WESTERN
CHRISTOLOGIES
Friedrich Schleiermacher
Christological
Understanding
(a) 1. Nature of Person of Christ
Critical
of two nature and one person.
1. The mixing
of two natures leads to third nature. Which would be neither of human nature and
divine nature.
2. Keeping of two natures separately that will
ignore the unity of person.
Solution
of Schleiermacher
Jesus
perfect nature, that perfect human nature express his divine nature. In other
word, Jesus’s perfect human nature just expresses the divine nature. Human
nature achieves his perfection only in JESUS CHRIST. There is no real duality
between Jesus’ human nature and divine nature.
(b) Jesus as mediators
Jesus
is the historical mediators between God and human being. Human being can come
to God only through Christ. Why Jesus is mediators? Because of his God
consciousness. The uniqueness of is also God consciousness. God
Consciousness makes JESUS CHRIST different from other human being. Since JESUS
CHRIST was God Consciousness therefore he was sinless person. Human being can
have God Consciousness that can be done only through Christ Consciousness. In
other word, JESUS CHRIST is the personification of God Consciousness.
(c) Jesus as redeemer
JESUS
CHRIST is the redeemer. Why and how Jesus as redeemer?
1. Redeemer
must be like us. In other word, Redeemer must be similar to us.
2. A redeemer
must not be in a condition or redemption.
(d)JESUS CHRIST as Archetypal Christ
JESUS
CHRIST is not nearly an example for human being; rather he was an ideal
personality. This JESUS CHRIST is an original pattern of God and human being.
Jesus is Christ not because of his work, rather originally Jesus is Christ. His
physical development is conditioned by his own context but still he is the
Christ.
(e) Understanding of sin
Sin
is nothing but lack of God consciousness. Jesus helps human being to
participate in God’s consciousness. Redemption simply means bringing people
into God’s consciousness.
God
consciousness is an experience one.
(f) The work of Christ
1. JESUS CHRIST
awakens God consciousness in human being.
2. JESUS CHRIST
attempted to establish the Kingdom of God.
Karl Barth
Christological
Understanding
(a) Trinitarian Christology
Karl
Barth, Christ preexistent logo as the second person of trinity. Only in and
through trinity Christ can be understood. One can understand out of trinity.
Trinity: According to
Karl Barth, Trinity is the self-revelation of God itself.
Jesus
was a mode of being not the person. In other word, is the God in flesh form.
JESUS CHRIST is God himself, presently active in flesh. Jesus is both Gods
election of God and JESUS CHRIST also God rejection of human sin.
(b) Incarnation
By
the virtue of incarnation humanity and God are united. In incarnation Jesus
represents God into humanity in his human nature JESUS CHRIST represented
Humanity to God. This reality he called it Double Reality/Movement: In
incarnation, Jesus- God became human and humans become god’s children. And this
incarnation is the double movement. Double word movement from God to humanity
and human to God. In incarnation a
covenant between God and humanity was created. In that covenant God acts
himself on behalf of entire creation.
(c) Nature of Christ
Jesus
Christ is both God and Human. Jesus humanity is qualitatively
different form other human. Before became flesh Jesus was son of God and by
himself he was God. Because he is God he is different from other human. Since
Jesus is God he acted different from other human being. Jesus is
authentically human only as son of God. Jesus son of God itself is divinity. As
son of God Jesus did not give up his divine nature, as human being, he was not
omnipotent but he was limited in his space and time.
(d) Work of Christ
1. Christ is
the mediators between God and Human being.
2. JESUS CHRIST
played the role and agent of reconciliation and revelation.
3. Through
JESUS CHRIST humanity justified. In other word, through the death of JESUS
CHRIST humanity is reconciled with God. Through the death of he came to saved
humanity.
(e) Revelation of God in Jesus Christ
JESUS
CHRIST is the final and ultimate revelation of God. The word of God appears in
three forms.
1. Person of
Christ
2. Written word
3. Word preached
This
word of God is an event not simply the communication of doctrines. Bible is the
witness to Jesus Christ. The event of JESUS CHRIST made possible the knowledge
of God to humanity. Testified by Christ through Scripture. The final authority of scripture dependents
of person of Christ.
Albert Schweitzer
Christological
Understanding
(a) Historical Jesus
Albert
challenged that the historical image of JESUS CHRIST described in the
Gospel. In other word, the historical JESUS CHRIST developed by every
Christian. That historical Jesus is not the full/ Real Jesus. The historical
Jesus narrated in the four gospels provided only few information about last
three and half of life of JESUS CHRIST. Four Gospel means the information about
Jesus given by early Christian or disciples. What early Christian explain?
Early
Christian narrated what they wanted and only they understood what they wanted
to understand. (They mentioned what is more important in Jesus Life)
Jesus
of Nazareth who claimed as messiah who preached the ethics of kingdom of god is
not the real Jesus. For Albert Historical Jesus in not real Jesus and did
not exists.
(b) Eschatological JESUS CHRIST
If
Historical Jesus did not exist, What type of Jesus, Albert is proposed? He propose the eschatological JESUS CHRIST.
