L12 God vs Jesus

Old Testament Attributes: Describes God's nature and gives a sketch of God that can help identify Jesus as God in the New Testament.
Questions on Omnipresence & Omniscience:
- Jesus made claims of divinity despite appearing not omnipresent or omniscient.
- Claiming Oneness with God:
  - Jesus states: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) and "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
  - Interpretation: Skeptics argue this could refer to unity in purpose, not essence.
  - Historical Context: Claims of oneness might be later theological developments.
Miracles:
- Jesus's miracles indicate divine authority (healings, resurrection of Lazarus, feeding the 5000, etc.).
- Skepticism: Some consider miracles exaggerated or misunderstood natural events; similarities with other religious figures' miracles.
Forgiving Sins:
- Controversial: Jesus forgave sins, seen as a divine prerogative (Mark 2:5-12).
- Jewish Authority: Critics state this act wasn't only divine; Jewish priests could also forgive under certain conditions.
- Moral Perfection: Jesus's claim of sinlessness (John 8:46) strengthens his divine identity.
Resurrection:
- Considered evidence of divine nature; central to Christian faith.
- Skepticism: Claims of insufficient historical evidence and alternative theories regarding the resurrection.

Natural Explanations: Skeptics might suggest miracles attributed to Jesus were natural events misconstrued.
Comparison with Other Religions: Similar miracles performed by figures from other religions raise doubts about uniqueness of Jesus's actions.
Forgiving Sins Continued:
- Jesus’s acts of forgiveness and their implications were controversial; could be seen as claiming divine authority.

Titles:
- Jesus referred to himself as "Son of Man" and "Son of God" with messianic implications.
- Interpretation of Titles: Critics consider these titles metaphorical and not necessarily divine.
Authority and Teachings:
- Jesus taught with authority, often reinterpreting Jewish laws.
- Criticism: Some see his teachings as aligning with ethical wisdom of other traditions, not necessarily divine.
Transfiguration:
- Seen as divine affirmation of Jesus's identity, but some argue it might be symbolic or a later theological addition.

Sacrificial Act: Death on the cross viewed as act of divine atonement; central to Christian theology.
Criticism of Atonement Theology: Some argue this idea was not part of original Jewish belief and may represent a later Christian invention.
Kenosis and Limitations:
- Discussions on how Jesus balances divine and human attributes; concepts like kenosis (self-emptying).

Uncreated Status: Discussions about Scriptures indicating Jesus’s uniqueness and relationship to God.
Firstborn Meaning: Explaining "firstborn" as indicating authority rather than a literal birth order in the context of God.
Jesus's Goodness:
- Not denying his divine nature when questioned about goodness but guiding understanding of morality and goodness.