The Obedience of Christ

Question 1

Differentiate between the active and passive obedience of Christ.

Answer 1

Active = positive fulfilment of God’s will in the life of Jesus, especially through his obedience

Passive = Jesus’ submission to the Father’s judgement in relation to his sin-bearing work

Question 2

What is the Irenaean view of obedience of Jesus?

Answer 2

Maturation theory - one of the main aspects of the imago Dei (image of God) that requires growth and discipline in order to be realised in full. The recapitulation work of Jesus Christ in relation to Adam’s disobedience

Question 3

How is Jesus’ obedience related to the covenant of works?

Answer 3

In the context of the covenant of creation, the law must be perfectly satisfied, either personally or representatively. To reflect God as his image-bearer is therefore to be righteous, holy, obedient. Christ’s active obedience is imputed in the justification of believers

Question 4

What is the covenant of redemption?

Answer 4

eternal pact concerning salvation (pactum salutis) between the persons of the Trinity 🡪 Christ’s eternal appointment by the Father to be the mediator

Question 5

What is Barth’s view of the obedience of Jesus?

Answer 5

• (underlying framework: the obedience of the Son in his being eternally begotten by the Father. Actualistic ontology 🡪 God’s being is in his becoming)
• The obedience that Jesus shows by virtue of the exercise of his human will = the obedience of the eternal son

Question 6

How does Maximus’ view of dyolithelitism explain Jesus’ obedience?

Answer 6

• A human will is needed for genuine human obedience. Maximus states that because it is the divine Son who assumes a human nature, the mode of willing will be different. Christ wills only in such a manner that his human will is fixed on God and oriented entirely toward the will of God
• Jesus’ obedience is still a genuine obedience because he chose not to give in to his natural (human) fear and recoil towards death and suffering to follow the divine will