Theology Exam 3 - Stephenson

homoousios

A Greek term, literally meaning "of the same substance," which came to be used extensively during the fourth century to designate the mainline Christological belief that Jesus Christ was "of the same substance of
God." The term was polemical, being directed against the Arian view that Christ was "of similar substance (homoiousios)" to God. See also "Consubstantial."

Hypostatic Union

The doctrine of the union of divine and human natures in Jesus Christ, without confusion of their respective substances.

- personal union of 2 natures in Jesus

Incarnation

A term used to refer to the assumption of human nature by God, in the person of Jesus Christ. The term "incarnationalism" is often used to refer to theological approaches which lay especial emphasis upon God becoming human.

Kenoticism

A form of Christology which lays emphasis upon Christ's "laying aside" of certain divine attributes in the incarnation, or his "emptying himself" of at least some divine attributes, especially omniscience or omnipotence.

Liberation Theology

Although this term designates any theological movement laying emphasis upon the liberating impact of the gospel, the term has come to refer to a movement which developed in Latin America in the late 1960s, which stressed the role of political action and orientated itself towards the goal of political liberation from poverty and oppression.


Jesus' Identification with the poor and pressed: he was a peasant who embraced outcasts

Sin has political and social dimensions: Jesus undermines oppressive structures, not just forgive individual sins

Christology is related to Christian practice: we follow Jesus by ministering to the poor and opressed

Representatives: Leonardo Boft and Gustavo Guterez (20th-21st c.)

Liturgy

The written text and set forms of public services, especially of the eucharist. In the Greek Orthodox church, the word often means "the [____ of] the eucharist."

Memorialism (associated w/?)

The approach to the eucharist, associated with Huldrych Zwingli and others, which holds that Christ is remembered in his absence. Since Christ is now in heaven, it is argued, he cannot also be present in the bread and
wine.

Monophysitism

The doctrine that there is only one nature in Christ, which is divine (from the Greek words monos, "only one," and physis, "nature"). This view differed from the orthodox view, upheld by the Council of Chalcedon
(451), that Christ had two natures, one divine and one human.

Parousia

A Greek term, which literally means "coming" or "arrival," used to refer to the second coming of Christ. The notion of the parousia is an important aspect of Christian understandings of the "last things."

Patripassianism

heresey- the father suffered as the son

A theological heresy, which arose during the third century, associated with writers such as Noetus, Praxeas, and Sabellius, focusing on the belief that
the Father suffered as the Son. In other words, the suffering of Christ on the cross is to be regarded as the suffering of the Father. According to these writers, the only distinction within the Godhead was a succession of modes or operations, so that Father, Son, and Spirit were just different modes of being, or expressions, of the same basic divine entity.

Rufinus's reflection are in the form of a commentary on this.

The Apostles' Creed

Who does Jesus deceive with his human flesh?

Prince of this world (Satan)

What classic theory of the atonement does Rufinus develop?

"mousetrap" or "fish-hook"

What does Rufinus say is described in Ephesians 3:18?

the depiction of the cross

In addition to purging sins, baptism provides this gift.

The Holy Spirit

During what period did Christians receive the theological instruction that culminated in baptism?

Lent

Who do Christians renounce in baptism?

Satan

With what does I Peter 3:18-22 compare baptism?

Noah's Ark

This term refers to something too profound to be grasped fully by the human mind.

Sacraments/mysteries

This is the term for a figure or event in the OT whose full embodiment is found in the NT.

Typos

Doctrine of Humanity

From the greek word anthropos (human)

God's creative act
-intentional (Gen 1 & 2)
- attribute creation to the son (John 1:3, 10, Col 1:16, & Heb 1:2)

Creatio ex nihilo

creation out of nothing: God created everything that exists

nothing in creation is eternal

Justin Martyr (2nd c.)

creation was an exception; God formed the world from pre-existent matter

Imago Dei: Image of God

Humans were created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27)

What does it mean to be created in the image of God (3 views)

Substantive View

Functional View

Relational View

Substantive View

something humans possess or characteristics humans have

usually a mental or spiritual dimension, like the ability to reason

reason separates humans from all other creatures & reflects most clearly what God is like

Supporter: Carl Henry (20th c.)

