Jacob Davis
Professor Farnham
THEO 201 – B09
8 June 2015
Short Essay 2 – Christology
This short essay will be discussing a hypothetical scenario of two men approaching
me making the claim that Jesus was a man and therefore could not be God. I will be
presenting my response to this claim, illustrating how Jesus can be both man and God.
My first response to the two men’s claim would be to illustrate the biblical basis for
Jesus’ humanity and deity. The biblical basis for Jesus’ humanity is presented many times in
the New Testament. A few passages which stand out are John 4:6, 11:45 and 12:27. Within
these verses, we see that Jesus had experiences with being weary, tired and thirsty. We also
see instances where Jesus wept and experienced mourning, along with Jesus’ soul being
“troubled”. These are all prime examples that Jesus was very much human. He went through
the same raw emotional and physical experiences that we as humans also experience. Just
as there are many instances of Jesus’ humanness throughout the New Testament, there are
also many instances of Jesus’ deity as well. In Titus 2:13, Paul refers to Jesus as “our great
God and savior”. Jesus is also referenced as the Creator Himself in John 1:3 and Colossians
1:16-17. 1 Corinthians 10:4 also refers to Jesus as “the spiritual Rock in which they drank
from”. It is clear to see that the Bible gives ample reference and distinction that Jesus was
both man and God.
This now leads me to the explanation of how Jesus can be both man and God at the
same time. First, we must understand that Jesus’ distinction amongst the Godhead is the
very fact that He is both human and God. Those are Jesus’ permanent traits, and allow for
Him to be who He is. Two key scripture references to clarify the Hypostatic Union (that is
the term used when referring to Jesus’ distinction as God and man) are John 8:58 and John
1:14. In John 8:58, Jesus makes it clear that He is and always was God. In John 1:14, John
writes that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. Jesus has always been God, but it
was not until His holy conception in Mary that He also became fully human. The reasoning
behind Jesus’ need to become human is simple. We needed a permanent solution to our sin
problem, and the only way in which this could occur is if a perfect sacrifice (Jesus) was
provided. Likewise, Jesus provided us with a raw example in which we as humans could
identify with for our struggles and feelings.
As stated before, Jesus needed to become fully human in order for us to have a
permanent, perfect solution to sin. If Jesus had not become fully human, then we would still
be left with an inadequate sacrifice, as human (spiritual) death was the result from sin.
Keeping this in mind, it is important to remember not to overemphasize, or, likewise, to
deny the deity and humanness of Jesus Christ. The reasoning behind this is simple. If we
make Jesus out to be “more God” than man, we begin to lose the distinction and uniqueness
of His humanness. Just as importantly on the other hand, if we emphasize His humanness
more than His godliness, we lose the crucial aspect of Christ’s deity. Again, Jesus is
completely God and completely man. There is no more and no less of each. Both of His
distinctions make Him who He is, and allow for Him to be the perfect sacrifice, savior, and
example for the human race.
As with any understanding and interpretation, there are bound to be objections that
follow. In regards to Christology, some of those objections demand clarification. A few
examples of objections to Christology include Ebionism, which states that Jesus is just a
man and is not divine. Furthermore, there is Adoptionism, which states that Jesus was, at a
point in time, “adopted” by God. Lastly, there is Docetism, which states that Jesus is not
human at all. With all of these objections, and the many more out there in the world, it is
clear to see a predominant confusion. This confusion is overemphasizing and denying Jesus’
deity and humanness, which I have clarified. Scripture is abundantly clear about Jesus’
distinction and characteristics of being both God and man. There is no giving and taking
away of those characteristics. Furthermore, for me personally, Jesus’ distinction as both God
and man allows me to identify with Him throughout Scripture for both human struggles
and spiritual struggles. The many examples Jesus gave in how to react to our physical world
in a spiritual light, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us as humans, has and does
constantly play a pivotal role in my relationship with God.
793 words
Works Cited
"Bible Basics Study 8.4 - The Humanity of Jesus." Bible Basics. Web. 08 June 2015.
"Christological Heresies." Standing on My Head. Web. 08 June 2015.
Life Application Study Bible: New International Version. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1997.
Print.
"What Are the Strongest Biblical Arguments for the Divinity of Christ?" GotQuestions.org.
Web. 08 June 2015.
"What Is the Hypostatic Union?" GotQuestions.org. Web. 08 June 2015.
