The Person of Jesus Christ

What is the doctrine of the Trinity?

• God is three persons (hypostases) in one substance (ousia): Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.

• Jesus is 100% God and 100% Human.

• Officially established in the Nicene Creed (325 AD).

• The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, but the doctrine is inferred from scripture.

Biblical evidence for Jesus’ divinity?

• John 10:30 – “The Father and I are one.”

• John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was, I am.”

• John 1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God… the Word became flesh.”

• Jesus makes seven ‘I am’ statements, reflecting God’s self-identification (link to Moses: “I am that I am”).

Counter-argument (Hick & Ehrman) on biblical evidence?

• John was written last (90–110 AD), long after the events.

• Early gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke) do not contain explicit claims of Jesus’ divinity.

• Evidence suggests the idea of Jesus’ divinity developed over time, added in later texts.

• “Son of God” in early Judaism could just mean a special human, not literally divine.

Evaluation of the development argument?

• Peter Williams: miracles & baptism in Mark suggest divinity.

• Hick & Ehrman: early gospels do not show Jesus explicitly claiming to be God → John’s claims could be later invention.

• Therefore, biblical evidence for the Trinity is disputed.

Arguments from Channing & Hick?

• Contradiction: Jesus is fully human (finite) and fully divine (infinite).

• Impossible for one being to have mutually exclusive qualities.

• Analogy: “Jesus is God” = “a circle is also a square.”

• Suggestion: defend monotheism by abandoning divinity of Jesus → Trinity unnecessary.

Counter-arguments (Augustine & Barth)?

• Trinity is a mystery beyond human comprehension; must be accepted on faith.

• Augustine: “persons” is just a term of convenience.

• Barth: “a really suitable term… does not exist.”

• Reason corrupted by original sin → humans cannot fully understand God.

Evaluation of mystery argument?

• If we cannot conceptualize the Trinity, faith is blind; we can’t really know or understand what we believe.

• Faith in something we cannot picture may be incoherent.

Examples of Jesus’ miracles?

• Healed the blind (John 9)

• Walked on water (Mark 6)

• Calmed the storm (Matthew 14) → worshiped as “son of God”

Counter-argument (E.P. Sanders)?

• Miracles do not require divinity → prophets like Moses performed miracles.

• Acts 2: miracles done “through” Jesus by God.

Evaluation?

• Jesus’ control over miracles is unique, unlike prophets.

• Example: water into wine – initially refused, later performed voluntarily.

• Suggests Jesus had divine authority, supporting the claim of sonship.

Trinitarian argument?

• Jesus’ resurrection proves he is son of God.

• St Paul: “If Christ is not raised, our faith is in vain.”

• N.T. Wright: historical evidence → empty tomb, women witnesses, post-mortem appearances → best explanation: resurrection actually occurred.

Counter-argument (Keith Parsons)?

• Radical beliefs about resurrection could arise without an actual resurrection.

• Disciples’ radical theology could be explained by hallucination or reinterpretation of events.

• Mark 2 shows Jesus challenged Jewish law → disciples could innovate radical beliefs independently.

Hick’s view?

• Jesus = moral teacher, “guru,” not necessarily divine.

• Miracles & resurrection interpreted mythically (Bultmann’s demythologisation).

• Different religions reflect the same supra-experiential divine reality.

Counter & evaluation?

• Atonement: Jesus’ sacrifice saves humanity – requires divine power.

• Hick: salvation could occur indirectly through moral exemplar → humans inspired to live righteously.

• Trinity unnecessary to explain Jesus’ teachings, miracles, or significance.

Key teachings?

• Matthew 5:17–48 – Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes, inner morality.

• Luke 15:11–32 – Parable of the Lost Son → importance of forgiveness & reconciliation.

Counter – C.S. Lewis’ Trilemma?

• Jesus was Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.

• Claims to forgive sins = only God could do so → must be divine.

Evaluation of Trilemma?

• Craig: possible to be deluded about divinity yet morally virtuous → trilemma fails.

• Example: Aristotle deluded about slavery but morally instructive.

Liberation theology – Jesus & the poor?

• Boff & Gutierrez: Jesus’ teachings on wealth (Matthew 6, 19) → challenge oppression, bring God’s kingdom.

• Spiritual & economic implications → structural change possible.

Counter (Kloppenberg & JP2)?

• Teachings aimed at individuals, not societal structures.

• “My kingdom is not of this world” → spiritual, not political.

• Paying unjust taxes (Romans 13) → religion not political liberation.

Evaluation of liberation argument?

• Structural change could arise indirectly from following Jesus’ ethics.

• De facto liberation of the poor possible, even if not explicit political goal.

Jesus as liberator of women (Ruether)?

• Pro-liberation acts:

  • Saved adulterous woman from stoning

  • Healed menstruating woman

• Seeks “golden thread” of pro-liberation in Bible.

Counter & evaluation?

• Actions could reflect divine power, not social equality.

• Spiritual equality in Galatians → not necessarily social equality.

• Ruether justified in calling Jesus pro-feminist: interpretation considers historical context → feminism did not exist in his time.