The Person of Jesus Christ Flashcards
“Was Jesus more than a political liberator?” essay
A: was a political liberator he would challenge the roman government. Would criticise tax collectors, Sadducees and Pharisees. Also was the son of God - hypostatic union. “The father and I are one. Penneburg - the resurrection revealed. “I am” - explain
CA: E.P Saunders - analysing the resurrection relies on faith. Cannot be historically analysed. Without the resurrection, no solid truth
E: Jesus’ spirituality is what Christianity has its basis on. Such a large influence to not be son of God
A: Jesus was also a teacher of wisdom. Sermon on the mount. Changed the perspectives of his listeners. Criticised Pharisees. instead inner purity. Hick - his teachings ‘gifts to the world’ revolutionary effect
CA: These actions promoted the transformation of society. Sabbath was made for avoiding the social responsibility of lawyers and pharisees. Jesus -“he Sabbath was made for humankind and not the humankind of the Sabbath” - view as desire to change
E: still this does not prove that a political liberator is all he was. Teachings on forgiveness - prodigal son
“Jesus was only a teacher of wisdom” essay
A: Labelling him as only he teacher of wisdom would deny the hypostatic union. He was a teacher of wisdom e.g. teachings of forgiveness sermon on the mount, inner purity. Teachings were revolutionary at the time however without his divinity issues with resurrection. Bonhoeffer, if he was not divine, erase the possibility of salvation for Christians. IS as he healed the blind man… Said your sins are forgiven.
CA: His miracles don’t necessarily make him unique, prophets from the old testament used to preform miracles as well. Moses and the red sea yet he didn’t claim to be the son of God
E: Weak argument as Jesus himself arguably knew he was unique as well. “No one gets to the kingdom of God except through me”. “I am the way the truth and the life”. Taught agape as well. Is both
The person of Jesus scholars & arguments
- Mark 6:47-5: Jesus walking on water. Can be explained by the fact Galilee is often foggy and shallow. Jesus also calmed the storm. Could prove that Jesus was the son of God
- John 9:1-41: when he heals the blind man. The Pharisees did not believe that he was able to as he was a sinner which worked on the day of the Sabbath. shows he is the son of God
- Matthew. 5:17-48: The sermon on the mount. Talked about how - 1. he has come to fulfil the Jewish tradition 2. Should all have inner purity 4. Talks about being the bigger person. Shows he is a teacher of wisdom
- Luke 15:11-32: The parable of the prodigal son. Talks about forgiveness and how if you are the sinner repent and forgiveness will be granted. Shows he is a wisdom teacher
- Mark 5:24-34: Told a women who has been bleeding for 12 years to touch his cloak and he will be forgiven. Consoles the women. Challenged the thinking of the time as she was an outcast.
- Luke: 10:25-37: the parable of the Good Samaritan. Goes above and beyond. Shows that Jesus is a political liberator.
Jesus as the son of God:
- Hume: evidence of miracles not happening out weight the evidence that they do. Extraordinary events require extraordinary evidence. The fact the first miracle was written 35 years after Jesus’ death might suggest it has been fabricated
- _The way Jesus was aware of God’s will wasn’t unique to Jesus, many other prophets were aware of God’s will. Jesus is just a model for an exemplary life and a metaphorical understanding of the incarnation. He was not divine
- Bultmann: we need to demythologise miracles, they dont need to be seen as literal. As myths we can access the spiritual truths behind them.
- Wright: without the belief of the resurrection, the Church wouldn’t have developed. Something happen for the disciples faith to remain.
- C.S.Lewis: if you accept Jesus as a teacher of moral wisdom but not as the son of God he must of been a lunatic.
- St.Paul: He takes the resurrection as a central fact because without the resurrection Christianity would be lost.
“Was Jesus’ relationship with God truly unique” essay
A: yes as to deny Jesus’ truly unique relationship with God is to deny the hypostatic union. Bonhoeffer, if he was not divine, erase the possibility of salvation for Christians. Is as he healed the blind man in John 9… His miracles are evidence of his divinity
CA: Hume: evidence of miracles not happening out weight the evidence that they do. Extraordinary events require extraordinary evidence. The fact the first miracle was written 35 years after Jesus’ death might suggest it has been fabricated.
E: Wright: without the belief in the resurrection. The Christian tradition would not of continued. The disciples must have believed it at the time
A: Jesus relationship was truly unique as even he himself acknowledged that he was the incarnation of God. He has said no one gets to the Father except through me. He also says that “if you have seen me you have seen the father”. This was also prophesied in the Old Testament. Therefore, since Jesus even acknowledged it himself his relation shoo with God was truly unique
CA: However Jesus’ relationship may have just been special rather than unique. Jesus himself prayed to not get crucified. He wept and at some point he didn’t know who touched him. Perhaps his relationship with God was just very special. As she still needed to pray.
E: Truly unique as he that your sins are forgiven - only God can do this, happened alongside miracles was definitely aware of his truly unique relationship with God. God, Jesus and Holy Spirit whole.
