christology terms and definitions

Christology

The study of the nature or meaning of Jesus Christ.

Low Christology

Emphasizes or starts with the humanity of Jesus.

High Christology

Emphasizes or starts with the Divinity of Jesus.

Eschatology

Theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.

Parousia

The Second Coming of Christ; the future visible return from Heaven of Jesus.

Savior

Redeemer of sin and saver of souls.

Son of Man

Self-Designation of Jesus; Messianic in nature; can imply 'human' or 'mortal'.

Messiah

In Hebrew, the 'Anointed One,' the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation.

Christ

The Greek translation of 'Messiah,' used by Christians as a title for Jesus.

Incarnation

To be made in the flesh a deity, spirit, or abstract quality.

Atonement

The reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus the Christ.

Trinity

The Christian God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet still One God.

Transfiguration

Event reported in the New Testament when Jesus becomes radiant in glory upon a mountain.

Crucifixion

The common Roman practice of execution; the death of Jesus by crucifixion.

Resurrection

Christ's rising from the dead.

Ascension

The ascent of Christ into Heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.

Parable

A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson as told by Jesus in the Gospels.

Original Sin

The tendency to sin innate in all human beings, inherited from Adam.

Grace

The free and unmerited favor of God, manifested in the salvation of sinners.

Hypostatic Union

The combination of Divine and human natures in the single person of Christ.

Example of Christology

Ex. Matthew 16:16 – “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

Example of Low Christology

Ex. Mark 6:3 – “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?”

Example of High Christology

Ex. John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Example of Parousia

Ex. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Example of Eschatology

Ex. Matthew 24:30 

“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Example of Savior

Ex. Luke 2:11  – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 

Example of Son of Man

Ex.  Mark 10:45  – “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Example of Messiah

Ex. John 4:25–26  – “The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.’”

Example of Christ

Ex. John 4:25–26  – “The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.’”

Example of Incarnation

Ex. John 1:14  – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Example of Atonement

Ex. Leviticus 5:10–13 - “…he shall add one-fifth of its value and shall give it to the priest, and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.”

Example of Trinity

Ex. Matthew 28:19 -”Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and sone, and of the holy spirit.”

Example of Transfiguration

Ex. Matthew 17:2 -”And he was transfigured before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.”

Example of Cruxifixion

Ex. John 19:18 – “There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with jesus in the middle.”

Example of Resurrection

Ex. Matthew 9:23-25 -”When jesus arrived at the officials house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep. And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand and the little girl arose.”

Example of Ascension

EX: ACTS 1:11

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Example of a Parable

EX: Matthew 13:11-13

He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:

Example of Original SIn

EX: Romans 5:12 

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Example of Grace

EX: Romans 5:8
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

Example of Hypostatic Union

EX: John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.