...Divinity and Mortality of Jesus One of the important ideas introduced during the course was one that described the divine characteristics of God. Specifically, at least In Christianity, God is noted to have three aspects: omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence. By having each of those, God is viewed as an all-powerful, all knowing, and all good being. What I want to focus on is God’s son, Jesus. The doctrine in Christianity known as the trinity describes God as being one with Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit. This union means that Jesus must be a divine being – Jesus is God. Clearly, however, Jesus is also depicted and described as one who is human as well. How can Jesus be both God and a man? How is it that Jesus is seen as having the divine characteristics that are fitting of God, yet has all the characteristics of a mortal? These are the questions I want to focus on and hopefully make some sense out of. Christian theology employs the idea of the Hypostatic union between God and Jesus which means that Christ is in fact one person with two fully complete natures. Jesus is completely human and completely God at the same time. There is no dilution or separation of these qualities. Jesus is simply both with the two distinct natures existing concurrently. However, I find issue with this idea. Is it not contradictory? Jesus obviously takes on the form of a mortal man as evidenced by certain passages in the scriptures. Luke 2:52 says “And Jesus grew in in wisdom and stature...
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...from work, two well-dressed gentlemen accost you, handing you some literature explaining what they believe. You glance over it and are drawn to this sentence: "Jesus was a man and as such could not also be God." Seeing the puzzled look on your face, one of the men asks you what you think of this claim. Keeping this scenario in mind, answer the following questions in your essay: * What is the biblical basis for Jesus' humanity? In the Synoptic gospels, he was seen born of a woman, found lying in a cradle, growing, learning, subject to hunger, anxiety, doubt disappointment and surprise. Mark 2:15, 14:33; 15:34; Luke 2:40; 7:9, and finally to death and burial. Elwell. R.S WALLACE AND G.L. GREEN Pg 239 * What is the biblical basis for Jesus' deity? He claimed to forgive sin, thus assuming a prerogative that belong to God. Mark 2:5 – 7. He allows people to worship him, thus asserting himself as deity. Matthew 14:33, 28:9, John 20:28, 29 claimed any comparative attributes of omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. He claimed to be in heaven John 3:13 and then nature would obey his words Mark 4:39. See towns 156 Explain how Jesus can be both God and Man at the same time (Hypostatic Union). “In the incarnation of the son of God, a human nature was inseparably united forever with the divine nature into one person of Jesus Christ, yet with the two natures remain distinct, whole, and unchanged, without mixture or confusion, so that the one person, Jesus Christ, is...
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...Christology Jesus was a man but was he also God? It is a question that many have today. Through studies it can be determined that Jesus is in fact both God and man. This can be accomplished by reviewing biblical accounts, looking at what it means for Jesus to be both God and man, and examining the dangers of overemphasis or denying the deity or humanity of Christ. Through the synoptic gospels it is apparent that Jesus was both God and man. Matthew 1:18-25 explains the birth of Jesus. It explains that while engaged to Joseph Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. This not only shows Jesus’ humanity but also his deity as he was conceived through the Holy Spirit and not through man. We can also see the humanity of Jesus in the fact that he died on the cross. Mark 15:37 States “Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.” Throughout the New Testament Jesus would make I am statements, these statements would show the deity of Jesus. For example John 8:12 states “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” Jesus is announcing his deity to the people in this passage. John 1:1-5 also shows Jesus’ deity by explaining that in the beginning he was with God and he was God. Through these two passages it is clear that Jesus’ deity was established and he made it known. The second thing to look at is what does it mean for Jesus to be...