Functional View

Seen in what humans do, specifically exercising dominion over creation

Close connection between "Let us make man in our image" and "let them rule over ..."

Psalm 8:5-8 - humans were made a little lower than the Angles and made rulers over God's works

Move to do with human roles and functions than with God's nature

Relational View

NOT something humans possess or do

humans display God's image through their relationships with God and other humans

"I-thou" relationship

Karl Barth: God has this type of relationship within himself (trinity)

Humans reflect God's image because they too have "I-thou" relationships

Relational View Questions

Allow God's image to be universal?

Does someone rebelling against God and at odds with humanity bear the image of God

Functional View Questions

Creating in God's image and giving authority over creation the same act?

Distinction between "Let us make man in our image" and "let them rule over ..."

Substantive View Questions

Overemphasize one aspect of human makeup (reason) over others?

Vary from one person to the next? (ex. what about persons with intellectual disabilities?)

Human Composition: of what do humans consist?

Trichotomy & Dichotomy

Trichotomy

humans consist of 3 things
- one material (body)
- two immaterial (soul & spirit)

Body = physical component
Soul = psychological component
Spirit = part that can know God

Dichotomy

Humans consist of 2 things, one material (body) and one immaterial (soul/spirit)

Soul and spirit are't 2 different entities

Conclusions about human composition

scripture is consistently ambiguous about human composition

OT uses spirit and soul interchangeably in places

NT also uses them interchangeably & adds heart & mind to the mix

Thinking of humans as having "parts" probably doesn't allow for the proper unity and complexity of humans- a holistic approach is needed

Traducianism or Creationsim

In reproducion, is the soul/spirit transmitted with the body or joined to the body individually by God?

Traduciansim

All human potentiality, both material and immaterial, was created in Adam & Eve

Soul/spirit is TRANSMITTED along with the body from the parents through procreation

Creationism

Only material potentially was created in Adam & Eve

God created each soul individually and joins it to the body

Hamartiology: creation

According to Gen 1, humans were created "good"

Humans sinned & lost some fact of goodness

Therefore, it is good to be human, but humans are not altogether good

4 periods of relation to sin

Originally, it was "possible to sin" posse peccare

After the fall, it was "not possible not to sin" - non posse non peccare

After grace in JC, it is "possible not to sin" - posse non peccare

In our glorified state, it will be "not possible to sin" - non posse peccare

How is sin transmitted?

Imputation and Impartation

Imputation

to attribute fault or to reckon to one's account

ex. Adam's sin to the rest of us

Impartation

to share with

Humans are sinners because sin is "at work" in them & distorts their nature; Adam's sin determines what we are like

Extent of Sin

Universality of sin
Total Depravity
Original Sin

Universality of Sin (Scriptures too)

(Rom 3: 9-12) Jew & Gentile are under sin

(Rom 3:23) All humans are sinners

Total Depravity

Sin effects every facet of human existence

(Rom 3: 10-18) Do not see God, deceitful, shed blood, don't know peace, no fear of God

(Eph 2: 1-3) dead in sin, gratify sinful nature, objects of God's wrath by nature

(Psalms 51:5) "Behold, I was brought fourth in iniquity & in sin my mother conceived me"

Original Sin

All humans are born into sinfulness due to Adam's sin

Augustine & Pelagius (4-5thc.) debated whether humans were born with original sin

Original Sin: Augustine

All infants are born with original sin that has to be removed through baptism

Romans 7:14-25

Paul describing inner struggle & conflict

Our wills and desires are impaired, we want stuff we shouldn't want

Original Sin: Pelagins

Humans didn't inherit sinful nature and aren't sinners until the first act of sin

NT Christology (2 types)

