It took the Christian church over 400 years to sort out many ideas about who Jesus is. Our four gospels give different answers. People taught, wrote and discussed these questions and came to some decisions regarding helpful
ways to think about Jesus and not so helpful
ways to think about Jesus. Below are some notes to clarify class materials.
- Paul of Samosata was a proponent of adoptionism in the 3rd century.
- Arius taught that Jesus was a
creature
of God, a being created by God and not equal to God. - Apollinaris taught that Jesus did not have human intelect although in all other ways he was fully human.
- Finally, in 451 C.E., the Council at Chalcedon provided this formula:
THEREFORE, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the Godbearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.
Part 2 is in two parts. In this podcast we look at the gospels of Mark, Luke and John.
Our music is Fortune Laisse (Attaingnant), artist: Edward Martin, album: Art of the Lute in Renaissance, available from magnatune.com
Reading the New Testament Part 2: The Gospels (B)
Helpful Resources
From time to time, we will post resources to assist you in your study.
The
New Testament: An Introduction
History
of the Christian Church
Gnostic
Gospels
The
Community of the Beloved Disciple
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