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...Christology September 15, 2012 As I was walking two men approached me, handing me some literature on why Jesus was a man and not also God. The gentlemen asked me, what do you think of our claim? I responded, If Jesus is just a man, were all doomed, because his humanity and deity are inseparable”. I explained to them, that the biblical basis for Jesus humanity was that he came as sacrifice for our sins and to identify with his creation. I told them,” it’s important to remember that his humanity is different from ours”. Jesus had no sin that permeates the rest of us. Jesus is what God intended for us to be. It’s through Jesus that our humanity can be purely and truly expressed. He always did the right thing and never sinned. None of us can say the same thing (Romans 5:12-19). The Biblical basis for Jesus humanity is just as important as his biblical basis for his deity. In 1Corithians15:3-8 Jesus deity is stated. That, for what I received I passed on to you as of first importance. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to scripture, and he appeared to Peter, than to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same place, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, than to all apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For Jesus to die on the cross for sins of man, profess to...
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... Short Essay on Christology As I was going home from work, two well-dressed gentlemen accost me, handing me some literature explaining what they believe. As I glanced over it, one sentence stood out stating that Jesus was a man and could not be God. I then told them that Christology in its most basic definition means the study of Christ. Christology focuses on Jesus’ nature and the person he was, as well as the details of his life and teachings. It also focuses on the relationship between Christ and God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Enwall explains Christology, “In the New Testament the writers indicate who Jesus is by describing the significance of the work He came to do and the office He came to fulfill” (Enwall 2001, 239). In this essay we will focus on some of the significant issues of Christology, such as Jesus’ humanity and deity, the Hypostatic Union, and the Biblical basis for such issues. Many people get confused and have a hard time with the concept of Jesus being both man and God at the same time. It is a hard concept to take in and understand, but we have to trust in the authority of the Bible. A few Biblical examples of the Humanity of Christ would be from the Books of Matthew and Mark. In Matthew 4:1-2, we read about Jesus being tested in the wilderness. He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and after He was hungry, a very human trait. Again in Mark 4:38-41, we read the story of Jesus calming the storm and how He was in the stern of the boat sleeping...
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..."in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God." John 1:14, tells us "And the word became flesh and dwelt among us . When the Word became flesh, he dwelt in the womb of Mary and was born as Jesus. Jesus is the incarnation of God. He is God in flesh. Col. 2:9 tells "for in him dwells all the fullness of deity in bodily form." Another term for the incarnation of God in reference to Jesus is the hypostatic union. The term "incarnation" does not appear in the New Testament, but the concept is definitely taught: John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 John 4:2; John 20:28; Heb. 1:8 (ref) There are two views stology teaches that God the son; the second person of the Trinity laid aside the use of certain divine attributes or emptied Himself in the incarnation in order to become fully human. This view is also called the incarnation when the second person of the Godhead became flesh. this doctrine reaches reached every area of Christian theology and effects every area as well. The doctrine of the incarnation reveals the identity of Christ this theology touches the pre-existence of Christ, Christ’s humanity, deity, sinlessness, and His three-fold office and more. The traditional view of Christology maintains that Jesus exercised both his divine and human attributes at the same time. Christology is the study of Christ the word is derived from the Greek word Christos, meaning anointed one or Christ. Christ is the second person of the Trinity...
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...at work. While I just wanted to get home and relax, I was stopped from doing so by two gentlemen handing me literature. I know that sometimes being a Christian is not always about convenience, so I started talking to them and put my relaxation on hold for just a little while longer. As I glanced over the paper they had handed me, I realized that our views on Jesus being a man and not God was completely contradictory. I must have had an expression on my face that allowed them to see my emotional thinking, because one of the men questioned what I was contemplating. I then told them that if Jesus was just a man, then we are all condemned and were going to Hell. My faith has taught me that because of Jesus’ humanity and deity he is not just a mere man. We must remember that our humanness is vastly different than his, and his divine being of love is what saves us from ourselves. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) I then, asked them a question for their question and said, Do you know any mere human being that would truly “lay down their life” (John 15:13) or want to die to save another person and actually go through the action of it being totally selfless? After hearing my thoughts, the other gentleman asks me “What is the biblical basis for Jesus’ humanity?” I then asked the two of them to hold on for a moment while I put my groceries in the car and grab my bible...
