Christology

CHRISTOLOGYWho is Jesus?

IntroductionBiblical Christology

Conciliar ChristologyContemporary

Christology

Course/Subject Outline

The Question of Relevance: Why

Important?

Jesus is God’s response to our deepest human

longings.

I. Introduction

1. Christology “From Above”

An approach which begins with the pre-existent Word who is in heaven/from eternity, and who descends into human history, becoming incarnate in Jesus

Focal point: IncarnationStarting point: Church’s dogma

Basic Approaches:How is Christology done?

2. Christology “From Below”An approach which begins with the human Jesus of Nazareth, and traces his story from birth to mission, culminating on his death and resurrection

Focal point: ResurrectionStarting point: Jesus of history (esp. as contained in biblical accounts

Basic Approaches:How is Christology done?

over/exclusive emphasis on “From Above” may result to a denial of Christ’s humanity (e.g. docetism – physicality, crucifixion, death were all illusion)

over/exclusive emphasis on “From Below” may result on a rejection of Jesus’ divinity (Arianism – Jesus as the highest creature, subordinate to the Father)

What is the better approach?

Preference for the “From Below” Approach: Why?

- Helps us appreciate the full humanity of Jesus and hence his solidarity with us

- Inspires discipleship in the context of a world which identifies more with stories rather than dogmas

What is the approach preferred by many theologians today?

Biblical Christology

The Gospels As Principal Source for the Life and Teaching of Jesus

Other historical sources are scarce and authenticity is suspect

Mark: between 60 – 70 AD Matthew, Luke (Acts): 80 AD John (Revelation): 90 AD Synoptic Gospels – Gk syn + optic meaning

“seen together”; taken from same source(s)

Biblical Christology

The Nature of the Gospels: Are they strictly historical accounts?

“testimonies of faith” = historical basis + faith interpretation

not histories or biography in the modern sense

stages in the development of the Gospel tradition: words and deeds of Jesus → the preaching of the apostles → writing of the gospels

The Message and Ministry of Jesus

“basileia tou theou” best translated as “reign of God”: dynamic,

not static; a situation/event, not a place “a situation wherein the will of God is

perfectly upheld” eschatological tension: both present and

future (“already but not yet”) It is present in the person and ministry of

Jesus but its definitive form is yet to come.

The Kingdom Proclaimed in Words:The Parables

Problem: How to understand the meaning of the parables (which are many and varied)?

John Dominic Crossan suggests a basic and helpful framework

to approach the study of the parables three-fold pattern in most, if not, all of

the parables: advent, reversal, and action

two parables in Matthew as paradigmatic of this pattern: hidden treasure, pearl of great price (Mt 13:44-46)


Advent - the Reign of God is coming as a gift; something unprecedented, something beyond expectations is coming or is found which is a cause of great joy

Reversal - the encounter with the Reign of God turns the values of the world upside down; change in outlook and priorities

Action - the Reign of God is not a mere information; calling for a response/transformative action


o Mt 13:44-4644 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

PARABLES

In some parables, the element of advent/discovery is the focus: e.g. lost sheep, lost coin

In other parables, the element of reversal/change is the focus: e.g. rich man and Lazarus (sin as omission), prodigal son (mercy and forgiveness)

Still in others, the emphasis is on the element of action/new praxis: talents, unmerciful servant

The Kingdom Proclaimed in Deeds:The Miracles/Healings/Exorcisms

sickness or infirmity was attributed to demonic power and sin

healings show that the power of evil over human beings is broken

The miracles may be understood as symbolic anticipations and foretastes of what the fulfillment of the Reign of God will bring to the lives of people: holiness, healing, liberation, reconciliation, a new unity and integration of life or wholeness.

The Kingdom Proclaimed in Deeds:Table Fellowships

importance of meals in the ministry of Jesus; frequency

Cf. Mt 11: 18-1918 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.


in the Middle Eastern culture even today, to share a meal is a sign of communion

in Judaism of Jesus’ day, it signified fellowship with God

a proclamation of forgiveness of sins in deeds; in God’s reign everyone is welcome; we are all brothers and sisters in the family of God


cf. Ben Meyer, The Aims of Jesus (London: SCM Press, 1979), 159-161

Jesus’ openness to sinners did not mean that he submitted passively to or tolerated sin. He reversed the normal pattern – conversion then communion. His offer of communion with sinners triggered repentance – “conversion flowered from communion”.

The Death of JesusThe meaning of the crossToday, no longer seen as a scandal, as

instrument of torture and humiliationMore an article of jewelry, a fashion

accessory, mark of episcopal authority, an ornament

Sometimes misunderstood as promoting passive acceptance of suffering and injustice

The Death of Jesus1. Cross as salvific - (scholastics) by the

cross Jesus has redeemed the world2. Cross as sign of misinterpretation –

(Bultmann) Jesus’ religious message was misinterpreted as a threat to Roman rule; Jesus’ purposes were misunderstood

3. Cross as not salvific or redemptive – (Schillebeeckx) a rejection of Jesus; not willed but permitted by God; death as negativity that God overcomes by the resurrection

The Death of JesusInternational Theological Commission 1979:

“A death undergone in a purely passive manner could not be a ‘Christological’ saving event. It must be… the willed consequence of the obedience and love of Jesus…”

What is salvific is the entire Christ-event, the perfect life of obedience of Jesus which culminated in the cross and vindicated in the resurrection.

The Resurrection of JesusImportance and centrality1. CCC 638: the crowing truth of our faith,

regarded as central truth by first Christian communities

2. 1 Cor 15:14-17: without the resurrection, in vain is our preaching and faith

3. Source of hope for us; our own promise of eternal life

Origin/Basis: empty tomb tradition + resurrection appearances

Transition in Language: From Stories to Concepts (hypostasis, substantia, homoousios, phusis, prosopon, persona)

Challenge when church expanded: how to express the faith in a manner understandable to a new audience

From biblical to philosophical language: difficult but necessary

Conciliar Christology

Nicea (325)- issue: divinity of Christ- Arius: Jesus as greatest, most perfect

creature- Church: Jesus is “homoousius” (of the

same substance) with the Father, “true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being...”

- Hence, not subordinate but equal to the Father


Constantinople (381)- issue: full humanity of Christ- Appolinarius of Laodicea: Logos took the

place of the rational soul in Christ hence Christ is not fully human because he does not have a rational soul

- Church: Jesus had a human soul


Ephesus (431)- issue: two natures but one person- Nestorius: a human Jesus, “indwelt… as in

a temple” by the divine Christ, hence two persons (the human as ‘shell’ of the divine person); Mary as the mother of Jesus but not the mother of God

- Church: the two natures (divine and human) are united in the one person of Christ; Mary as Theotokos


Chalcedon (451)- issue: distinction of the two natures of

Christ- Eutyches: monophysitism – the union of

the divine and human natures in Christ result in only one divine nature; the human is absorbed by the divine

- Church: the human and divine natures are united “without confusion, without change” and “without division, without separation”


Some Christological issues today: Humanity and Knowledge: What sort of

knowledge did Jesus possess? Humanity and Sinlessness: Without

concupiscence, what was it like for Jesus to be tempted?

Ecological Crisis: What does our faith in the incarnation and resurrection say about environmental issues?

World Religions: Is Jesus the savior of non-Christians as well?

Contemporary Christology

Christology

Spiritual

death of jesus

deeds of jesus

jesus of history

humanity of jesus

teaching of jesus

jesus openness

jesus focal point

human jesus of nazareth