High and Low Christology

High Christology

Descending Christology

Emphasizes Jesus' divinity by pointing to his relationship to God & his coming from God to fulfill his mission

John, Pauline Letters, Hebrews

Low Chirstology

Ascending Christology

Emphasizes Jesus' humanity and ultimate glorification; highlights his similarities with other humans

Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), Acts, Hebrews

John 1:1-5

High Christology (Descending)

Exists before life on Earth

"With God" & "Was God"

Creator

"Became flesh" and was the only son "from the father"

Colossians 1:15-20

High Christology (Descending)

"Image" of the Invisible God

Creator & Sustainer

"Fullness of God" dwells in him

Hebrews 1:1-30

High Christology (Descending)

Creator & sustainer

Reflect's God's glory

Bears the stamp of God's nature

Matthew 1-2, 28

Low Christology (Ascending)

Genealogy & birth

Lineage of Joseph & Mary

Infant who becomes an adult

Resurrection and ascension

Hebrews 4: 15

Low Christology (Ascending)

Sympathetic high priest

Tempted as we are

Philemon 2:5-11

High (descending) and Low (Ascending)

High
- in the form of God
- Emptied himself & became a servant

Low
- obedient unto death
- Highly exalted by God
- Name above all names

High
- Lord

Council of Nicaea (325)

First ecumenical council in Christian history

Convened by Emperor Constantine

Attended by bishops- most Eastern, few western

Officially defined Jesus' relationship to God

Son is "of the same essence" as the Father (homoousios)
-Son shares in that which makes the Father God
-Son is not qualitatively different than the Father

Athanasius vs. Arius

Took opposing views after the council

Athanasius' Position

sin is not a creation of the Father but has always existed

homousius

Athanasius' Argument

Human salvation depends of the Son's identity.

Only God saves, not another creature.

Arius' Position

Rejects homoousios because there is only one eternal being

Son has not always existed, but is God's first and highest creation, who created everything else

Arius' Argument

If the son were of the same essence as the Father, then God would be divisible, that is, "have parts"

"Beget/Begotten" in the NT refers to the Father's creation of the son

Prov 8:1, 22-31 & Cor 1:23-24
- calls Christ wisdom of God

Council of Chalcedon

Nicaea defined Jesus' relationship to God; did not address relationship of his divinity & humanity

Chalcedon did

Reaffirmed Nicea's use of homoousios. and extended it to his humanity

Jesus posesses a fully human nature and a fully divine nature, while remaining only one person- "without confusion, change, division, or separation"

Now called the Hypostatic Union

Calceon Rejected the following ideas

Nestorianism
Appolonarisnsim
Eutychianism

Nestorianism

human & divine are 2 complete persons separate enough for Mary to give birth to the human not the divine

Appolonariansim

Logos (word) took human flesh but didn't become fully human no human mind

Eutychiansim

human & divine natures "mixed" to form 3rd nature

Rom 8:3 (Jesus & Sin) Did Jesus have a sinful nature?

Yes- his sinlessness refers to not committing a particular sin, but he had sinful desires

No- Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, not actually sinful flesh itself

II Cor 5:21 (Jesus & Sin) Did Jesus have a sinful nature?

left blank in notes

Heb 4:15 (Jesus & Sin) Did Jesus have a sinful nature?

Could he have sinned?

If no, could he have been tempted?

If not really tempted, how can he sympathize with us?

Considerations
- "yet was" is not in Greek txt
- Greek word "tempted" can also mean "try" or "test," not just "entice to sin" (Acts: 5:9 & 15:10)

Hebrews 5: 1-10 (Jesus & Sin) Did Jesus have a sinful nature?

Did Jesus offer sacrifice for his own sins?

Parallel between Jesus and other high priests

Other High priests sympathize with peoples weakness because they share them

Other high priests offer sacrifices for their own sins

Did Jesus do the same?

Had to learn obedience & be perfected (made complete) through suffering

Could Jesus have sinned?

