Jesus is the ‘new Moses’, founding a new Israel
- ‘Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them’
Forgiveness and repentance
- Repentance is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching on the arrival of the Kingdom of God
- Examples: Zacchaeus (tax collector and the parable of the prodigal son.
- Forgiveness brings about mental freedom
- Seen in the lords prayer
Personal responsibility
- Jesus argued that people misused the Sabbath rules to avoid social responsibility, e.g the good Samaritan
- Jesus broke these rules to heal the sick, despite this being punishable by death.
- Morality is not a blind defence, it requires personal responsibility
Matthew 5:17-48
- Suggests that Jesus is the messiah who the old testament prophesised. He has come to fulfil the law of the prophets.
- Jesus suggests people who break the rules and commandments will not go to heaven.
- Only those who’s morals exceed those of the Pharisees will go to heaven.
- Love those who hate you
Luke 15:11-32
- Teaches that no matter the sin, God will forgive if someone is willing to repent
- Contradicts the traditional teachings of the time, with the religious leaders being confused and shocked
- Teaches the importance of forgiveness
Political liberator
- Literal freedom and liberation from the Romans
- He challenges political authorities as well as political / social norms
Spiritual liberator
- Spiritual freedom and liberation from sin
- He challenges religious authorities as well as theological beliefs / norms
Luke’s birth story
- Suggests Jesus would have a special relationship with the poor and marginalised.
- The baby Jesus was placed in a feeding trough as a crib and his first visitors were shephards.
- Presents Jesus as a spiritual liberator
Matthew’s birth story
- The wise men make King Herald feel challenged by potential threat to his power.
- Religion and politics were closely linked in first century Israel.
- Presents Jesus as a political liberator.
Liberation theology
- A Christian movement in theology founded on the teachings and example of Jesus
- Its validity is dependant on it being biblically supported, which is debated.
- Jesus said many anti wealth things, but the question is whether this is enough for Christians to be anti capitalist
The parable of the good Samaritan in regards to liberation
- The Samaritan achieved spiritual liberation by helping a Jewish person despite being enemies
- Spiritual liberation is done through action rather than words
The golden thread
- Reuther’s idea that there is a theme of liberation, including feminist causes
- Reuther describes the golden thread as the ‘prophetic - liberating tradition’ It includes
- God’s defence of the oppressed
- Jesus’ treatment of marginalised people
- Jesus’ criticism of the established religious views
- Jesus’ moral teachings
What is hypostatic union?
Jesus is fully god and fully human
