3.2B- The person of Jesus Christ Flashcards
(28 cards)
The Apostle’s Creed
3 distinct parts, Jesus’ section being larger to address uncertainty over him.
Jesus: The son of God
Followers used it to describe special relationship
-In Jewish terms, the phrase referred to the King, as they were appointed by God.
-In non-Jewish-Greek world, a human who had been elevated to a divine being.
-At the beginning of the New Testament, the writers focused on establishing the facts and hinting that Jesus was difference
-2nd Century theologians had to figure out who he was themselves, before talking to others.
Ebionitism: Jesus- the son of God
-Emerged out of Jewish-influenced Christianity
-Solved humanity and divinity of Jesus by refusing his divininty
-acknowledged he was spirtually superior, though
-rejected virgin birth
-proclaimed he was a messiah, wbo would return and rule in the name of God
-Didn’t last long, as Christianity developed largely in the Gentile world, using Gentile ideas.
Docetism: Jesus- the son of God
-Jesus was divine, but appeared human
-Jesus pretended to suffer at the Crucifixion
-More like an attitude
Arianism: Jesus- the son of God
-Jesus not eternal, created by God to help creation creation/tasks
The council of Nicaea (325 BCE): Jesus- the son of God
-important moment in Christian history
-This council went a long way towards defining what true Christian belief was
The council of Chalcedon (451 BCE): Jesus- the song of God
-At this council,a line was finally drawn under what consituted authentic Christian belief
What is Christology?: Jesus- the son of God
-Is the nature of Jesus’ relationship with God
-2 types of Christology: from above is ‘high’ Christology (Means to look ‘from above’ at Jesus and his divine nature. -According to John’s Gospel, Jesus is the ‘logos’ word sent from God to save the world.) and from below is ‘low’ Christology (Means to look ‘from below’ at Jesus and his knowledge of God. This view begins with the things Jesus did, his teachings in parables, his care for the poor and sick, and his relationship with Jewish leaders. After establishing his human characteristics, and then moves on to think about divinity.)
-The kind a Christian believes in changes what they think is meant by salvation, the relationship of humans with God.
Incarnation: Jesus- the son of God
-Only two Gospels relate Jesus’ birth- Matthew and Luke
-Incarnation means ‘in the flesh’
-This birth is presented as unqiue:’A saviour has been born to you’, Jesus came to save, not just to preach.
-** Early theologians** were divided over what the Incarnation means
-Nestorius argues two natures of Christ were completely different.
-Apollinarius argues that in the Incarnation, the divine will replaced Jesus’ ordinary human reason.
-Docetic Christians taught that at the Incarnation God only appeared to take on human form but Jesus could not have been fully human.
-Pope Paul John II followed the statement of ‘High’ Christology
-He decided that Jesus, in the Incarnation, was truly God and truly human.
Miracles, Mark 6:47–52 and John 9:1-41: Jesus- the son of God (THESE ARE SET TEXTS)
-It’s generally accepted that Jesus performed at least 30 different miracles
-Both ‘high’ and ‘low’ Christologies agree that Jesus miracles are signs of salvation.
-As signs (the preferred term in John’s Gospel) they indicate what it would be like to live in a world restored.
-Mark 6:47–52 is where Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee and appears to his disciples, who are struggling to row their boat against a strong wind. When they see him walking on the water, they initially mistake him for a ghost and are terrified. Jesus reassures them, and they are amazed when the wind stops blowing after he enters their boat. The disciples are still getting to grips with Jesus’ miracles.
-A similar message is conveyed in John 9:1-41, where Jesus heals a man born blind, challenging common beliefs about suffering and sin. The disciples initially assume the man’s blindness is a punishment, but Jesus clarifies that it’s so God’s works might be revealed in him. Jesus then miraculously restores the man’s sight by using mud and water, prompting a series of interactions with the man’s neighbors, the Pharisees, and ultimately, with Jesus himself. The Pharisees, initially skeptical and even condemning, eventually argue with the healed man about Jesus’s identity. Ultimately, the man declares his belief in Jesus, and Jesus uses the healing as an opportunity to highlight the spiritual blindness of those who reject the light of Christ, suggesting that those who claim to see are actually blind to the truth.
How are miracles interpretated today?: Jesus- the son of God
-Hume argues that as there’s no present day, direct experience of miracles, Hume’s ‘Essay on Miracles’ argues we cannot trust the accounts
-Schillebeeckx thought that having a spiritual or metaphorical meanign for miracles today was a better way. It isn’t any easier scientifically to comprehend.
-Wright discusses what we think the Gospel writers are doing in reporting Jesus’ miracles, especially with healing, In Wright’s interpretation, Jesus’ miracles show a greater authority than simply a power to alter the way the universe usually works.
Resurrection: Jesus- the son of God
-It’s the single most important event in history, as Christians understand Jesus gave up his use in order to save the world from sin.
-Although the Pharisees believed in life after death, which is a pre-Christian idea about life after death, there is only two examples in the Old Testament.
