Preface - l.b5z.net
Preface
Abbreviations
Chapter One: Introduction
The Fame of Jesus • Who Is Jesus? • What Is Christology? • The Significance of the Bible •
Traditional Christology • The Quest for the Historical Jesus • How Jesus Identified Himself • How
Others Identified Jesus • What Jesus Said About God • What Others Did Not Say About Jesus •
The Resurrected Jesus • The Holy Spirit and Fulfilled Prophecy • The Jesus Movement • The
Three Foremost Irrefutable Texts • The Scarcity of Biblical Texts • The Major Debated Theos
Texts • The Debated Non-Theos Texts • Principles of Hermeneutics • More Important
Considerations • Early Evangelistic Messages • Epilogue
Part One: History of Church Christology
Chapter Two: Church Christology in the First Millennium
Introduction • Greek Philosophy and Christian Theology • The Didache and 1 Clement • Pliny the
Younger • Early Jewish Christianity • Ignatius • 2 Clement • Justin Martyr • Iranaeus •
Sabellianism and Paul of Samosata • Tertullian • Origen • Summary of Ante-Nicene Christology •
Two Church Centers • The Arian Controversy • The Council of Nicaea • The Nicene Creed • Arius
Exonerated • Athanasius • Eusebius of Caesarea • Appolinaris • The Council of Constantinople •
New Testament Credal Fragments • The Apostles’ Creed • The Council of Ephesus • The Second
Council of Ephesus • The Council of Chalcedon • The Second Council of Constantinople •
Conclusions about Ecumenical Councils • Obliterating the Distinction between God and Son • The
Athanasian Creed • Critical Thinking • Social Implications of Critical Thinking
Chapter Three: Church Christology in the Second Millennium
The Medieval Period • The Catholic Inquisition • The Protestant Reformation • Servetus • The
Execution of Servetus • Reaction to the Execution of Servetus • The Socinians • Continental
European Unitarianism • British Unitarianism • John Locke • Deism • British Arianism • Sir Isaac
Newton: A Secret Arian? • Samuel Clarke: A Moderate Arian • William Whiston: A Zealous
Arian • American Unitarianism • The Anabaptists • The Affects of Religious Intolerance • Credal
Faith • Friedrich Schleiermacher • American Anti-Trinitarian Churches • Biblical Criticism • The
Tubingen School • The History of Religions School • Liberal Theology • The Quest for the
Historical Jesus • Death of the Quest • The New Quest • The Third Quest • Kenotic Christology •
Other Modern Developments • The World Council of Churches • Christianity and Islam • Modern
World Evangelism • British Scholars • The New Dutch Christology • Roman Catholic Scholars •
Bible et christologie • Call for a Revised Christology • Conclusion
Part Two: Messianism in the Old Testament
Chapter Four: Messianism in the Old Testament
A. Introduction: Yahweh, Messiah, Son of God, and Monotheism
The Parting of Judaism and Christianity • Yahweh • The Messiah • Yahweh and Messiah
Distinguished • Messiah as Yahweh’s Agent • Yahweh as Messiah’s God • The Son of
God • The Shema and Jewish Monotheism • Trinitarian Monotheism? • The New History
of Religions School
B. “The Angel of the LORD”
Introduction • The Meaning of malak • Adam and Eve • Hagar • Abraham • Isaac and
Jacob • Manoah and his Wife • Moses • Moses and the Guardian Angel of Israel • The
Transcendence of God • Joshua • Other Instances of the Angel of the LORD • The Angels
Gabriel and Michael • Michael as the Guardian Angel of Israel • Michael Servetus and
Michael the Archangel
C. Daniel’s “Son of Man”
Introduction • Daniel 7 • The Two Powers Heresy • The Jewish Saints Interpretation •
Dating Daniel • The Worldwide People of God • Heaven’s Royal Court • The Son of Man
as King • The Worldwide Kingdom • The Son of Man as Suffering Servant • The Son of
Man as “the Highest One” • The Son of Man as a Warrior-King • The Son of Man as a
