Questions tagged [christology]
The branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ. For questions about the life of Jesus, use [life-of-jesus].
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Does Jesus ever claim to be God, or the son of God?
While I understand there are many potential passages in the Bible of Jesus claiming to be a messiah (which I understand to mean "anointed"), a king, or one through whom it is necessary to know God, I'...
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Was the Trinity still a Trinity when Jesus died?
Christians believe a few basic things:
God exists as Three Persons in One Being
Jesus died on the cross (and rose again)
Jesus was God.
During #2, however, there seems to be a bit of a problem. How ...
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How can the Son not know what the Father knows?
Matthew 24:36 (NLT)
Mark 13:32 (NLT)
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
Now ...
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What is the biblical basis for Jesus being God incarnate?
In John 17:3 it says that Jesus called the Father the "only true God" and called himself sent by the Father.
Also, in Matthew 4:10, Jesus himself says to:
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him ...
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If Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) don't believe in a Holy Trinity, then who do they believe is God?
It's a pretty well-known fact that Latter-Day Saint members (aka Mormons) do not believe in the Holy Trinity, i.e., that God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are 'one'. So what exactly do they believe in, ...
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What exactly does it mean that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
What does it mean to a Christian that Christ is the son of God? On the one hand, obviously, the normal biological meaning of son does not apply. On the other hand, "we are all children of God", but ...
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What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Jesus is Michael?
Congregations such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists believe that Jesus is Michael. What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Jesus is Michael?
Jehovah's Witnesses
...it is ...
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Was Christ the man created?
In historical Christian belief (of almost any type), it would be considered heresy to say that God the Son was created. The term "begat" is preferred, where this term does not imply creation.
In such ...
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Is it Proper to State that Chalcedonianism is a Moderate Position In-between Nestorianism and Monophysitism?
I am reading the book The First Seven Ecumenical Councils by Leo Donald Davis. This is my first introduction to Trinitarian and Christological disputes within the Early Church.
It appears to me:
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According to Protestants, what is the biblical basis of Jesus being "one substance with the father"?
The only place in scripture where the relationship of the substance of Jesus with the substance of God that I can find in the scriptures is To the Hebrews:1:3 which actually says that they are of ...
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How have Protestants explained how Jesus could be born of mankind and be sinless?
Very simple question really. If the sin of Adam is passed down through the generations, so that all of us are born with a sin nature, how can it be that Jesus was born of Mary (a human being), yet ...
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How do Trinitarians explain verses where Jesus claims to have a God?
According to orthodox trinitarian doctrine, the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Jesus is co-eqaul, eternally begotten, not made.
With that in mind, how could Jesus have a ...
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From where do Jehovah's Witnesses derive the doctrine that Jesus was and now is Michael the Archangel?
According to some Watchtower literature, it is taught that Michael the Archangel is Jesus and that Jesus, after He ascended into heaven, resumed the name of Michael.
"It proves Michael the ...
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How similar was the resurrected body of Jesus to his physical human body?
Different Christian denominations have differing theologies of the resurrection: what it means for us, how it happened, and so on. What do the main bodies of Christian belief (Orthodox, Catholic, "...
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If Jesus is God, who/where does Jesus pray to?
I realize that some of Christianity believe God and Jesus to be one being, whereas some believe them to be separate and distinct beings. I come from the background of the latter group, which reasoning ...
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Is it accurate to say Jehovah's Witnesses do not view Jesus as divine?
I am fully aware that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah and Jesus are separate beings.
However their translation of John 1:1 says that "the word (logos) was a god.
Do Jehovah's Witnesses ...
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How do Biblical Unitarians understand what some theologians refer as the Kenosis in Philippians 2?
Philippians 2:5-9 describes the attitude of humility, love, and service which Christ Jesus possessed while on earth:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he ...
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Besides the writings of John, what is the biblical evidence Jesus Christ is the Only-begotten Son of God?
Apart from John's writings, what is the Biblical evidence that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten son of God?
John makes it clear (such as in John 1:18, 3:18), but other parts of the Bible refer to ...
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What is the biblical basis for the logos in John 1:1-3 not being Jesus (yet)?
1In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 2he was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not even one thing came ...
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How should I understand the emphasis on "begotten, not made" in the Nicene Creed?
I'm trying to understand the importance the repetition of "begotten" in the Nicene creed. It states (emphasis mine):
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
...
user72
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According to Jehovah's Witnesses, does Jesus make the same claim as God, that he is the "first and the last,"?
Isaiah 44:6, "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the Lord of host; I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me."
But Jesus Christ makes the same claim in ...
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What is the difference between Apollinarianism and Eutychianism?
Both Apollinaris and Eutychius believed in one divine subject Christology that the only and whole person of Christ is a divine person, the Logos. Not a divine-humane person. Their Christology were ...
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How do Jehovah's Witnesses understand Hebrews 1?
Hebrews 1:4–14 contrasts Jesus with the angels. How do groups like Jehovah's Witnesses, who see him as an angel, understand these verses?
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What is the Biblical basis for Jesus Christ being a created being according to Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ is a created being. What is the Biblical basis for this position?
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Is there any historical evidence of Early Church Christians denying the divinity of Jesus during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD?
I'm essentially asking the counter-question to this one. Is there any historical evidence of Early Church Christians (post-New Testament) openly denying the divinity of Jesus in the 1st and 2nd ...
user50422
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How do those who believe that Jesus is a created being understand the verses which say everything that was created was created by him?
