Question: "What is Christology?"
Answer:The word "Christology" comes from two Greek words meaning "Christ / Messiah" and "word" - which combine to mean "the study of Christ." Christology is the study of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. There are numerous important questions that Christology answers:www.gotquestions.org/Christology.
We will follow the Following Outline.
1 The Pre-Existence of Christ as God
2. The Old Testament Ministry of Christ
3. The Virgin Birth Incarnation of Christ
4. The Bible Names of Jesus Christ.
5. The Humanity of Jesus Christ.
6. The Deity of Jesus Christ.
7. The Impeccability of jesus Christ
8. The Earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ.
9. The Character of Jesus Christ.
10. The Four Gospels of Jesus Christ.
11. An Exposition of Phil 2:5-11-
12. Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.
13. The Death of Jesus Christ.
14. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
15. The Ascension and the Present Ministry of Christ.
16. The Return of Christ to Earth - two-fold.
17. The Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
18. Old Testament .Witnesses to Jesus Christ.
1. The Pre-Existence of Christ as God.
'Christ's Personal Existence as God before His conception and Incarnation' is what is meant here. His Deity is closely linked to His Pre-existence because to be divine he had to exist from eternity.
The Jehovah’s Witness falsely believe that Christ existed as the Archangel Michael before His incarnation at Bethlehem but he was not God.
The Bible teaches both His pre-existence and His deity.
1. The Teaching of the Gospel of John
The Prologue to John Gospel and verses Jn 1:1-18
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being.
In the beginning (en archēi). Archē is definite, though anarthrous like our at home, in town, and the similar Hebrew be reshith in Gen_1:1. But Westcott notes that here John carries our thoughts beyond the beginning of creation in time to eternity. There is no argument here to prove the existence of God any more than in Genesis. It is simply assumed. Either God exists and is the Creator of the universe as scientists like Eddington and Jeans assume or matter is eternal or it has come out of nothing.
Was (ēn). Three times in this sentence John uses this imperfect of eimi to be which conveys no idea of origin for God or for the Logos, simply continuous existence. Quite a different verb (egeneto, became) appears in Joh_1:14 for the beginning of the Incarnation of the Logos. See the distinction sharply drawn in Joh_8:58 “before Abraham came (genesthai) I am” (eimi, timeless existence). RWP
and the Word was God. Cp 1 Jn 1:2 ‘ the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and we declare unto you the Life of the Ages which was with the Father and was manifested to us--’
Here, the Apostle John connects the Pre-existence of Christ with his Deity.
Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.
And the Word became flesh,This is commonly expressed by saying that he became “incarnate.” When we say that a being becomes “incarnate,” we mean that one of a higher order than man, and of a different nature, assumes the appearance of man or becomes a man. Here it is meant that “the Word,” or the second person of the Trinity, whom John had just proved to be equal with God, became a man, Barnes Notes
and tabernacled among us.
the human nature which he took of the virgin, being as the shrine, house, or temple, in which his immaculate Deity condescended to dwell. The word is probably an allusion to the Divine Shechinah in the Jewish temple; and as God has represented the whole Gospel dispensation by the types and ceremonies of the old covenant, so the Shechinah in the tabernacle and temple pointed out this manifestation of God in the flesh. The word is thus used by the Jewish writers: it signifies with them a manifestation of the Divine Shechinah. A.C.
And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth. By this word John insists that in the human Jesus he beheld the Shekinah glory of God who was and is the Logos who existed before with God. By this plural John speaks for himself and all those who saw in Jesus what he did.
John clearly means to say that “the manifested glory of the Word was as it were the glory of the Eternal Father shared with His only Son” (Bernard). Cf. Joh_8:54; Joh_14:9; Joh_17:5.
Joh 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
But there is an inner harmony in the reading of the old uncials. The Logos is plainly called theos in Joh_1:1. The Incarnation is stated in Joh_1:14, where he is also termed monogenēs. He was that before the Incarnation. So he is “God only begotten,” “the Eternal Generation of the Son” of Origen’s phrase. RWP. See ‘Berkhof on the Eternal Generation of the Son’ http://www.bible-researcher.com/eternal-generation.html
2. The teaching of the Apostle Paul.
Php 2:6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
Php 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (see Exposition of Phil 2:5-11).
3. The teaching of the Apostle Peter.
1Pe 1:20 indeed having been foreknown before the foundation of the world, but revealed in the last times for you, Cp Jn 17:24 and Eph 1:4
4. The Teaching of Christ Himself.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from Heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
Joh 6:51 I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he shall live forever. And truly the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:61 But knowing in Himself that His disciples murmured about it, Jesus said to them, Does this offend you?