Divine Being? • Conclusion
D. Problem Passages:
1. Is the Trinity in the book of Genesis?
Introduction • Switching from Plural to Singular • Four Primary Interpretations •
The Form of God and Angels • Man in the Image of God • Elohim • Seraphim •
Cherubim • The Sons of God • The Council of the Holy Ones • Angels Called
“gods” of “the Most High” • The Seven Spirits of God • Conclusion
2. Is Messiah called “Mighty God” in Isaiah 9.6?
Introduction • English Versions • The Hebrew and Greek Texts • The Context •
Commentators • Messianic Agency • Conclusion
3. What about alma and Immanuel in Isaiah 7.14?
4. Is the Davidic Messiah called “Yahweh” in Jeremiah 23.6?
Part Three: Christology in the New Testament
Chapter Five: Christology of the Synoptists
A. Introduction
The Synoptic Gospels and their Authors • The Authenticity of the Sayings of Jesus •
Priority and Dates of Authorship • Oral Tradition • The Christ, the Son of God • Only the
Father is God • The Baptism of Jesus • The Voice Out of the Heavens • The Holy Spirit
in the Life of Jesus • Acts of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus • The Temptations of
Jesus • The Humanity of Jesus • Angels Ministering to Jesus • The Miracles of Jesus •
The Resurrection of Jesus • Summary
B. Christology of Matthew
The Author and his Readers • Form, Structure, and Style • The Christ, the Son of God •
The Virgin Birth • Worshipping Jesus • Jesus’ Authority to Perform Miracles • The God
of Jesus Christ • Summary
C. Christology of Mark
The Author and his Readers • Structure and Style • The Author’s Purpose • The
Messianic Secret • Conclusion
D. Christology of Luke
The Author and his Readers • Structure and Style • “Christ, the Son of God” • “the Most
High (God)” • Jesus’ Physical and Moral Development • Jesus’ Dependence upon the
Holy Spirit • Jesus as Prophet • Glorifying and Praising God • Jesus in Prayer • Preaching
Jesus as “the Christ” • Preaching “the word” • Jesus’ Resurrection, Ascension, Exaltation
• Summary
E. The Limited Knowledge of Jesus
Introduction • Textual Variance • History of Interpretation • Jesus’ Ignorance of Other
Future Matters • Jesus’ Ignorance of Mundane Matters • Jesus’ Supernatural Knowledge •
Did Jesus “know all things”? • Conclusion
F. The Trial of Jesus
Introduction • The Sanhedrin’s Examination of Jesus • The Charge of Blasphemy • No
Charge of Jesus Claiming to Be God • The Trial before Pilate • The Crucified Jesus •
Conclusion
G. Problem Passages
1. Does calling Jesus “Immanuel” in Matthew 1.23 indicate that He is God?
2. Is the doctrine of the Trinity in Matthew 28.19?
3. Does Jesus’ authority to forgive sins in Mark 2.5 indicate that He was God?
4. Did Jesus identify Himself as God to the rich young man in Mark 10.18?
Chapter Six: Christology of John
A. Introduction
The Author and his Readers • “The Jews” • The Traditional Interpretation of John •
Comparing John with the Synoptics • Alleged Disparity & Consequent Dismissal •
Reinterpreting John • Christocentric or Theocentric? • The Prologue • The Word •
Wisdom Christology • The Humanity of Jesus • The Incarnation • Agent Christology •
The Meaning of theos in John • The Invisibility of God • Distinguishing God and Christ •
The Subordination of the Son • The Dependence of the Son • Truth and Life in the Son •
The Resurrection of the Son • The Holy Spirit • The Superiority of God the Father • Only
the Father Is God • The Son of God • The Revealer of God • The Purpose of the Fourth
