Christology



Christology

Theologians and philosophers have been trying to question who Jesus is for hundreds of year now. This time in the form of what is called the contemporary study of Christology. The thrust of Christology is somewhat dependent upon which theologian one reads. Hans Kung calls his approach Christology from below. Others simply focus on the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ; others are exploring His life and work on earth. Some deny the fact that Jesus is God, others express strongly that yes, Jesus is part of the Triune and is God. Christology literally means the study of Christ. Christianity is founded on the belief that Jesus walked the earth and was given to humanity to die for our sins. You could say, Christianity is Christology because all Christian faiths study the life of Jesus Christ.

One wonders how a person calling himself a Christian can deny Jesus as divine, like Kung says. Thompson, on the other hand, offers a clear and more common definition of Christology: Christology entails a struggle or contest over the true meaning of the Bible; that Christology and biblical studies are two aspects of a single inquiry into divine revelation; and that this kind of inquiry demands a meditative form. While many people, like Chris and I, enjoy learning more about Jesus' life on earth, His works and words, few will believe that Jesus was simply another prophet 2,000 years ago. Another aspect of some points of view in Christology has to do with the formation of Christian Churches, especially the Catholic Church. Kung's says that the student must begin with the historical life and teachings of Jesus instead of depending on the creedal interpretation of the early church which is still prevalent today. He believes that by negating what he believes is the “Hellenistic paradigm”, dialogue with both Judaism and Islam would be a good thing for the world.

Imbelli's interpretation of Jesus' place in the historical and spiritual worlds is more in line with the Bible. He suggests the question being asked by Christology is age-old: Who do you say I am? The responses found in the New Testament are: You are the Messiah, the Son of God the Image of the invisible God the Word made flesh Lord and God. To say that Jesus was one of the many prophets of the time negates His uniqueness; it just does not even come close to who this Person was God in human form. This current academic search for the historical Jesus has called Him a social reformer, a therapist, a cyruc philosopher, and even the protofeminist. While these labels may indeed capture some of His traits and characteristics, some of the philosophies He preached, these labels also reduce Him to a being Who can be categorized. That is just not the case. Jesus cannot be placed in a category. He is too large, too vast, too mysterious for labeling. In much of the current academic study that is what is missing the mystery ...