Real JESUS CHRIST is an eschatological figure, who will return as a judge and
rule over the world. For Albert earthly JESUS CHRIST is forerunner to the
eschatological JESUS CHRIST.
Example:
Taking away Jesus from eschatology is like a water plant removed from water. Who
is for Albert? JESUS CHRIST should be understood spiritually than
historically. Why because, Historical JESUS CHRIST is stranger to us. It is not
historical Jesus but the spirit that flows form JESUS CHRIST.
Then
where you locate the spirit? Jesus’s spirit is hidden in his words. It is not history but words
of JESUS CHRIST that is important. JESUS CHRIST was expecting supernatural
kingdom rather than historical intervention of JESUS CHRIST. Early Christian
the eschatological kingdom.
Real
was Eschatological person, it is not Historical Jesus.
(c) Eschatological Kingdom:
JESUS
CHRIST basically preached about Eschatological kingdom (The kingdom that has
come). He sends them his disciple to preach about Eschatological kingdom. What
is the use of Jesus death? Jesus’s death was part apocalyptic event that
meet to final Eschatological. Jesus messianic consciousness was the
Eschatological messianic conscious. In other word, His kingdom will come only
in future. Christian faith based on his Eschatological concept.
(d) Being in Christ:
According
to Albert, Justification by faith is not the main focus but being in
Christ. Being in Christ means the
continuous relationship with the Jesus Christ.
It is the experience of Dying and raising again being with the Christ.
Jurgen Moltmann
Christological
Understanding
(a) Tortured Christ
Jurgen Motlmann developed this idea out of his experience. Tortured
Christ is the brother of Tortured. The Tortured that people are going through
in the period of Hitler. JESUS CHRIST today looks at us with the eye of
tortured brothers and sister. What we can do for the tortured people?
The risen Christ is the judge of the tortures.
(b) JESUS CHRIST is the cosmic Christ
A
resurrection prove Jesus is the cosmic Christ. JESUS CHRIST involved
participation in creation can be seen in three movements.
1.
Christ-in-the-beginning: JESUS CHRIST is the ground of all created beings.
2. JESUS CHRIST
as the driving power in the evolution of the creation. That means continues
process of creation.
3. Christ as
the redeemer of whole creation:
(c) Resurrection (Theology of Hope)
The
resurrection is the conformation of the raising of the dead. Resurrection is
the basis of the Christian hope. Resurrection the Christian faith stands and
holds with the Jesus’ resurrection. Not only the foundation of hope but the
foundation of the faith. This resurrection is the foundation and promise of the
eternal life. Resurrection refers is not past happening but the liberating the
presented liberating experience the spirit of God. Resurrection happens every
day in love we experience many resurrection and many death every
day. Resurrection is not closed fact rather resurrection is a present
experience. In resurrection God made Jesus the Christ. Christhood was realized
in the time of resurrection.
(d) Crucified Christ (theology of Cross)
In
the cross God appeared as vulnerable. God took the suffering and death upon
himself, to liberate, to heal and impart the eternal life into humanity. Gods
redeeming love ultimately manifested on the cross. God experience human
loneliness and rejection on the cross. Resurrection of Crucified Christ is the
starting point of the theology of hope. “No theology of hope without theology
of cross”. “On the cross son suffered death and the father suffered the death
of son”. “On the cross son suffered fatherlessness and the father suffered the
sonlessness”. Jesus experience God forsakenness on the cross. God suffering is
not his weakness rather God suffered out of his love. In incarnation God
understood human finitude (limitation) and the cross God experience the human
weakness. What happened on Calvary is not the action of Jesus rather the action
of God.
Book:
The Crucified God by Jurgen Moltmann
On
the Calvary experience disproved the idea that God cannot suffered
Wolfhart Pannenberg
Book: Jesus God and
Man
Question: Must
Christology start with Jesus Himself or with the Kerygma of his community? Whether
we should start Jesus himself or community.
What
is the task of Christology?
1. True
understanding of Jesus’s significance from his history.
2. To prove
that in Jesus Christ, God is ultimately revealed. In other word, History of
Jesus help the faith community know that god is ultimately revealed in JESUS
CHRIST.
(a) The Person of Christ
Jesus
is the Christ of God. And to know Jesus is the Christ of God, one must go back
to Jesus himself. The Christian communities also go to the witness of the
apostles. He rejected the Virgin birth of the JESUS CHRIS, it is
only a legend exists in the early Palestine story. Incarnation is not a sign of
the pre-existent nature of God.
Christological
Statement: Jesus’ unity with God is
not to be understood as unification of two nature. But this man Jesus is
God.
He
criticizes the Chalcedonies formula:
Christ
is one and same in two natures. Chalcedonies formula does not take the connect
unity of the historical man Jesus as the starting point of Jesus. Rather
Chalcedonies formula tells as the different between divine and human nature. In
other word, Jesus historical is important.
(b) Christology from Above and Christology from below
Christology
from Above, the divinity of Christ is important and the concept of
incarnation is central for Christology from Above. The progress of Christology
from Above start from the divinity of and goes to humanity of Jesus Christ. Pannenburg
rejected: Christology from Above basically ignore the historical JESUS
CHRIST.