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...there are two entire natures, the human and the divine, including two wills’. (Ewell, 1984, 2001, p. 872) The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus was both all God and all man. John 1:14 says, “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling with us.” (NIV) and Galatians 4:4-4 says “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (NIV) We see by these scriptures that Jesus was in fact a man, a human being. The Bible also makes it clear that Jesus was in fact God on earth. Philippians 2:6-7 says,” Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (KJV). In John 14:9 Jesus said, “The one who has seen Me has seen the Father” (KJV) and John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and my Father are one”. (KJV). God Himself claims Jesus as His son in Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (KJV) making Jesus equal with God. That’s why the Pharisees were constantly trying to stone Jesus. Because Jesus called God his father making Jesus equal with God, the Pharisees thought He was blaspheming. Jesus can be both God and man at the same time because “a human nature was inseparably united forever with the divine nature in the one person of Jesus Christ, yet with the two natures remaining...
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...Well this is really killing my first hypothesis. Not only is there no evidence that God can’t be in the presence of sin, now there’s physical evidence that God never left Jesus and was actually close by the whole time. Don said it’s possible that the human aspect of Jesus just felt distant from God and isolated. Is it possible that God didn’t change at all, but maybe the application of the world’s sin changed Jesus, or caused him to lose his ability to commune with God so it appeared to Jesus that God had turned away? I started to pray heavily to better understand what Jesus experienced when sin was placed on him. Was there something about his God-man nature that fundamentally changed? I developed a new hypothesis and potential closing: Jesus...
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...Christology The claim that Jesus was a man and as such could not also is God is one that has been highly debated. The fact that Jesus was a man can be confirmed by another religion, Islam claims that he was a great prophet. For Christians it is maintained that Jesus was fully God and fully man. The hypostatic union of Jesus is the cornerstone of the faith, his humanity sets the example for us to live by and his deity makes the only sacrifice sufficient for our sins. The Bible gives plenty of examples of how Jesus was fully human. The book of Luke chapter 2 gives two examples of Jesus’ humanity first by talking about his birth. The second example is when the chapter talks about how he became strong in the spirit as he grew when he was at the temple. The Bible gives another example of Jesus’ humanity “Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35). The Bible gives examples of his humanity in John 4:6 at the well he was tired from his journey and needed a drink from the well. Mathew 4:2 After 40 days of fasting he was hungry. All of the examples in scripture point to a very human nature of Jesus. If he were not fully human he would not have been tired and thirsty after a journey nor would he be hungry after not eating and he definitely would not have cried at the death of a friend. Those are all very human needs and emotions but through that he also displays the deity side of him. Jesus was also fully God and there are plenty examples of this in scripture. Jesus performed many miracles...
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...mind many years ago, and thanks be to God, He has respond to that question! Who is this Jesus? Even that the fullness of Christ is indescribable, I begin to grasp the amazing concept that He, being fully Man and fully God, loves each of us with a never-ending love the extent of which is hard for us to imagine. There is some biblical basis Jesus had to be born as a human being for several reasons. Gal 4:4-5 says, “To redeem those under law”. Only a perfect human (Jesus Christ) could perfectly keep the law and perfectly fulfill the law, and redeeming us from that guilt, which He accomplished on the cross. In His humanity, Jesus was subjected to all the same kinds of trials like us; therefore, He is able to sympathize with us and to help us. He was tempted; He was persecuted; He was poor; He was despised; He suffered physical pain. Only a human being could experience these things, and only a human being could fully understand them through experience. (Hebrews 4:15). We must affirm not only that Jesus was fully human, but also that he was fully divine. There are several passages where is also used to refer to Jesus Christ. (John 1:1; 1:18; 20:28; Romans 20:28: Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8) Jesus demonstrated his Omnipotence when he stilled the storm at sea with a word (Matt 8:26-27), multiplied the loaves and fishes Matt. 14:9), and changed water into wine (John 2:1-11). His Omniscience, Jesus demonstrated knowing people thoughts (Mark 2:8), seeing Nathaniel under the fig...