-In early Jewish thought, Jesus didn’t believe in an afterlife, it was only during their exile they learnt of the Babylonian’s belief in an afterlife
The purpose of the resurrection: Jesus- the son of God
-the idea of the resurrection was fundamental to what Christians believe about God
-The resurrection of Jesus discloses God is a new way
-The resurrection indicates his certainty in the future kingdom of God
-The resurrection in the full and final revelation of Jesus
-The resurrection reveals the glorified transformed being
Confirmation of divinity: Jesus- the son of God
-When St. Paul describes Jesus’ resurrection as the ‘first fruits’ of the harvest
-Even scholars who didn’t see Jesus’ significance when he was alive agree that the resurrection is the decisive moment which reveals him as the divine son of God
Authority to worhship and proclaim: Jesus- the son of God
-The story of doubting Thomas is a powerful example of how the resurrection has more than the trans formation of Jesus’ body into it’s spiritual state, but was also the experience of God’s presence.
Jesus as a rabbi and teacher of wisdom: Jesus- teacher of wisdom
-Jesus provided guidance and advice
-spoke on moral issues and used controversial or suprising stories
-Had a moral wisdom from valuable insights in the Hebrew tradition which he applied for life for everyone.
-Hick argues that Jesus as a teacher of wisdom sits comfortably with other world faiths.
Jesus’ use of parables and Luke 15:11-32: Jesus- Teacher of Wisdom (THIS IS A SET TEXT)
-Parables are a form of thinking that turns the accepted wisdom of the day on it’s head. Many of the parables focus on turning people’s lives around, by confronting them with a satisfying alternative.
-Crossan beleivded that Jesus was a wisdom teacher with a revolutionary message for the people of Israel.
-Luke 15:11-32 is the Parable of the Lost Son, which is told by Jesus, and highlights God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. A young son, eager for his inheritance, squanders it and faces hardship. He returns home, humbly seeking forgiveness, and his father rejoices, throwing a feast for his return and remorse. The parable emphasizes both God’s mercy and the importance of repentance and forgiveness.
Jesus and forgiveness and repentance: Jesus- teacher of Wisdom
-At the heart of Jesus’ announcement of the coming of the Kingdom of God was the call to repentence, a desire to change a whole way of life.
-Jesus gave many illustrations of repentence, including the tax collector Zacchaeus.
Jesus’ moral motivation and inner purity with reference to the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus- Teacher of Wisdom (THIS IS A SET TEXT)
-Although Jesus was critical of the Pharisees, hw admired those who were trying to acheive spiritual holiness.
-He taught that morality is therefore about developing one’s character and that requires rigorous analysis of motive.
-The sermon on the Mount sets a high standard for the aim of the life is perfection. Matthew 5:17-48, part of the Sermon on the Mount, outlines Jesus’s standard of righteousness and love. Jesus emphasises that he came not to abolish the Law and Prophets but to fulfill them, demanding a deeper obedience that extends to one’s thoughts and desires. He challenges the notion of superficial righteousness, urging believers to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors, and to strive for perfection like their heavenly Father (God).
-Jesus criticised the authorities of his day for being more concered with outward appearance of their religion than with what is going on in their heart.
-Morally, Jesus said thinking about adultery was just as bad as it, and he reminds his audiences that God will judge us on our attitudes towards others.
-Jesus was more interested in what was going on inside a person. This could be shown through him curing people on the Sabbath, which some people refused to do because it was the Sabbath.
Arguments against Jesus as a teacher of wisdom
-If Jesus has no intention of being a legitimate political leader, he becomes an inoffesnive minor character in 1st Century Israel.
-It would be odd for the Romans to take note and plant to execute/crucify a harmless preacher.
-C.S. Lewis argues that there are two options for who Jesus was: he was a lunatic, or he was God. He also believes it’s illogical to call Jesus a Lunatic, so he must be God.
-Gregory of Nazianzus analyses theconnection of the idea of Christ being both God and human, and salvation as in traditional Christian belief, if God has not united his human and divine nature, then there can be no hope of salvation.
Jesus’ challenge to political authority: Jesus as a liberator
-Some key groups Jesus dealt with were the Romans, Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, and Zealots.
-During this time, many Jews hoped that God would send a military Messiah to lead a rebellion against Roman rule.
-Aslan argues that Jesus was involved in a much more confrontational resistance than is presented in the New Testament.
The political Jesus and Luke 20:25-37: Jesus as a liberator (THIS IS A SET TEXT)
-Jesus claimed and challenged authority throughout his teachings. He performed healings and was seen as a subversive character.
-The Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37, teaches that love and compassion should extend to all people, even those considered enemies, and that helping those in need is a neighborly act. In the story, a man is robbed and left for dead, but a priest and Levite pass him by without helping. A Samaritan, however, stops, cares for the injured man, and pays for his care at an inn.
Jesus as a political liberator
-Jesus liberated the Disciples as the ideas of the Kingdom of God opposed ideas of Rome and it’s power.
-There are links between Jesus and the Zealots as Jesus did suggest a coming revolution or conflict.
-In the Bible, Jesus’ titles did link him to a seemingly-pending revolution, and a bringing of God’s justice.
-Aslan argues that Jesus’ choice to attend a passover festival in Jerusalem with a friend, with an increased Roman prescence as they feared a violent revolution, Aslan argues that Jesus chose confrontation. However, some argue this point by Aslan by saying that Jesus seemed to reject revolution at other points, such as by stopping disciples defending him with violence, and sidestepping questions on his opinions of people.
-Gustavo Gutierrez taught that Jesus the liberator eliminates the political and religious confusion of being limited to a purely spiritual plane.
Jesus as a political liberator
-Jesus made a siginifcant point
when he made criticisms of the temple and turned over the tables.
-His opposition to the Sanhendrin led to conflict
