The person of Jesus Christ Flashcards
The person of Jesus Christ - Introduction
> The question of who Jesus was is a key question in Christian theology
Well documented evidence that a man called Jesus lived during the time the Bible says he did
He is mentioned not only by people who spread the Christian message but also several Roman historians
Theologians discuss the nature of Jesus debate what it means to call him ‘son of God’
Discuss if he was a teacher of wisdom, independent revolutionary or if he had sympathies with political groups
The person of Jesus Christ - The title ‘Son of God’
> Jesus is often referred to as Son of God in Christian teaching
This is central to his authority
In the gospels he is referred to as God’s son in the stories of his baptism and transfiguration
Paul speaks of Jesus as God’s son in his letter to the Romans
Jesus didn’t refer to himself as the Son of God
The person of Jesus Christ - Jesus’ knowledge of God and his own nature
> It could be that Jesus was the Son of God in the sense that he had a unique knowledge of God.
Biblical writers speak of Jesus as ‘the word’ of God
The idea of Jesus as God’s word also suggests a relationship with the creation, where God created the universe.
The idea that Jesus had special knowledge of God implies that Jesus and God are separate beings who know each other.
The person of Jesus Christ - Jesus’ knowledge of God and his own nature evaluation
> ’hypostatic union’ - Jesus and God united in one person
Did Jesus have freedom to act in the way he acted? Did Jesus have omniscience? Were his expressions of emotion genuine? Did Jesus gain knowledge through his experience of the world like other humans?
Rahner - Jesus has layers of consciousness, with human self-consciousness nearer to the surface and God-consciousness deeper within him
The person of Jesus Christ - Jesus and God as man
> Only God has the power to save humanity from sin - if Jesus saved people from sin then he had to be God
Jesus had to be human in order to live on earth, suffer pain, and submit to human death
This creates issues because God and humanity are very different
Jesus didn’t have the sinful nature that other humans have. He was temped by evil but rejected that temptation and so was able to bring reconciliation
face-to-face knowledge, infused knowledge, and knowledge of life in the normal human way
The miracle of Jesus
> A miracle worker - New Testament
Hume - 18th century we should treat miracles with scepticism
Schillebeeckx - miracles should be interpreted as having a spiritual, metaphorical meaning
N.T. Wright - miracle stories should be understood as showing Jesus’ power and authority
The resurrection of Jesus
> Essential part of the Christian message
Paul - no Christian faith without the resurrection
Wright and Sanders - belief in the resurrection has maintained the strength of Christianity as a belief system
Implications: shows power of Jesus, shows revelation of God can be found by anyone, reveals how humanity was meant to be, full and final revelation of Jesus, gives Christians a reason to be hopeful, reveals new things about God and sin and suffering
