Christology
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The word "Christology" comes from two Greek words meaning "Christ / Messiah" and "word" - which combine to mean "the study of Christ." Christology is the study of the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
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Estimated Start Time: 8.00 PM
- 15 minutes worship,
- 25 minutes study and
- 15 minutes prayer
Estimated Finish Time: 8.55 PM
Time to Leave home: before 9.30 PM
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Christ - the Preexistent and Eternal Son of God
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Introduction
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Jesus was Preexistent with the Father. Jesus was equally divine with the Father. He is the only Son of God (divine) to become the Son of Man (human) in order to die on the cross for us, so that we might become sons (children) of God.
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Preexistent and Eternal Son of God
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1. John declares Jesus as the Word that was with God and was God.
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- Jesus Christ was an Preexistent Son of God, and was equally divine with the Father. Just as the Father is the source of all things in creation, Jesus was the agent of all things that was created.
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Nahthd; 1:1. MjpapNy thu;j;ij ,Ue;jJ> me;j thu;j;ij Njtdplj;jpypUe;jJ> me;j thu;j;ij NjtdhapUe;jJ.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
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2. mtu; MjpapNy NjtNdhbUe;jhu;.
The same was in the beginning with God.
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3. rfyKk; mtu; %ykha; cz;lhapw;W; cz;lhdnjhd;Wk; mtuhNyay;yhky; cz;lhftpy;iy.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
- Paul affirms that Christ was preexistent and all things were created through Him. Jesus Christ was the agent of all creation. This confirms that Jesus was equally divine and was preexistent with the Father.
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nfhNyhnrau; 1:16. Vndd;why; mtUf;Fs; rfyKk; rpU\;bf;fg;gl;lJ; guNyhfj;jpYs;sitfSk; G+Nyhfj;jpYs;sitfSkhfpa fhzg;gLfpwitfSk; fhzg;glhjitfSkhd rfy t];Jf;fSk;> rpq;fhrdq;fshdhYk;> fu;j;jj;Jtq;fshdhYk;> Jiuj;jdq;fshdhYk;> mjpfhuq;fshdhYk;> rfyKk; mtiuf;nfhz;Lk; mtUf;nfd;Wk; rpU\;bf;fg;gl;lJ.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
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2. Glorious Preexistence of the Son of God
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- John’s affirmation of the Glory of Christ, confirms that Jesus was equal to God not only in divinity and power, but also in glory
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Nahthd; 17:5. gpjhNt> cyfk; cz;lhfpwjw;F Kd;Nd ck;kplj;jpy; vdf;F cz;lhapUe;j kfpikapdhNy ,g;nghOJ ePu; vd;id ck;kplj;jpNy kfpikg;gLj;Jk;.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- Christ affirms that the Father and the Son are one. Jesus Christ is the preexistent Son of God since no human can claim to be with God, if he is has not been Preexistent.
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Nahthd; 10:30. ehDk; gpjhTk; xd;whapUf;fpNwhk; vd;whu;.
I and my Father are one.
- Christ decisively goes back to the Father and prayed that we might be one as He is one with the Father (in power, in glory, and in divinity)
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Nahthd; 17:11. ehd; ,dp cyfj;jpypNud;> ,tu;fs; cyfj;jpypUf;fpwhu;fs;; ehd; ck;kplj;jpw;F tUfpNwd;. gupRj;j gpjhNt> ePu; vdf;Fj; je;jtu;fs; ek;ikg;Nghy xd;whapUf;Fk;gbf;F> ePu; mtu;fis ck;Kila ehkj;jpdhNy fhj;Jf;nfhs;Sk;.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
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3. Christ the Preexistent Form of God, took upon the form of man.
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- Jesus Christ was a form of God(Son of God), decided to come down as a form a man (Son of Man) to make us sons of God
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gpypg;gpau; 2:6. mtu; NjtDila &gkhapUe;Jk;> NjtDf;Fr; rkkhapUg;gijf; nfhs;isahbd nghUshf vz;zhky;>
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
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7. jk;ikj;jhNk ntWikahf;fp> mbikapd; &gnkLj;J> kD\u; rhayhdhu;.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
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8. mtu; kD\&gkha;f; fhzg;gl;L> kuzgupae;jk;> mjhtJ rpYitapd; kuzgupae;jKk; fPo;g;gbe;jtuhfp> jk;ikj;jhNk jho;j;jpdhu;.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- As God, Christ poured himself out be becoming human. And as human, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient unto death. Prior to his taking the ‘form of a slave, Jesus was in fact, ‘in the form of God’
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gpypg;gpau; 2:6. mtu; NjtDila &gkhapUe;Jk;> NjtDf;Fr; rkkhapUg;gijf; nfhs;isahbd nghUshf vz;zhky;>
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
- Because God loved us, he emptied himself (not someone else), and became a man, and took the form of a man (a slave born under law), so that we might become sons of God
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gpypg;gpau; 2:7. jk;ikj;jhNk ntWikahf;fp> mbikapd; &gnkLj;J> kD\u; rhayhdhu;.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
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4. Jesus Christ was the eternal Son of God sent to redeems us.