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...been looked at concerning the status of Jesus as the Son of God, all attached to prestigious names—especially those of Tertullian and Origen—all appealing to scripture, tradition, and predecessors. That was the time when even conceptions of a “qualified divinity” of the Son were found adequate to account for the suffering of God. Some thought that no distinctions ought to be found in the Godhead (monarchianism) or that the Son was a mere man adopted by the Father (adoptionism); others thought that he was inferior to the Father (subordinationism); still others that he was fully God. Many more variations on the theme circulated. A doctrinal storm was gathering. The storm broke out in 318 when Arius, a respected Libyan presbyter in Alexandria, began to teach what many thought acceptable in view of the sufferings of Jesus: that the Logos/Son was a mere creature, made from “nonexistence” and had not always existed. Hence he was not quite equal to the Father. The controversy went through episodes of such violence, unfortunately not only verbal violence, that Emperor Constantine, badly concerned with the peace and unity of the estate, called a general council at Nicaea in 325, which he himself attended and which was presided over by his representative and messenger, Ossius, bishop of Cordova. The council proclaimed two main theses, incorporated in the so-called Nicene creed: that Christ had a real body (against those who still thought Jesus only “seemed” to have a body, the “docetists”...
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...The Christian World View used to be universal to the idea that Jesus was the only way to salvation but this has been under attack by those who would believe that there are many ways to be saved, they would be known as Pluralist. Ronald Nash confronts these claims and defends the orthodox Christian beliefs in his book “Is Jesus the only Savior?” An analysis of the first six chapters of the book “Is Jesus the only Savior?” by Ronald Nash will be given by the author in two parts, the first will analysis the arguments given by Nash on the topic of Religious Pluralism, and the second part will be a personal conclusion on the topic. Ronald Nash served as a professor for over forty years in the areas of theology, apologetics, ethics, world view and history. Nash had a doctorate in Philosophy with a Christian world view. Book Analysis In the first six chapters of the book “Is Jesus the only Savior?” Nash defends Christian Exclusivism and argues against “Religious Pluralism” specifically John Hicks modern view on the topic. Nash in his logical arguments never strays away from fundamental biblical foundations and presents a clear and logical defense of his view and rebuttal towards Hicks and Religious Pluralism on a whole. Nash starts the book with a very clear and concise definition for Christian Exclusivism, “Christian exclusivism can be defined as a belief that (1) Jesus is the only Savior and (2) explicit faith in Jesus is necessary for salvation.” As Nash argues against Pluralism...
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...Ch. 10 1. How did the angels fall from grace? The angels fell from grace as they chose self, self against God and sinned. The angels who sinned were separated from God. 2. What were the results of the fall for man? The result was every man are born with natural life only and without the supernatural life of sanctifying grace. 3. At what two points is our disorder at its worse, according to Sheed? According to Sheed, the two points where our disorder is at its worst are the passions and the imaginations. 4. How did the plan of salvation begin to take shape 4000 years ago? Four thousand years ago, God spoke to Abraham and his children were to be God’s chosen people. One nation was supposed to be the guardians of monotheism, proclaiming that God...
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...Christianity. Christians have a distinct understanding of the nature of God, the identity of Jesus Christ, and the role of salvation. While most of the Christian holy sites are in Rome and Jerusalem, two of the earliest centers of the religion, Christian sites can be found in all countries where the religion is present. The early Christian missions, located primarily in Florida and California, are an example of important sites for the religion in the United States. This paper provides an overview of the religion, information regarding St. Augustine Mission in Florida, an interview with a Christian, and a comparison between Christianity and Islam in order to provide a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. Christianity is currently one of the world’s largest religions. Approximately 33% of the world’s population or around 2.1 billion people profess the Christian faith (Major Religions…, 2007). Who are these people? What do they believe in? Where do they come from? Where are they going? These are some of the basic questions many people, unfamiliar with Christianity, could have about the religion. Many Christian symbols, such as the cross, are well known, but the meaning behind the main symbols is less frequently known. A glance at the history of Christianity, one of its important sites, the experience of a Christian, and a comparison with Islam, another common religion, can give great insight into the nature and identity of the Christian faith. A Brief History of Christianity ...
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