Christology
Christology
Christology
WHAT IS CHRISTOLOGY?
It is generally accepted that Jesus was truly a man who walked on the earth
in Israel 2000 years ago. The Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more
than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man.
For the Jews, Jesus arrived as the long awaited Messiah. But on His arrival
many did not recognize Him. Others refused to accept Him because He did
not fit their image as a King. Men hated Him so deeply that they sought to
end His life and did crucify Him.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ greatly impacted His devoted
followers. At His death many went into hiding, fearing for their very lives.
But at His resurrection, they finally figured out what He had been trying to
tell them. The words of their testimony and the power of His name continued
to change the lives of many others.
We know how significant is the question 'Who is Jesus?' because Jesus
himself asked it. In Matthew 16, he asks the disciples who the people think
he is. After they answer, Jesus then poses the much more poignant
question, 'Who do you say I am?'
Peter’s memorable reply is, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'
(Matt. 16:16). Notice that this answer doesn’t focus on the fact that Jesus is
a man (which was surely obvious), nor does it focus on the fact that he is
God per se. Instead, Peter focuses on two concepts familiar to first-century
Jews—the concept of 'Messiah' (which is 'Christ' in Greek) and the concept of
'Son of God.'
https://www.uniontheology.org/resources/doctrine/who-is-jesus-an-introduction-to-christology
And as time went on, he began to be called the 'Messiah,' which means
'anointed one.' This promised Messiah was to come from the descendants of
Eve, of Abraham, of Isaac
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God' (John 1:1-2). Here he establishes the eternity of the Word, the
distinction between the Word and God such that they can be 'with' each
other, and the identity of the Word as God.
'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth' (John 1:14).
Here John makes clear that the birth of the Word in flesh is not the
beginning of his existence. He has always been with God, and has always
been God.
He has always been the unique Son from the Father. But now that he has
become human, we can see him for who he is.
So, who did Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say He is? “I and the
Father are one.” “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham
was born, I am!’” Jesus’ announcing His identity as “I am” is a direct
application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14)
The New Testament letters further explain the picture of Jesus we receive
from the Gospels, and perhaps Philippians 2 is the clearest passage.
The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not
God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for
the sins of the whole world.
He proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me”
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christology.html
What is the hypostatic union? How can Jesus be both God and
man at the same time?
The hypostatic union is the term used to describe how God the Son, Jesus Christ, took
on a human nature, yet remained fully God at the same time. Jesus always had been
God.
Jesus' two natures, human and divine, are inseparable. Jesus will forever be
the God-man, fully God and fully human, two distinct natures in one Person.
Jesus' humanity and divinity are not mixed, but are united without loss of
separate identity. In both, Jesus' actions were from His one Person. Jesus
had two natures, but only one personality.
Jesus is both God and man. Jesus has always been God, but He did not
become a human being until He was conceived in Mary. Jesus became a
human being in order to identify with us in our struggles (Hebrews 2:17)
and, more importantly, so that He could die on the cross to pay the penalty
for our sins (Philippians 2:5-11).
In summary, the hypostatic union teaches that Jesus is both fully human
and fully divine, that there is no mixture or dilution of either nature, and
that He is one united Person, forever.
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christology.html
Following this line of reasoning, the church in the second and third centuries
affirmed the central truth that God the Son, fully equal to the Father, has
personally come down to earth to save us.
Jesus is not God’s Son in the sense of a human father and a son. God did
not get married and have a son. God did not mate with Mary and, together
with her, produce a son. Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He is God
made manifest in human form.
To be the Son of God is to be of the same nature as God. The Son of God is
“of God.”
IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTOLOGY
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christology.html
CHRISTOLOGY
Religious
Studies II
ABIFE R. AMATONG
G11-OUR LADY OF FATIMA