Christology The study of the doctrine of Christ

Christology: The study of the doctrine of Christ or The study of Jesus as the Christ. I will introduce Christology according to the four major titles ascribed to Jesus by the New Testament writers.

Christology Son of Man Old Testament Background Daniel 7: 13 -14 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. It is the chief passage in the OT where the concepts of Jesus’ ministry come together; Son of Man and the Kingdom of God.

Christology Inter-Testamental References 1 Enoch 3 -6, 6: 27, 70. 1; 4 Ezra New Testament References • The phrase occurs 81 x’s in NT 69 in Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke) 9 in John, 1 Acts 7: 56, Rev 1: 13, 14: 14 With the exception of the 3 references in Acts and Revelation, it is exclusively used by Jesus Himself. Even in the exceptions, it is describing Jesus in Daniel-like language.

Christology In the Gospels, three kinds of Son of Man sayings: 1. Present Earthly Activity of the Son of Man • Mark 2: 10 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins • Mark 2: 28 so the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath. • Luke 7: 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!

Christology 2. Suffering / Death / Resurrection of Son of Man • Mark 8: 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Note other passion predictions in Mark 9: 31 -32 and 10: 32 -33. ) • Mark 10: 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Christology 3. Future coming / Judging Son of Man • Mark 8: 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. • Mark 13: 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. • Mark 14: 61 -62 Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? " And Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. ”

Christology Son of Man Summary • Keep in mind, that to “die” was not part of OT prophecies or expectations regarding the Messiah. Thus, Jesus choose a new understanding and shaped in under the title; Son of Man • Keep in mind, only Jesus used the title, Son of Man. • Keep in mind, the early church did not use the phrase in its early confessions because it was not obviously understandable to the gentile world as divine. Nor did it appear to set Christ off from the rest of the human race as distinctive/unique. • Keep in mind, it clearly indicates that Jesus spoke with divine authority. The Son of Man sayings just may point more to Jesus’ divinity than do the more overt phrases of Son of God.

Christology 2. Son of God This may be the most significant Christological term in the NT • 124 times in New Testament • Certainly favorite in Gospels

Christology 2. Son of God Old Testament Background Basis in Covenant • Psalm 2 • 2 Samuel 7: 4 -14 • Psalm 89: 19 -45

Christology 2. Son of God Synoptic Gospel Background (from Mark) l Mark 1: 11 l Mark 3: 11 l Mark 5: 7 l Mark 9: 7 l Mark 15: 39

Christology Son of God. . . In John Center of John’s Christology • Son - 29 x’s • Father - 100+ x’s • John Purpose statement: But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20: 31 ) • Pre-existent Son • Personal Intimacy with the Father, ABBA • Obedience to the Will of the Father • Unique Son of God

Christology Summary of Son of God 1. Jesus does not reject the Son of God designation but he does further qualify it. (Mark 14: 61 -62). • He eludes that he is a Son of a new order. 2. Jesus did not proclaim that he was the Son of God. And when others did he often commanded them to be silent. It was Jesus’ greatest temptation to become the “wrong kind” of Son of God. • True Son had a earthly cross not a throne. Son of Man, Jesus’ designation of Choice Son of God, Apostles’ designation of Choice

Christology 3. Christ / Messiah Latin: Christus Greek: Christos In Old Testament Books • Only 45 x’s Hebrew: Mashiach In Post-Exilic times • Rise of “Messiah” came about due to Israel’s the loss of Land demise of Davidic kings In the Qumran Scrolls (Dead Sea Scrolls) • 150 B. C. - 70 A. D. • Messiah of Aaron (Priestly Messiah) • Messiah of David (Kingly Messiah)

Christology 3. Christ / Messiah In Pauline Books • Christ was favorite title / almost a name • Early dates of Paul’s books tell us it was an early Christian Confession In Gospels • Title/Role different than anyone expected • Command to silence, until post-crucifixion correction Mark 8: 27 -30; Luke 23: 39

Christology Summary of Christ / Messiah 1. Crucifixion of Jesus was a major obstacle for the early church to overcome for them to accept Jesus as Messiah • Messiah had to be re-defined according to Jesus’ teaching and His categories. 2. “Christ” as name / title by Paul assures the Early church was adopting Jesus’ definition.

Christology 4. Lord Earliest confession of the early church was Jesus is Lord 1 Cor 12: 3; Rom 8: 6; Rom 10: 9; Phil 2: 11 When did this confession arise? • Post-Resurrection

Christology Summary of Lord 1. It is NOT likely that anyone confessed Jesus as Lord (meaning divine) during his ministry. 2. After Easter, with force the church proclaimed the truth of Jesus = Lord.

Christology Summary of Christ Titles: Son of Man: Jesus clearly affirmed himself to be Son of Man; more divine than human. (see Dan 7) Son of God: more of a human designation than divine; implied by his unique sonship relationship with the Father (see Gospel of John) Messiah: Jesus did not openly reject this title when it is ascribed to him, yet he always seems to qualifies it with a corrective (e. g. , Son of Man). Lord: This was confession of Church, post-Easter

Pauline Christology The origin of Paul’s Christology thought goes back to that event Acts 9. 1. Corporate Christology 2. Re-evaluate Jesus 3. Re-evaluate Jesus as Divine

Pauline Christology What did Paul believe about Jesus? 1. Confessions about Christ • Jesus is Lord (1 Cor 12: 1 -3) 2. Christological Hymns • Phil 2: 6 -11 • Hebrews 1: 1 -4 • Col 1: 15 -20 • 1 Timothy 3: 16 3. Corporate Christology • “In Christ” (Gal 3: 28; Rom 8: 1; Phil 3: 8) • The Body of Christ (Rom 12: 4; 1 Cor 12: 12) 4. Christos

Christology of Revelation • Revelation is full of Jewish thinking about Jesus, Jewish imagery. • Most of Revelation is portraying Jesus as the lion not lamb. • Also, most of Jesus’ earthly ministry is submerged beneath his accomplishments of Cross and Resurrection. • His life is seen from Cross time frame to present, • No language as servant, prophet, human, savior, Rabbi.