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- The Son of God Christology is evident in the writings of Paul. Paul affirms that Jesus was the Son of God (Preexistent) who was sent to condemn sin in the flesh
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Nuhku; 8:3. mnjg;gbnadpy;> khk;rj;jpdhNy gytPdkhapUe;j epahag;gpukhzk; nra;af;$lhjij NjtNd nra;Ak;gbf;F> jk;Kila Fkhuidg; ghtkhk;rj;jpd; rhayhfTk;> ghtj;ijg; Nghf;Fk; gypahfTk; mDg;gp> khk;rj;jpNy ghtj;ij Mf;fpidf;Fs;shfj; jPu;j;jhu;.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- John the beloved disciple, affirmed that Jesus was the only Son of God sent to the World to save us from sin.
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Nahthd; 3:16. Njtd;> jk;Kila xNuNgwhd Fkhuid tpRthrpf;fpwtd; vtNdh mtd; nfl;Lg;Nghfhky; epj;jpa[Ptid milAk;gbf;F> mtiuj; je;jUsp> ,t;tstha; cyfj;jpy; md;G$u;e;jhu;.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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5. Echoes of Abraham and Isaac (Gen 22)
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- God spared not his own Son, Just as Abraham did not spare his only son Isaac.The Son whom the Father sent to be offered on the Cross, was uniquely God's only Son (Fee, 2012, p.550)
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Mjpahfkk; 22:1. ,e;jf; fhupaq;fs; ele;jgpd;G> Njtd; Mgpufhikr; Nrhjpj;jhu;; vg;gbnadpy;> mtu; mtid Nehf;fp: MgpufhNk vd;whu;; mtd;: ,Njh mbNad; vd;whd;.
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
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2. mg;nghOJ mtu;: cd; Gj;jpuDk; cd; VfRjDk; cd; NerFkhuDkhfpa Nkhupah Njrj;Jf;Fg; Ngha;> mq;Nf ehd; cdf;Ff; Fwpf;Fk; kiyfs; xd;wpd;Nky; mtidj; jfdgypahfg; gypapL vd;whu;.
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
- Paul explored the aspect of the Son of God, as the one who delivered us from the dominion of darkness by his Sacrifice on the Cross.
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nfhNyhnrau; 1:13. ,Uspd; mjpfhuj;jpdpd;W ek;ik tpLjiyahf;fp> jkJ md;gpd; FkhuDila uh[;aj;jpw;F cl;gLj;jpdtUkhapUf;fpw gpjhit ];Njhj;jpupf;fpNwhk;.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
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6. God sent his Son, as the demonstration of His Love
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- While we were yet sinners, God loved us by sending His Only Son Jesus Christ.
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Nuhku; 5:6. md;wpAk; ehk; ngydw;wtu;fshapUf;Fk;NghNj> Fwpj;j fhyj;jpy; fpwp];J mf;fpukf;fhuUf;fhf kupj;jhu;.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
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7. ePjpkhDf;fhf xUtd; kupf;fpwJ mupJ; ey;ytDf;fhf xUNtis xUtd; kupf;fj; Jzpthd;.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
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8. ehk; ghtpfshapUf;ifapy; fpwp];J ekf;fhf kupj;jjpdhNy> Njtd; ek;Nky; itj;j jkJ md;ig tpsq;fg;gz;Zfpwhu;.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
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7. God’s Son is a Creator (Agent of Creation and Redemption)
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- Jesus Christ was not only present in Creation, but a divine agent of both creation and redemption.
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I nfhupe;jpau; 8:6. gpjhthfpa xNu Njtd; ekf;Fz;L> mtuhNy rfyKk; cz;lhapUf;fpwJ; mtUf;nfd;W ehKk; cz;lhapUf;fpNwhk;. ,NaRfpwp];J vd;Dk; xNu fu;j;jUk; ekf;Fz;L; mtu;%ykha;r; rfyKk; cz;lhapUf;fpwJ> mtu; %ykha; ehKk; cz;lhapUf;fpNwhk;.
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
- Paul writes that Christ is the Son of God, and is the image of the invisible God. All things were created through Him and for Him. Hence Christ was Preexistent, eternal Son of God.
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nfhNyhnrau; 1:15. mtu; mjuprdkhd NjtDila jw;R&gKk;> ru;t rpU\;bf;Fk; Ke;jpd NgWkhdtu;.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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16. Vndd;why; mtUf;Fs; rfyKk; rpU\;bf;fg;gl;lJ; guNyhfj;jpYs;sitfSk; G+Nyhfj;jpYs;sitfSkhfpa fhzg;gLfpwitfSk; fhzg;glhjitfSkhd rfy t];Jf;fSk;> rpq;fhrdq;fshdhYk;> fu;j;jj;Jtq;fshdhYk;> Jiuj;jdq;fshdhYk;> mjpfhuq;fshdhYk;> rfyKk; mtiuf;nfhz;Lk; mtUf;nfd;Wk; rpU\;bf;fg;gl;lJ.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
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17. mtu; vy;yhtw;wpw;Fk; Ke;jpdtu;> vy;yhk; mtUf;Fs; epiyepw;fpwJ.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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Conclusion
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If Christ was present in Creation, then He was Preexistent. Study of Christ (Christology) reveals that Christ was an agent of Creation and Redemption. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is also the Pre-incarnate Son of God since God sent His Only Son. Jesus the Son of God (form of God), came down as human slave (form of human), to make us sons (children) of God. To God the Father, and to Jesus Christ, the Preexistent, Eternal Son of God, and to the Holy Spirit, be glory, honor and power forever and ever.
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References
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http://www.gotquestions.org/Christology.html#ixzz3554l0O4v
Fee, G. (2007), Pauline Christology : Hendrickson Publishers.
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