The person of Jesus - as the son of God

Question 1

Son of God meaning

Answer 1

For Jews, this meant someone chosen by God with supernatural aspects
For Gentiles, this meant someone divine
In the New Testament this view is combined

Question 2

Was Jesus literally God’s son?

Answer 2

His birth/conception seem to indicate he was
At his baptism, God calls Jesus his son
Jesus himself never claimed to literally be God’s son

Question 3

Jesus’ knowledge of God

Answer 3

Called God “abba” meaning father
Prayed regularly
Some Gospel accounts suggest Jesus did not see himself as equal to God

Question 4

Arguments about Jesus being divine

Answer 4

Some say the idea of Jesus being literally divine was written in later - others say he did not want to attract unnecessary attention from authorities (unlikely)
In John’s Gospel he says “I am” in Greek in the same way the OT referred to God in Greek
However, this may just be the writing style or that Gospel trying to match early theology more than history

Question 5

Miracles

Answer 5

Jesus’ miracles suggest he had some of God’s power
John’s Gospel say this is a sign to his divinity
Magicians were commonplace - however unlike magicians, Jesus often asked people not to talk about what happened

Question 6

The resurrection

Answer 6

The proof needed for the disciples to begin Christianity
The letters, written before the Gospels, does not mention the empty tomb leading some people to think of this as a metaphor
The Gospels claim Jesus actually died and rose again - ie the blood flowing from his side and him being entombed

Question 7

Hypostatic union

Answer 7

The union of God and human in Jesus

Question 8

Homoousios

Answer 8

Jesus being both fully divine and fully human

Question 9

Onion analogy

Answer 9

Rahner
Suggests Jesus had layers of consciousness like an onion - at some levels he was aware of his divinity