The Person of Jesus DCT Flashcards
What does the Trinity teach?
That there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What is the doctrine that says Jesus has two natures?
The hypostatic union.
What is the Nicene Creed’s key belief about Christ?
That he is begotten, not made, and of one being with the Father.
What does the Chalcedonian Definition state?
That Christ is fully God and fully man in two natures unconfusedly and inseparably.
Who argued that Jesus can’t be both divine and human?
Channing and John Hick.
What is the Trinity’s coherence issue according to Channing?
It is contradictory to be both infinite and finite.
How does John Hick describe Jesus being divine?
As meaningless, like calling a circle a square.
What does Barth say about understanding the Trinity?
It’s a mystery with no suitable human term.
What did Augustine say about using ‘person’ in the Trinity?
It’s a manner of speaking for something mysterious.
Is the word ‘Trinity’ found in the Bible?
No.
What does John 10:30 say?
Jesus said, ‘The Father and I are one’.
What is the significance of John 1:1-3?
It claims the Word was with God and was God, referring to Jesus.
What does John 1:14 say?
The Word became flesh and lived among us.
What is Hick’s critique of John’s Gospel?
Jesus’ divinity was a later invention, not historical.
What does Mark 1:11 say at Jesus’ baptism?
‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’.
How does Jesus control miracles uniquely?
He chooses when to perform them, like turning water into wine.
What was Reimarus’ view of Jesus?
That he was human, and the resurrection was invented.
Why did Reimarus doubt the miracle stories?
They were written decades later and targeted non-Jewish audiences.
What did Reimarus say about Jesus performing miracles for skeptics?
Jesus refused to show miracles to those without faith.
What is St Paul’s view on the resurrection?
If Christ didn’t rise, faith is in vain.
What is N.T. Wright’s argument for the resurrection?
It caused radical changes in Jewish theology that need explanation.
Why does Wright say the empty tomb account is credible?
It was discovered by women, unlikely in a fabricated story.
What is the hallucination hypothesis?
That post-mortem appearances of Jesus were visionary experiences.
What is Wright’s response to hallucination hypothesis?
Disciples wouldn’t have interpreted hallucinations as resurrection.
What is Keith Parsons’ critique of Wright?
Jesus’ heretical teachings already set up radical beliefs.
What is the moral teacher view of Jesus?
That he was mainly a wisdom teacher.
What does the parable of the lost son teach?
Forgiveness and repentance.
What are the beatitudes?
Blessings from the Sermon on the Mount that outline Christian virtues.
What does ‘turn the other cheek’ mean?
Respond to evil with nonviolence.
Why did C.S. Lewis reject the moral teacher view?
Jesus claimed to forgive sins – a divine claim.
What is C.S. Lewis’ trilemma?
Jesus was either Lord, lunatic, or liar.
What is demythologisation?
Interpreting biblical myths to find spiritual meaning.
What did Bultmann say about biblical myths?
They express spiritual truths, not literal events.
What is Hick’s view on Jesus’ resurrection?
It is a symbolic story of renewal.
What is critical realism?
Recognising both author bias and historical content in texts.
What does N.T. Wright say about Gospel authors?
They give personal insight and historical information.
What is the liberator view of Jesus?
He sought justice and opposed oppression.
What does the parable of the Good Samaritan teach?
To help everyone regardless of social group.
What is liberation theology?
A Christian movement focusing on social justice and the poor.
Who coined ‘preferential option for the poor’?
Father Pedro Arrupe.
What does Luke 6:20-21 say about the poor?
They are blessed and will inherit the Kingdom of God.
How does Matthew 6 criticise wealth?
‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’.
What is Kloppenburg’s criticism of liberation theology?
It focuses too much on politics and not enough on spiritual sin.
What does ‘Give unto Caesar’ suggest?
Jesus did not advocate political rebellion.
What story shows God’s care for oppressed people?
The Exodus story.
What is Reuther’s golden thread?
The theme of liberation running through the Bible.
What does Reuther say about patriarchy in the Bible?
It should be rejected as blasphemous idolatry.
Who was the woman at the well?
A Samaritan woman Jesus spoke to, breaking cultural norms.
What does the story of the adulterous woman show?
Jesus was against harsh punishment and showed mercy.
What did Jesus say to Martha?
That spiritual teachings are more important than kitchen work.
What does Galatians 3:28 say?
‘There is neither Jew nor Greek… male nor female, all are one in Christ’.
What is the feminist interpretation of Jesus’ actions?
That he challenged social gender roles.
What is the non-political reading of Jesus?
That he promoted spiritual equality, not social revolution.
What does ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ imply?
Jesus was not politically motivated.
How does Hick view Jesus?
As a spiritual role model, not divine.
What is Bultmann’s view of miracles?
They are myths representing deeper spiritual meaning.
What does ‘Jesus embodied the goodness of God’ mean?
Jesus was not literally divine, but morally aligned with God.
What does ‘resurrection within people’ mean?
Rising of faith and moral transformation.
Why is Jesus’ resurrection important in traditional theology?
It shows he defeated death and offered eternal life.
What is the moral exemplar theory of atonement?
Jesus’ death inspires people to live morally.
Why does Hick say Jesus didn’t need to be divine to save?
His moral example alone could inspire change.
What is one argument for Jesus’ divinity from miracles?
He performed them with authority and control.
How does Islamic belief differ on Jesus’ miracles?
They show prophethood, not divinity.
What role did Jesus play in Christian salvation?
He sacrificed himself to atone for humanity’s sins.
How do some interpret Jesus’ critique of Mosaic law?
As a claim to greater authority, implying divinity.
What does ‘Son of God’ mean in Judaism?
A special human chosen by God.
Who developed the demythologisation method?
Rudolf Bultmann.
What does Hick say about the term ‘true myths’?
They are not literally true but morally or spiritually powerful.
What was Reimarus’ critique of resurrection?
It was a fabrication by disciples to support their faith.
Why is Mark’s Gospel important?
It may show early belief in Jesus’ divinity.
What makes John’s Gospel different?
It contains explicit divine self-claims by Jesus.
What did Ehrman argue about Gospel development?
Divine self-claims evolved over time, not original to Jesus.
What is Jesus’ relationship to the Trinity?
He is the second person: the Son.
Why did some early Christians reject the Trinity?
They saw it as contradictory or unbiblical.