Joh 6:62 Then what if you should see the Son of Man going up where He was before?
Joh 8:58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham came into being, I AM!
Joh 8:59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and went forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and passed on by.
Joh 17:5 And now Father, glorify Me with Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was. cp. Isaiah 42:8
One is forced to conclude that either Christ was God indeed and therefore had a rightful claim to His Glory, or He was an arrogant imposter demanding something that the Father would never give Him. Willmington’s Guide to the Bible p.610
B. His Divine Activities during His Pre-existence.
What was He doing before He was born in Bethlehem?
1. He was Creating the Universe.
Joh 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.
Col 1:16 For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him.
For by him were all things created - This is one of the reasons why he is called “the image of God,” and the “first-born.” He makes God known to us by his creative power, and by the same power in creation shows that he is exalted over all things as the Son of God. The phrase which is used here by the apostle is universal. He does not declare that he created all things in the spiritual kingdom of God, or that he arranged the events of the gospel dispensation, as Socinians suppose (see Crellius); but that every thing was created by him. A similar form of expression occurs in Joh_1:3; see the notes at that verse. There could not possibly be a more explicit declaration that the universe was created by Christ, than this. As if the simple declaration in the most comprehensive terms were not enough, the apostle goes into a specification of things existing in heaven and earth, and so varies the statement as if to prevent the possibility of mistake. Barnes Notes.
2. He was controlling this created Universe
Heb 1:1 God, who at many times and in many ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds,
Heb 1:3 who being the shining splendor of His glory, and the express image of His essence, and upholding all things by the word of His power, through Himself cleansing of our sins, He sat down on the right of the Majesty on high,
And upholding all things by the word of his power - That is, by his powerful word, or command. The phrase “word of his power” is a Hebraism, and means his efficient command. There could not be a more distinct ascription of divinity to the Son of God than this. He upholds or sustains all things - that is, the universe. It is not merely the earth; not only its rocks, mountains, seas, animals and human beings, but it is the universe - all distant worlds. How can he do this who is not God? He does it by his word - his command. What a conception! That one simple command should do all this! So the world was made when God “spake and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast;” Psa_33:9. So the Lord Jesus commanded the waves and the winds, and they were still Mat_8:26-27; so he spoke to diseases and they departed, and to the dead land they arose; compare Gen_1:3. I do know how people can “explain away” this ascription of infinite power to the Redeemer. There can be no higher idea of omnipotence than to say that he upholds all things by his word; and assuredly he who can “hold up” this vast universe so that it does not sink into anarchy or into nothing, must be God. The same power Jesus claimed for himself; see Mat_28:18.Barnes Notes
3. He was Communing and Counselling with the Father
Joh 17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Joh 17:24 Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me, that they may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You have loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, indeed the world has not known You; but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent me. 2. His Old Testament Ministry
There were a number of Theophanes i.e. a Pre- Bethlehem appearance of Christ. Most believe that the recurring Angel of the LORD episodes is the Christ.
Some of the OT Theophanes or Christophanes.
1. He appeared to Hagar, Abraham’s Egyptian wife. This is the first mention of the Angel of the LORD. Gen 16:7-14
2. He appeared to Abraham Gen 18:1; 22:11-13. He in critical times in Abraham’s life.
3. He appeared to Jacob. Gen. 28:13; 32: 24-32; 48:16 Christ also wrestled with Jacob Gen 32.
4. He appeared to Moses. Ex. 3:2; 23:20; 33:18-23 All these Theophanes were connected to Mt. Sinai.
5. He appeared to Joshua. Josh. 5:13-15
6. He appeared to Gideon Judges 6:11-24
7. He appeared to Samson’s Parents Judges 13
8. He appeared to Isaiah Is 6:1-13
9. He appeared to the Three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. Dan 3:25
10. He appeared to Daniel Dan 6;22; 7:9-14
11. He appeared to Zechariah Zech 1:8-13; 2:8-11; 3:10; 6:12-15
3. The Virgin Birth Incarnation of Jesus Christ
A. False Views of the Incarnation of Christ.
1. The Ebionites This is a patristic term referring to a Jewish Christian sect or sects that existed during the early centuries of the Christian Era.[1] They regarded Jesus as the Messiah[2] and insisted on the necessity of following Jewish law and rites.Wikipedia.com
They denied the reality of Jesus Divine nature. This is refuted by the Apostle John. Jn 1:1.
