Noah Lynch
Theo201_B05_201340
Short Essay 2
Short Essay on Christology
In the New Testament, Jesus is mentioned as a human being with human functions who
has human temptations just like the rest of us. In the book of Mark, it even mentions Jesus eating
with tax collectors which is a natural thing to do as a human being because eating is an essential
part of living (Mark 2:15, NIV). The gospels make it very clear that Jesus was 100% human
because He had a family and relatives and He was born and was raised by His earthly parents
just like a normal human being would. Jesus suffered just like a human can suffer and bled just
like humans can bleed. In Elwell, it mentions how Jesus was a human and grew up from a child
into a man and lived a sinless life (Walter Elwell 2001, 239). Some might think Jesus could not
be a human because He was sinless and humans sin all the time. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was
tempted in ways that every human is tempted in, but Jesus overcame temptation because He
knew this world was not his home and that the Father has given Jesus victory and power over
temptation (Matthew 4:1-11, NIV).
Jesus was not only 100% human, but He was also 100% God. This phenomenon can be
explained through the definition of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all different forms of
God, but all the same single supernatural being. In Elwell, it talks about Jesus being mentioned
as “Lord”, “Son of God” and that Jesus and God the Father are One, meaning they are the same
thing (Walter Elwell 2001, 240). This would indicate that Jesus is God. Some may think Jesus
just performed magic tricks or actually didn’t do miracles, but the problem with that accusation
is that there were so many witnesses of Jesus’ death on the cross to see Him die and then see
Jesus alive 3 days after (1Corinthians 15:1-11, NIV).
Some say Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit are three different entities and are
not one being, but in Elwell it mentions that they are all one supernatural being (Walter Elwell
2001, 584). The description of the Saviors personality and natures and perfection of natures all
point to the fact that they are all one supernatural being. Some might say it is impossible for
something to be three different forms all at the same time and yet still be the same entity, but
water is a great example of this phenomenon because water is everywhere and it has three forms,
liquid, solid, gas, and all forms have the same chemical composition. In Genesis 1:26, it
mentions the creator of the universe talking to more than just him saying, “Let US make
mankind in OUR likeness…” (Genesis 1:26, NIV). This indicates several things. Jesus was alive
ever since the world was created and that Jesus is both God and man. This means we should take
every word that Jesus said to heart and treat His word as truth. Some say there is no such thing as
absolute truth so why believe what anyone else says. The truth is found in the Holy Bible and in
the Words of Jesus.
In Elwell, it talks about Jesus being the prime example of how a human should be and
part of this example is being a person of humility. Jesus is the perfect example of humility
because Jesus is God and to enter the world and to be human, he “emptied Himself” and became
human and took on human flesh. This was so He could live a perfect life and resist temptation
and defeat sin and death being the blameless and spotless lamb which is a sacrifice which all of
God’s wrath was poured on in place of the sin of all humanity who believes in Him for all
eternity (Walter Elwell 2001, 582). Some would disagree that God would have to become a man
to save humans. Some would think since God was all powerful, He could just take away all the
sin from the earth. But because Jesus took the place of all humans who believe, now everyone
who believes in who Jesus is and what He did for us can be saved (John 14:6).
There are several dangers of over- or under-emphasizing the deity or humanity of Christ,
as mentioned in Elwell, because the authority of Jesus and the Word would be compromised if
this would be true. Jesus said He was the great “I Am” and there are several places in the Bible
that indicate this is true and if this is not completely true then the Bible would have to be false.
The problem with over-emphasizing Christ’s deity could cause others to think Jesus was not
100% human, and He really was (Walter Elwell 2001, 219). Some might say Jesus is our friend
and not our judge and he was a good man and this is all true but it neglects the fact that Jesus is
also all powerful and an all knowing God who created the universe.
There are several objections to who Christ is and the traditional understandings of
Christology. One objection is the denial of Christology is the idea of Christ not being equal with
God the Father and therefore being under Him. This is not true because Jesus is fully God and
Jesus even says He is the great “I Am” and those that would deny who Jesus is would be denying
the authority and inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. Another objection to Christology is the
idea brought up by Arius that says there can’t be a connection between the natural and
supernatural world. This is a fundamental truth of the Bible that Arius is contradicting and the
reason how all who believes can be saved because of Jesus being that link between God the
Father and humans. Another question that was brought up by Nestorius saying God and Jesus
couldn’t be united into one person (Walter Elwell 2001, 242). This is refuted with scripture and
the exact words of Jesus in Matthew 26:64 because Jesus not only agrees that He is the Messiah,
but He will also be seated on the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven
(Matthew 26:64).
Christ is a perfect example of how to live on this Earth and everyone should listen to the
words of God. Christ is an example to me in that He did not fall into temptation, but resisted the
devil and pursued righteousness. Christ was humble, Christ was a leader, and Christ was a
servant to His disciples. I am also to rely on the strength of God and not my own. These are the
ways I am to follow Christ in His example.
Word count: 1131
Bibliography
"Evangelical Dictionary of Theology." Christology, Edited by Walter Elwell, 239. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Book House Company, 2001.
