Jesus Son of God(nature,divinity and resurrection)

What was the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)?

The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) defined orthodox Christian belief that Jesus Christ is one Person with two complete natures, fully divine and fully human, without confusion, change, division or separation.

What is the hypostatic union?

The belief that Jesus is one Person possessing two complete natures: fully God and fully human.

What does 'consubstantial with the Father' mean?

Jesus shares the same divine substance (ousia/nature) as God the Father.

What does 'consubstantial with humanity' mean?

Jesus shares the same human nature as every human being.

What does 'sin only excepted' mean?

Jesus was fully human in every respect except that he was without sin.

State the key Chalcedonian definition of Jesus.

Jesus is one and the same Person who is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man; consubstantial with the Father in divinity and consubstantial with humanity in his humanity.

Why is the hypostatic union important?

It preserves both Jesus' full divinity and full humanity, making him able to reveal God perfectly while representing humanity.

Why do some scholars criticise the term 'hypostatic union'?

It relies on complex philosophical language which may make the mystery of the Incarnation more difficult rather than easier to understand.

What did Zeffirelli argue about Jesus' humanity?

'Christians have no problem accepting Christ as holy, as God. But they always have problems accepting him also as a human being at the same time.' This highlights the difficulty Christians have accepting Jesus' genuine humanity.

What challenge does Zeffirelli identify?

Many Christians easily accept Jesus' divinity but struggle to believe he genuinely experienced ordinary human life.

What did 'Son of God' mean in the Jewish context?

A person specially chosen by God, such as a king or Messiah, possibly with supernatural significance.

What did 'Son of God' mean in the Gentile world?

A divine or semi-divine figure.

Why do Christians believe Jesus is literally the Son of God?

The Virgin Birth presents Jesus as conceived through the Holy Spirit, giving him a unique relationship with God.

How does the Virgin Birth support belief in Jesus' divinity?

It shows Jesus' conception was by the Holy Spirit rather than a human father, demonstrating his unique divine origin.

Which events publicly identify Jesus as God's Son?

His Baptism and Transfiguration, where God declares, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'

Give the quotation from Jesus' baptism.

'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.' (Matthew 3:17)

Why is Jesus' use of 'Abba' significant?

It shows an exceptionally intimate and unique relationship with God as Father.

Why do Jesus' prayers suggest distinction within the Trinity?

Jesus prays to the Father, showing a relationship between distinct Persons rather than simply being identical to the Father.

How does Jesus' relationship with the Father contribute to Trinitarian theology?

It supports the belief that Father and Son are distinct Persons while remaining united in the Godhead.

Why is John's Gospel described as having a high Christology?

It emphasises Jesus' divinity, pre-existence and identity as the eternal Son of God more explicitly than the Synoptic Gospels.

What are the 'I Am' sayings?

Statements beginning 'I am…' which echo God's divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus, identifying Jesus with God.

Which Old Testament passage do the 'I Am' sayings echo?

Exodus, where God reveals himself as 'I AM WHO I AM.'

Quote John 1:1.

'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'

What does John 1:1 teach about Jesus?

Jesus (the Logos) existed before creation, was with God and was God, demonstrating his pre-existence and divinity.

What is the significance of the Logos in John 1?

The Logos is eternal, divine, the agent of creation and becomes incarnate in Jesus.

Quote John 8:58.

'Before Abraham was born, I am.'

Why is John 8:58 important?

Jesus claims existence before Abraham and uses God's eternal name, implying his divinity.

Why is John's Gospel considered theologically different from the Synoptics?

It was written later and reflects a more developed understanding of Jesus as fully divine.

How are miracles used in the New Testament?

They function as signs revealing Jesus' unique relationship with God and his identity as the Son of God.

What AO2 question do Jesus' miracles raise?

Whether miracles prove Jesus is God or merely demonstrate a uniquely close relationship with God.

Describe the miracle of walking on water (Mark 6:47-52).

Jesus walks across the lake to the disciples, calms the wind and reveals authority over nature.

Why is Jesus saying 'It is I' on the water significant?

It can echo the divine 'I AM' language, suggesting divine identity.

What does walking on water reveal about Jesus?

His authority over creation and his identity as the Son of God.

How did the disciples respond to walking on water?

They were amazed and forced to reconsider Jesus' identity.

Describe the miracle in John 9.

Jesus heals a man born blind using mud and instructs him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.

Why did the Pharisees reject the miracle?

Jesus healed on the Sabbath, so they argued he could not be from God.

How did the healed man defend Jesus?

'If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.'

What did Jesus mean by 'I am the light of the world'?

He brings spiritual enlightenment as well as physical healing.

Why is the healing of the blind man more than a miracle?

It symbolises spiritual sight and reveals Jesus as God's agent of revelation.

Why is the Resurrection central to Christianity?

It confirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God and is the foundation of Christian faith.

How does the Catholic Church interpret the Resurrection?

As God's final revelation confirming Jesus is more than merely human.

What did Calvin argue about the Resurrection?

The whole Bible should be interpreted in light of the Resurrection.

Quote Paul's teaching on the Resurrection.

'If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins.' (1 Corinthians 15:17)

Why does Paul believe the Resurrection is essential?

Without it Christianity loses its foundation, Jesus cannot be confirmed as the Son of God and eternal life has no basis.

Outline the AO2 view that the Resurrection did not happen.

Resurrection does not occur today, so there is insufficient historical reason to believe it occurred in the past.

Outline the subjective experience interpretation of the Resurrection.

The disciples experienced a psychological or spiritual event that transformed grief into belief in the risen Christ.

Outline the view that the Resurrection is beyond historical enquiry.

It cannot be proven historically and requires a response of faith rather than empirical evidence.

Outline the view that the Resurrection is open to historical enquiry.

It is unreasonable to reject testimony simply because we were not present; future discoveries may improve understanding of death and resurrection.

Why do some argue the transformed disciples support the Resurrection?

Despite differences between Gospel accounts, the disciples' dramatic transformation suggests a significant event genuinely occurred.