2. The Gnostics. They denied the reality of Jesus Human Nature. see refutation in 1 Jn 1:1
3. The Arians: They affirmed His pre-existence but denied His deity. This is the Position of the present day Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Arius taught that God the Father and the Son did not exist together eternally. Arians taught that the pre-incarnate Jesus was a divine being created by (and therefore inferior to) God the Father at some point, before which the Son did not exist.[5] In English-language works, it is sometimes said that Arians believe that Jesus is or was a "creature", in the sense of "created being". Arius and his followers appealed to Bible verses such as Jesus saying that the father is "greater than I" (John 14:28), and "The Lord created me at the beginning of his work" (Proverbs 8:22).[6] The latter quote has provided some controversy because it is technically speaking of wisdom. However, many people, notably Jehovah's Witnesses, believe that the wisdom in this proverb symbolizes Jesus Christ because he is later described in a similar way.[7] On the contrary, the verse "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) delivers the Homoousian doctrine. And yet, the same author (John) later states, concerning after the resurrection of Jesus, that Jesus now has the same God that the disciples have, namely the Father (John 20:17). So we see that John 1:1 states Jesus came to us as God, but leaves us having the same God the disciples have, namely His Father. Obviously then, a change in Jesus's nature has occurred. While He is the Christian's Lord and Savior, He no longer is God. Only the Father holds that title.” <Wikipedia.com>
4. The Nestorians. They believed two persons actually indwelt the body of Christ, the human person and the divine.
5. The Eutychians. They went to the opposite extreme and said both natures (human and divine) mingled to make up a third and totally different nature from the original two natures.
B. The True View of the Incarnation
“In the one person, Jesus Christ, there are two nature, a human nature and a divine nature, each in its completeness and integrity, and these two natures are organically and indissolubly united, yet so that no third nature is formed thereby .” (A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology p. 673)
“The Incarnation is a fundamental theological teaching of orthodox (Nicene) Christianity, based on its understanding of the New Testament. The Incarnation represents the belief that Jesus, who is the non-created second hypostasis of the triune God, took on a human body and nature and became both man and God. In the Bible its clearest teaching is in John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us."[1]
In the Incarnation, as traditionally defined by those Churches that adhere to the Council of Chalcedon, the divine nature of the Son was united but not mixed with human nature[2] in one divine Person, Jesus Christ, who was both "truly God and truly man".(Wikipedia.org)
“In the OT we have man made in the image of God and now in the Incarnation we have God made in the image of man.” Willmington p.611
Listen to D.A. Carson on the Incarnation : Jn 1:1-18
C. The Miracles involved in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
1. The Son of god could take upon Himself the full nature of man and yet retain the full nature of God.
The Bible shows us that he was as much God as if He had never been man, and as much man as if He had never been God. This is known as the Hypostatic Union.
See Hebrews 1:3 English Standard Version (ESV) He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
2. That a human body could be conceived within a mother’s womb without an earthly father.
Furthermore, this conception was not only supernatural, but unique also, for god had already performed supernatural births for Sarah, in the birth of Isaac in her old age; for Hannah in the birth of Samuel when she was barren; in Elizabeth (birth of John the Baptist) and others. Willmington p. 612
D. The perpetuity of the Incarnation
When the Son of God joined Himself to a body at Bethlehem it was an eternal arrangement. He will continue to manifest Himself in this body ( in its resurrection state,) throughout the ages to come.
E. Prophecies concerning the Incarnation
In the Old Testament.
1. By the prophet Isaiah. Is.7:14 So, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.
Is. 9:6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 There is no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this.
2. By the prophet Micah. Mich 5:2 And you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He shall come forth to Me, to become Ruler in Israel, He whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.
In the New Testament:
Heavenly announcements were given to at least eight individuals or groups concerning the Incarnation in the New Testament.
1. To Zacharias Lk 1:17;76
2. To Mary Lk 1:31 And behold! You shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS. Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you. Therefore also that Holy One which will be born of you shall be called Son of God.
3. By Elizabeth Lk 1:42
4. To Joseph. Mat 1:20 And as he thought upon these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take to you Mary as your wife. For that in her is fathered of the Holy Spirit.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
5. To the Shepherds Lk 2:10-12
6. To the wise men. Matt 2:1-2
7. To Simeon Lk 2:25-32
8. To Anna. Lk 2:38
F. Three Reasons for the Incarnation.
God never does anything without good reason, and in this case there are many good reasons. We have chosen three.
1. To reveal the Invisible God. Jn 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
2. To fulfill the Prophecy of Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
3. To escape the curse on Adam’s seed. Romans 5:12 Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned:
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