the person of Jesus

Who is Jesus and why is his nature debated?

• Jesus is central to Christianity, claimed as both fully human and fully divine.

• Debate focuses on how these natures coexist (hypostatic union).

What is the hypostatic union and why is it important?

• The union of Jesus' divine and human natures in one person.

• Important for understanding the Christian doctrine of salvation.

• The key idea: Jesus must be both human and divine to save humanity (theological necessity).

What evidence supports the divinity of Jesus from the Bible?

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

• John 10:30: Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.”

• Supports belief in Jesus' divine nature.

What evidence supports the humanity of Jesus from the Bible?

• Luke 2:52: "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

• Matthew 4:2: Jesus fasts and experiences hunger, showing human limitations.

• Shows Jesus lived a human life and experienced human emotions and suffering.

What challenges exist to the idea of Jesus being fully divine?

• Some argue that Jesus' humanity limits his divinity.

• Mark 13:32: "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

• This suggests Jesus might not have known everything, contradicting omniscience.

What challenges exist to the idea of Jesus being fully human?

• John 8:58: "Before Abraham was, I am."

• This statement suggests timeless, pre-human existence.

• Some argue this is inconsistent with Jesus' full humanity since humans are temporal

What are the theological implications of Jesus being both fully divine and fully human?

• Necessary for Christian soteriology (doctrine of salvation).

• Jesus' divinity allows him to bridge the gap between God and humanity.

• His humanity enables him to represent humanity and experience its struggles.

Why is Jesus' humanity critical for salvation?

• If Jesus wasn't fully human, he couldn't fully represent humanity.

• Romans 5:19: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous."

• Jesus' obedience as a human counteracts the fall of humanity.

Why is Jesus' divinity critical for salvation?

• Jesus' divinity means his sacrifice is sufficient to atone for the sins of humanity.

• Hebrews 9:14: "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works."

• A mere human sacrifice would not be enough.

What are Nestorianism and Miaphysitism, and how do they challenge the nature of Jesus?

• Nestorianism: Believes Jesus' divine and human natures were separate, not fully united.

• Miaphysitism: Claims Jesus' natures are united but not mixed.

• These views challenge the idea of a full union of the two natures.

How can we evaluate the doctrine of the hypostatic union?

• The union is ultimately a mystery and may be beyond full human understanding.

• Key evaluation: While complex, it allows for a coherent explanation of salvation in Christian thought.

• Historical councils (e.g., Chalcedon) upheld the union, yet debates persist.

Why is the debate on the nature of Jesus significant?

• Understanding Jesus' nature shapes Christian doctrines of salvation, atonement, and redemption.

• It's also foundational for understanding the Christian understanding of God and humanity's relationship to the divine.