New testament christology
New Testament Christology refers to the study of the nature and person of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament of the Bible. Christology is the branch of theology that deals with the study of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, Christology is developed through a variety of genres, including gospel accounts, epistles, and apocalyptic literature. The New Testament presents Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world. Here are some key aspects of New Testament Christology:
- Divine Sonship: Jesus is referred to as the Son of God (Mark 1:1, John 1:34, Hebrews 1:2) and the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32). This title emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and his relationship with God the Father.
- Pre-existence: Jesus is said to have existed before his birth (John 1:1-3, 1 John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:3). This doctrine is known as the "pre-existence of Christ."
- Incarnation: Jesus took on human flesh (John 1:14, Philippians 2:7-8) and became a human being (Hebrews 2:14-18). This event is known as the "incarnation."
- Messiahship: Jesus is presented as the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior of Israel (Matthew 1:1, 16:16, John 1:41, 4:25-26).
- Sacrificial Death: Jesus' death on the cross is seen as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, Hebrews 9:28).
- Resurrection: Jesus' resurrection from the dead is seen as a demonstration of his power over sin and death (Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6-7, John 20:1-10).
- Exaltation: Jesus is exalted to the right hand of God the Father, where he is seated in glory (Acts 2:33-35, Hebrews 1:3, 8:1, 12:2).
Some of the key New Testament passages that contribute to our understanding of Christology include:
- John 1:1-14 (the prologue to the Gospel of John)
- Philippians 2:5-11 (the "kenosis" passage)
- Hebrews 1:1-3 (the "Son of God" passage)
- Colossians 1:15-20 (the "head of the body" passage)
- 1 John 1:1-3 (the "pre-existence" passage)
New Testament Christology has been interpreted in various ways throughout history, including:
- Adoptionism: Jesus was a human being who was adopted as God's Son at his baptism.
- Docetism: Jesus was a divine being who only appeared to be human.
- Arianism: Jesus was a created being, inferior to God the Father.
- Nicaean Christology: Jesus is fully divine and fully human, two natures united in one person (the Nicene Creed).
These interpretations have been debated and refined over the centuries, and continue to be the subject of ongoing theological discussion and debate.