Christology
from below gives important to the historical life of Jesus Christ. Christology
from below Progress from historical Jesus to divinity of Jesus. Christology
from below gives important to historical of JESUS CHRIST. For a common believers historical JESUS CHRIST
must be the starting point of his or her faith in JESUS CHRIST. Pannenburg
supported the Christology from below. What is the significance of JESUS
CHRIST in the life of the church?
(c)Resurrection
Resurrection
is the divine confirmation of Jesus’s pervious activity. In other word,
Resurrection is the divine conformation of pre-Easter activity of JESUS CHRIST.
Resurrection confirm that the man Jesus was God. (Who JESUS CHRIST is who
JESUS CHRIST was?) Resurrection
clear the dilemma of Jesus unity with God. Whether Jesus’s relationship with
God is start from the very beginning or whether Jesus’s relationship started
from his ministry activity. Even though
Resurrection is the starting point of Jesus real divinity in the eyes of human
being. Empty tomb is proof that fact that Jesus was constantly in relationship
with God. It is the Historical proof. Therefore, Resurrection of Jesus is
the basis of Christology. For him the Christology must be Christology from
below. Incarnation must be understood in the light of resurrection.
It is resurrection that validates the incarnation of JESUS CHRIST. Resurrection
can prove that incarnation is the divine activity. Resurrection is basically
the revelation of God. Through resurrection one can understand the action of
God in Jesus life. Resurrection proved that son of man none other than Jesus
the God who will come again. Resurrection is the starting point of
Gentiles mission.
(d) Theology of Hope
Christian
faith is the faith of hope. The faith that provides the hope to the people. The
foundation of the Christian is the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST. Since
JESUS CHRIST is resurrected the believers also be resurrected. Resurrection
confirm the actualization of Christian hope.
(e) Soteriology
Jesus
death and resurrection is a substitute for human.
1. Jesus die on
behalf of human.
2. Jesus
resurrection re-present our resurrection of entire human being. (resurrection
from sin)
Jesus death destroys the power of
Satan.
3. Jesus death
and resurrection Facilitated the hope to participate in god’s light beyond
death. (enjoy the heavenly life)
Application
What
is resurrection today? What is Hope today?
Dalit-
Liberation from bondage, feminist- liberation from patriarchy, black theology-
liberation from racism, etc. Political hope, Economic hope, Social hope all the
frame work of Hope is Resurrection
John Meyendorf
Christological
Understanding
(a) Incarnation
Incarnation
is cosmic event. Incarnation of necessitated because of human failure. Human
beings fail to draw all creation to God. Therefore it become cosmic Catastrophe
which could be repaired only by the creator himself. Incarnation implies the
born between God and human being expressed in the image of God.
Purpose
of incarnation?
Attempt
to restore human being in his or her original divine glory. In Christ God and
human being became one. Incarnation does not eliminate human nature rather incarnation
express the manifested humanity in purest and authentic form.
(b) Jesus the Logos
The
two main arguments: Jesus is the logo and Jesus is the restoration of entire creation
1. Logo as
logos Jesus is the agent of creation. In other word, as human Jesus is
microcosm in every creation.
2. Human being
sin cast of destruction of entire creation. Human restoration in JESUS
CHRIST restoration of cosmos to its
original state. This restoration through Logo. In Logo restoration of entire
creation is anticipated.
(c) The Person of Jesus
According
to him Jesus is God and human being. Both
divine and human nature are preserved in JESUS CHRIST. Jesus humanity is
identical way with the other human being except Sin. In Jesus life human will
followed the divine will. In other word, whatever will have everything is
related with God. The conformity of human nature with the divine nature is not
a devaluation/degrading of human nature rather restoration of original human
nature. In other word, the original human nature is divine nature
Christ humanity
JESUS
CHRIST is human hypostasis of two
nature. Jesus each human being is different from other human beings. But Jesus
personality is fundamental affinity with the other human being. Because all
human being are created in the image of God that is image of Logos.
We
are created image of God because of that, JESUS CHRIST is the model for all
human beings.
When
Logos became incarnate divine stamp put all its nature upon every human being.
God did not exclude any individual hypostasis (Human being).
Jess
is new Adam in whom every human being finds his or his nature realized.
(d) The Work of Jesus Christ
1. Christ has
logos stands as the beginning of the creation. Christ as the incarnate stands at
the end of the creation. Because all created being exists in him and created
through him.
2. Jesus is the
cosmic redeemer: Jesus death made the final restoration of entire creation
possible. Jesus death redemptive because our salvation is possible through
Jesus Christ.
Why?
Because it is Son of God in flesh who die for human being.
Cross:
Cross
is not a symbol of punishment and it is not a symbol to satisfied legal
requirement. Cross is the symbol that Vanquish/ destroy/ eliminate the cosmic
reality of the death.
Deification and Christ
Eastern
orthodox: Salvation means deification- becoming divine, making human divine.
According
to John, Deification of humans being happens only in/ through Jesus Christ.
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