“Who do people say that I am?” An Introduction to some of the issues in the modern Christological debate

Introducing Christology 2 What IS Christology? Christology is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with the nature of Jesus the Christ. In particular, how the divine and human are related in his person. Christology is generally less concerned with the details of Jesus' life than it is with how the human and divine co-exist in one person. Christian theology JesusChristhuman divineChristian theology JesusChristhuman divine –the Incarnation, Incarnation –the resurrection, resurrection –and the salvific work of Jesus (known as soteriology). soteriology

Introducing Christology 3 Quarrels about the TRINITY The Trinitarian controversies known as Arianism, Adoptionism, and Ebionitism - groups that in one manner or another denied the divinity of Christ - led the early Christians to affirm that Jesus was fully divine. ArianismAdoptionismEbionitism divinity ArianismAdoptionismEbionitism divinity Other groups, in particular those that adhered to Docetism and Gnosticism, denied the humanity of Christ, leading the early Christians to strongly affirm that Christ was also fully human. DocetismGnosticism humanity DocetismGnosticism humanity

Introducing Christology 4 The First Council of Nicea 325AD The Trinitarian controversies came to a head at the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD), at which the church defined the relationship in the trinity. First Council of NicaeaFirst Council of Nicaea The language used was that the one God exists in three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit). The Creed of the Nicene Council made statements about the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus, thus preparing the way for discussion about how exactly the divine and human come together in the person of Christ. Creed of the Nicene CouncilCreed of the Nicene Council

Introducing Christology 5 The Council of Chalcedon 451AD A series of controversies arose on the nature of Christ, partially resolved in the Council of Chalcedon, held in 451 AD. The Council promulgated a Christological doctrine known as the hypostatic union. In short, this doctrine states that two natures, one human and one divine, are united in the one person of Christ. The Council further taught that each of these natures, the human and the divine, was distinct and complete. Council of Chalcedonhypostatic unionCouncil of Chalcedonhypostatic union

Introducing Christology 6 Denying Christ's divine nature Some theologies rejected by the Trinitarianism of Nicaea had denied the divinity of Christ. The Adoptionists taught that Jesus was born fully human, and was adopted as God's Son because of the life he lived. Adoptionists Another group, known as the Ebionites, taught that Jesus was not God, but the human Moshiach prophet promised in the Old Testament. Ebionites MoshiachOld TestamentEbionites MoshiachOld Testament ArianismArianism affirmed that Jesus was divine, but taught that he was less divine than God the Father. Arianism

Introducing Christology 7 Denying Christ’s human nature The Council of Nicaea reject theologies that entirely denied the humanity of Christ. This understanding of the Trinity rejected Gnostic groups, who held to a Docetic theology. Docetism (from the Greek verb "to seem") taught that Jesus was fully divine, and only "seemed" or appeared to be human. GnosticDoceticDocetismGnosticDoceticDocetism Following the Council of Nicaea, theologians often sought to make sense of the interplay of the human and divine in the person of Christ. Council of NicaeaCouncil of Nicaea Various forms of Monophysitism taught that Christ only had one nature. Notable Monophysite theologians included Eutyches (c AD) and Apollinaris of Laodicea (d. 390 AD). MonophysitismEutychesADApollinaris of LaodiceaMonophysitismEutychesADApollinaris of Laodicea

Introducing Christology 8 Mono-theories MonophysitismMonophysitism was rejected as heresy at the Council of Chalcedon. As theologians continued to reach a compromise between the Chalcedonians and the Monophysites, other Christologies developed that partially rejected the full humanity of Christ. heresyCouncil of ChalcedonChalcedonians Monophysites MonophysitismheresyCouncil of ChalcedonChalcedonians Monophysites Monothelitism taught that in the one person of Jesus there were two natures, but only a divine will. Monothelitism taught that in the one person of Jesus there were two natures, but only a divine will.Monothelitism Closely related to this is Monoenergism, which held to the same doctrine as the Monothelites, but with different terminology. Monoenergism These positions were declared heresy by the Third Council of Constantinople (the Sixth Ecumenical Council, c.e.). heresyThird Council of ConstantinopleEcumenical CouncilheresyThird Council of ConstantinopleEcumenical Council

Introducing Christology 9 Other Christological Concerns The sinlessness of Christ –Can you be sin-free and still human? The temptation of Christ –How can you be tempted without the possibility of sinning? The communication of attributes –How can you be divine and human at the same time?

Introducing Christology 10 The kenosis theory The kenotic theory states that the logos laid aside some of God’s characteristics when God became human. kenotic theorykenotic theory Typically, omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence were laid aside, since these characteristics seem incompatible with a being a human. This also attempts to solve the problems when Jesus appears to show incomplete knowledge (Matthew 24:36), presence (Luke 13:33), or ability (John 4:6).

Introducing Christology 11 Considering the “Virgin Birth” The Gospels of Matthew and Luke attest to a virgin birth for Jesus Christ. Some now disregard or even refute this doctrine. A non-virgin birth would seem to require some form of adoptionism. This is because a human conception and birth would seem to yield a fully human Jesus, with some other mechanism required to make Jesus divine as well. adoptionism

Introducing Christology 12 Resolving the issue? Donald MacLeod: (1) Highlights salvation as a supernatural act of God rather than an act of human initiative. (2) Avoids adoptionism (which is virtually required if a normal birth).(3) Reinforces the sinlessness of Christ, especially as it relates to Christ being outside the sin of Adam (original sin). supernaturaladoptionismsinlessness of Christoriginal sin supernaturaladoptionismsinlessness of Christoriginal sin A non-virgin birth would seem to support the full humanity of Jesus. William Barclay: states, “The supreme problem of the virgin birth is that it does quite undeniably differentiate Jesus from all men; it does leave us with an incomplete incarnation.” What do you think?