Session 4: Christololgy

Session 4: Christology Transcript

• Jesus asks his disciples "who do people say I am?"
• Disciples report people consider Jesus a prophet
• Jesus further asks "who do you say I am?"
• Peter declares Jesus as Messiah, Son of the living God
• Two contrasting interpretations of this passage are Classical Christology and Modern Christology

Christology from Above

• From 18th century, Peter's statement interpreted that Jesus is literally God's offspring
• Church proclaimed Jesus as incarnation of the second person of the trinity.
• Commentators argued that if Jesus is Son of God, he must be God
• Christology from above begins with Jesus' divinity and analyses human nature, tracing his path down from heaven

Christology from Below

• In contrast to Christology from above, it emphasizes historical context of the time period.
• Examines Old Testament descriptions of kings as "sons of God".
• Key conclusion: those descriptions are metaphorical, not literal divinity.
• Modern scholarship suggests the synoptic gospels do not depict Jesus as pre-existent.

Two Approaches

• Modern Christology grapples with the contrast between classical high Christology and historical investigation of Jesus' life.
• One approach affirms classical Christology, starting with faith in Jesus Christ.
• Another approach investigates Jesus' claims from a historical perspective.

Pannenberg's Christology from Below

• Pannenberg's Christology emphasizes the importance of context and prophetic hope.

• Claims Jesus' ministry aimed at future validation.

• Argument centers on the resurrection as verification.

• Pannenberg sees Jesus' divinity revealed through resurrection.

• Jesus' ministry validated by historical events and actions

• Resurrection verifies Jesus' claims about the kingdom of God

Where Have We Got To?

• Summary of Pannenberg's view on Jesus' ministry
• Jesus claims end times are beginning with his ministry
• Resurrection validates Jesus' authority and divinity.

Ontology, Epistemology & Adoptionist Christology

• Exploring ways of understanding and knowing Jesus' divinity
• Above (faith) and Below (historical reconstruction)
• Comparing different ontological approaches (divine first, human first).

Docetism & Gnosticism

• Examination of Christological beliefs
• Docetism suggests Jesus only appeared human, not truly human.
• These ideas rejected Jesus' full humanity

Nestorius

• Debate between Alexandrian and Antiochian perspectives about Jesus' nature
• Nestorius challenged the title "Mother of God" for Mary.
• Nestorius believed that Christ had two separate natures.
• The council of Chalcedon provided a unified doctrine of the union of two natures within one person.