Gospel • Summary
B. Problem Passages
1. Is the Logos identified as God in John 1.1c?
Introduction • The Mini-Prologue • English Versions and the Greek Text •
Dissecting the Three Clauses • Grammatical Problems • “the Word was divine” •
“the Word was a god” • The Jehovah’s Witnesses • “the Word was God” • The
Anarthrous theos in John 1.1c • The Colwell Rule? • Harner vs. Colwell • “what
God was, the Word was” • “the Word had the same nature as God” • Linkage •
Comparing John and the Author of Hebrews • Summary
2. Did Jesus preexist in heaven?
Introduction • The Spiritual Gospel • “He Existed before Me” in John 1.15, 30 •
Angels Ascending and Descending in John 1.51 • Jesus Ascending and
Descending in John 3.13 • “He Who Comes from Heaven” in John 3.31 • The
Bread from Heaven in John 6.25-65 • Wisdom Christology • “I Am from
Above” in John 8.23 • “The Glory…I had…Before” in John 17.5
3. Is Jesus called “the only begotten God” in John 1.18?
Introduction • The Greek NT and English Versions • The Meaning of
Monogenes • Reasons for Monogenes Theos • Reasons against Monogenes
Theos • Reasons for Ho Monogenes Huios • Reasons against Ho Monogenes
Huios • Survey of Scholars • Conclusion
4. Who said in John 5.18 that Jesus was “making Himself equal with God”?
Introduction • Healing on the Sabbath • Keeping the Sabbath Holy • Equality
with God? • Jesus’ Disclaimer of Deity • Summary
5. Did Jesus claim implicitly, in John 8.24, 28, 58, “I am Yahweh”?
Introduction • The “I am” Sayings in Exodus 3.14 and Deutero-Isaiah • The
Messianic Interpretation of John 8.24 • Jesus as “the Light of the World” • The
Context of Jesus’ “I am” Saying in John 8.24 • Jesus’ Message from the
Beginning • Jesus’ “I am” Sayings with a Predicate • The “Son of Man”
Interpretation of John 8.28 • Preexistence of Jesus in John 5.58? • A Different “I
am” Saying • Jesus’ “I am” Saying in John 18.5 • Summary
6. What did Jesus mean in John 10.30, “I and the Father are one”?
Introduction • Verse-by-verse Exposition • Summary
7. Did Thomas call Jesus “my God” in John 20.28?
Introduction • The Thomas Incident • Authenticity of Thomas’ Confession •
History of Interpretation of Thomas’ Confession • An Address to Jesus •
Nominatives as Vocatives? • Ascribing Divinity to Jesus • “The Lord” • “My
God and Your God” • “The Only True God” • Jesus as the Father’s Agent •
Seeing the Father in Jesus • The “God in Christ” Interpretation • Source of
Enlightenment and Glorification • Jesus’ Response • More History of
Interpretation • The Purpose of John’s Gospel • Conclusion
8. Is “the Trinity” in 1 John 5.7?
Introduction • Erasmus and Textus Receptus • External Evidence Against
Authenticity • Evidence Against the Authenticity of 1 John 5.7 • Conclusion
9. Who is “the true God” in 1 John 5.20?
Introduction • English Versions • Houtos Refers to Jesus Christ • Houtos Refers
to God the Father • Commentators • Conclusion
Chapter Seven: Christology of Paul
A. Introduction
Saul the Pharisee • Paul the Monotheistic Theologian • Paul the Evangelist • Paul’s
Gospel • Keeping the Gospel Pure • Only the Father is God • The God and Father of
Jesus Christ • Distinguishing God and Christ • Distinguishing God and His Son • Christ:
the Perfect Image of God • Adam Christology • God-in-Christ Christology • Lordship
Christology • Yahweh Texts Applied to Jesus • Subordination Christology • The
Invisibility and Immortality of God • “Maranatha” • The Spirit and Kingdom of God and