There are some people who claim that Jesus is a created being, but this claim is nowhere confirmed, rather the Bible says:
Everything became through the Word, and without the Word did not
become one ...
user49782
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Did God the Son become flesh?
I read here somewhere that 'the logos IS the ever-living Son'.
The bible says the logos became flesh.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son ...
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According to trinitarians, especially Protestants, who is Wisdom in Proverbs?
In general, Wisdom can be (and is, and was) identified as Jesus. However, there is this verse:
Proverbs 8:22 (NLT)
22 "The Lord formed me from the beginning,
&...
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According to LDS (Mormon) teaching, what is the relationship between Jesus and Lucifer?
What does the LDS/Mormon church teach about the relationship between Jesus and Lucifer? Are they beings on the same level or of the same origin? What are their natures? What texts are used to teach ...
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When did "he descended into hell" become part of the Apostles' Creed?
There seems to be much more debate over one clause of the Apostles' Creed than the entire rest of it put together, and that is the "descent into hell" (or "hades") clause, also known as the "harrowing ...
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Does the Chalcedonian Definition mean Christ has two minds?
In the seventh century two Christological doctrines were determined to be un-orthodox and in contradiction to the Chalcedonian Definition: that Christ has one "energy", and then that Christ has one ...
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What are the predominant Christian views on whether Jesus had to specifically die by crucifixion? Could he have chosen another kind of death?
As I understand it, Jesus was sentenced to die "under Pontius Pilate" and was crucified as punishment. It seems to me that Jesus had no choice but to be crucified. After all, if a criminal is ...
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What do non-trinitarians mean when they call Jesus the "Son of God"?
On a different question I got an answer and some comments. One of which said:
Generally, when a Christian says that Jesus is the "Son of God" they are referring to the doctrine of the Trinity, ...
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What is the Biblical basis that the second Person of the Trinity was the Only-begotten Son of the Father before His incarnation?
Do we have any proof from the Bible that the second Person of the Trinity was the Only-begotten Son of the Father before His incarnation?
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Is there any historical evidence that the early church believed in the divinity of Jesus?
Is there any historical evidence that the early church believed in the divinity of Jesus? What about the first century? What about the second century (and so on)? Was the belief in the divinity of ...
user50422
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What is the biblical basis against the idea that Jesus descended into hell?
Related question: What is the Biblical basis for the concept that Jesus spent time in Hell?
The question linked above provides a number of biblical arguments in support of the "descent into hell" (or ...
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Why is Jesus Christ only one person despite having two minds?
I think this question haven't been asked yet here. The teaching of Chalcedonian Christianity (including the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant churches) is that Jesus Christ exists as one ...
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How do modalists understand the role of Jesus as mediator?
The Bible calls Jesus our mediator:
Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34, ESV)
For there is ...
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What's so bad about monoergism and monothelitism?
Two early heresies that intrigue me a bit are monoergism and monothelitism. Both basically suggest that while Jesus was both human and divine, he only had one "energy" or one "will." Both were ...
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How could Jesus be surprised?
Matthew 8:5-10 (NLT)
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said,...
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If Christ is considered the 'Son of God' then how is He a part of a Trinity?
Note: This is in NO way a troll or a poke at any faith that believes in the doctrine of the Trinity but rather is simply a question for clarity.
There are several passages within the bible that ...
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What Scriptures did Arius use to support teaching that Jesus was created?
Arius probably quoted the following:
Revelation 3:14: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
Psalm 8:5–6: thou madest Him
Proverbs 8:22–25: ...
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Why is Jesus occasionally referred to as "The Christ"? Is there a different definition between the two?
I've occasionally heard of Jesus Christ referred to as "The Christ" and the phrasing has always struck me. What are the differences (if any) between referring to him as Jesus Christ versus "The ...
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Did the Romans not breaking Jesus' legs fulfill a prophecy?
I seem to remember that Jesus having already died and not needing his legs broken fulfilled an OT prophecy.
Where was this prophecy recorded and what did it say?
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Why is the Son of God called the Eternal Father in the book of Alma?
I happened across the following verses in the book of Alma:
Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father ...
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How does the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about Jesus Christ differ from Protestant Trinitarian Christology?
The Protestant Trinitarian view of Jesus Christ is that he is the only-begotten Son of God – begotten, not made. He is of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made. He is the Word ...
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Why does Jesus have to be fully God and fully man? Is it not sufficient to be the son of God and fully man?
This is a follow on from the question
Why does the Messiah have to be God?
Fully Man: I agree that Jesus had to become man, I believe this is VERY well supported in the bible. Hebrews 2:17-18, ...
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What is the Biblical basis for the belief that Michael is not Jesus?
Many Christians believe that the Archangel Michael is actually Jesus, most notably the Jehovah's Witnesses and Baptist preacher Charles H. Spurgeon.
We have a question asking for the Biblical basis ...
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What is the biblical basis for Jesus' eternal pre-existence (as opposed to having been created a long time ago)?
I know that many verses can be cited to argue for Jesus' pre-mortal existence (e.g. here). I'm also perfectly aware that a question asking for the biblical basis for Jesus being God incarnate has ...
user50422
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What does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach about who Jesus is and where He came from?
From the answer to another question, someone suggested that the LDS (Mormon) church teaches that Jesus is distinct from God—that though He is a part of the Godhead, the Godhead is not a Trinity ...
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