Wants to avoid suffering, troubled & distressed

seems to think deliverance is a real possibility but was it

An approach to existential possibility & metaphysical impossibility

Existential Possibility

-in his limited human understanding, Jesus thinks it is possible; hence, his distress and request

Metaphysical impossibility

In terms of ultimate reality, it's impossible because Jesus is the incarnate word & cannot fail to obey the Father

Distress is real, although he could not have failed

Was Jesus fully human if he didn't sin?

Difference between "universal" and "essential"

Just because a particular characteristic is common to everyone (universal), that doesn't necessarily mean it could not be otherwise (essential)

Living on Earth is a universal characteristic of Humans

but it is not essential to being human; colony on mars

Although sin is universal to humans, it is not essential to humans, Adam and Eve were without sin, Christians will eventually be without sin

Jesus' lack of sin does not keep him from being fully human

Atonement (5 theories)

Work of Jesus Christ overlaps with Soteriology (doctrine of Salvation)

Christus Victor Theory
Ransom Theory
Satisfaction Theory
Substitution Theory
Moral Influence Theory

Christus Victor Theory (Christ the victor)

Atonement was a battle or struggle between God and the powers of evil

Through his death and resurrection Jesus won the battle and freed captive humanity

Ransom Theory

Devils Right Theory

By deceiving humanity, Satan won the rights to humanity

Jesus' death was a kind of "payoff" buying humanity back

Satisfaction Theory

Anself of Canterbury (11th c.)- rejected ransom theory

Through sin, humans failed to pay God the honor due him

Only God could atone, but only humans were obligated to pay for the offense

One who is both God and human (JC) had to satisfy God's justice and give him honor

Substitution Theory

Popular among protestant reformers (16th c.)

Sin is breaking God's law

Humans deserve God's punishment & wrath

Jesus became our substitute, receiving God's wrath on the cross in our place

Humans escape punishment even though guilty

Moral Influence Theory

Peter Abelard (12th c.)- rejected ransom & satisfaction

God shows his love through Jesus
- our example

Saved as we allow this love to increase by following his example

Recent Christologies

Liberation Christology
Feminist Christology
Christology & Violence
Spirit Christology
Finality of Jesus Christ

Feminist Christology

Can a male savior bring salvation to women?
- Response: emphasis on Jesus' humanity not his maleness

If Jesus is the norm of being human, are women without an example and destined not to measure up?
- Response: "wisdom Christology" & Mary

Is the crucifixion "divine child abuse?"
- Response: reevaluate the saving power of Jesus' death in relation to his life and ministry

Christology and Violence

Crucifixion is an extraordinarily violent death

Also part of a sacrificial system

Why did God choose to save through such means?
- to expose the violence of our world's system
- to identify with victims of violence
- to end sacrifices and eventually all violence

Spirit Christology

Emphasis on the Holy Spirit's role in Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection

Spirit helped make Jesus who he was and enabled him to carry out this divine mission

Luke 1:34-35- Jesus' Conception
Luke 3:21-22 Jesus' Baptism
Like 4: 1,14,18 Jesus' Ministry
Heb 9: 13-14 Jesus' Death
Rom 8: 11 Jesus' Resurrection

Finality of Jesus Christ

Unique and definitive revelation of God

Daniel Migliore

Views on Christianity's relationship to other religions
- Exclusivist View
- Developmentalist View
- Transcendentalist View
- Dialogical View
- Relativistic View

Excluivist View

Non-Christian religions are false

Dialogue betrays Jesus' uniqueness

Developmentalist View

Non-Christian religions can be preparations for accepting Christ

Jesus is God's highest revelation, and other religions find ultimate fulfillment in him

Transcendentalist View

God's grace exceeds the limits of the historical figure of Jesus

Therefore, grace may be active in all religions to greater or lesser degrees

Dialogical View

Christians and Non-Christians should take their own beliefs seriously and dialogue with others

All religions may be seen to contain elements of truth and falsehood (Paul Tillich, 20th c.)

Relativistic View

God is at work equally in all religions

Jesus is but one savior among other savior figures in other religions