Christ • The Preexistence of Jesus? • The Cosmic Christ • Summary
B. Problem Passages
1. Does “the church of God” in Acts 20.28 indicate that Jesus is God?
Introduction • The Greek Text and Versions • Two Theou Translations •
Conclusions of Commentators
2. Does Paul call Jesus Christ “God” in Romans 9.5?
Introduction • Modern Greek New Testaments • Versions that Call Christ “God”
• Versions that Do Not Call Christ “God” • Reasons for the One Person View •
Reasons for the Two Person View • Survey of Commentators • Conclusion
3. Does Paul indicate in 2 Corinthians 8.9 that Jesus preexisted?
4. Does Galatians 2.20 say “the Son of God” or “(the) God and Christ”?
5. What about “the Kingdom of Christ and God” in Ephesians 5.5?
6. Does Paul say in Philippians 2.6 that Jesus had an “equality with God”?
Introduction • Two Interpretations • “The Form of God” • “Equality With God” •
“Emptied Himself” • “God Highly Exalted Him” • “Every Knee Bow/Tongue
Confess” • “Jesus Christ is Lord” • “The Name ... Above Every Name” •
Conclusion
7. Does “fullness” in Colossians 1.19 and 2.9 mean Jesus is God?
8. Is Jesus Christ “our God” in 2 Thessalonians 1.12?
English Versions • Reasons for the Two Persons View • Reasons for the One
Person View
9. Is Christ Jesus “the God-man” in 1 Timothy 2.5?
Introduction • God is “One” • The God-man? • Christ as Mediator • Conclusion
10. Is Christ Jesus “God manifest in the flesh” in 1 Timothy 3.16?
11. Is Christ Jesus “our great God and Savior” in Titus 2.13?
Introduction • The Greek Text and English Versions • One Person View • Two
Persons View • Survey of Scholars
Chapter Eight: Christology of the Author of Hebrews
A. Introduction
The Author and his Style • Structure and Purpose • The Prologue • The Superiority of
Jesus • The Sinless Humanity of Jesus • The Preexistence of Jesus? • Jesus as the Son of
God • Distinguishing God and Christ • The Subordination of the Son • Worshipping Jesus
• Jesus’ Prayers and Exaltation
B. Problem Passages
1. What does it mean in Hebrews 1.6 to worship Jesus?
2. Is “the Son” called “God” in Hebrews 1.8?
Introduction • English Versions of Psalm 45.6-7 • Grammar of Psalm 45.6-7 •
Setting of Psalm 45 • Jewish Monotheism • English Versions of Hebrews 1.8-9 •
Grammar of Hebrews 1.8-9 • Context of Hebrews 1.8-9 • Literary Reasons •
Scholastic Uncertainty • Summary
Chapter Nine: Christology of Peter
A. Introduction
The Apostle Peter • Servant Christology • Jesus: The Holy One of God • God Was with
Jesus • God Empowered Jesus to Do Miracles • Jesus Is the Christ • Christ Belongs to
God • The God of Jesus Christ • The Subordination of Christ to God • Emphasizing the
Humanity of Jesus • The Exaltation of Jesus
B. Problem Passage
1. Is Jesus called “our God and Savior” in 2 Peter 1.1?
The Greek Text and English Versions • Reasons for the One Person View •
Reasons for the Two Persons View • Commentators
Chapter Ten: Christology of The Apocalypse
A. Introduction
The Author • Structure and Style • Jesus’ Limited Knowledge • God and Christ
Distinguished • The God of Jesus Christ • “The Lamb” and “the Word” • The Throne of
God • Why No Holy Spirit? • “The Throne of David” • The Meaning of “Hallelujah” •
Agent Christology
B. Problem Passages
1. Is Christ identified as “the Lord God ... the Almighty” in Revelation 1.8?
2. Does Revelation 13.8 say the Lamb was slain at the time of creation?
3. Does the worship of Jesus in Heaven indicate that He is God?
Appendices
A: The Church Doctrine of the Trinity
B: The Nature of the Holy Spirit
C: Modern Christologies
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
General Bibliography
A. Primary Works Cited
B. Secondary Works Cited
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