Christology Part I
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV)
Greetings, everyone!
During my formative years at the Temple of Christ Church, I was introduced to the teachings of Christ. First Lady Sister Fannie Barreau provided foundational instruction in Primary Sunday School, particularly during what is now referred to as Resurrection Sunday. She assigned memorable statements about Christ to my brothers, Briscoe and Tom, as well as to myself. My sentence was, “Jesus Christ arose on Easter Day.” This phrase became part of my dinner prayer, a tradition I continue to observe.
I remain grateful to the Temple of Christ Church for this enduring influence. This statement provides significant insight into Christ and His nature. We know that He is the Son of the living God and was born from a virgin. However, there is so much about Christ that we may have overlooked. Welcome to Christology!
Christology refers to the exploration of the life and activities of Christ. The New Testament is the primary source for Christology. Christ is known for His titles; Messiah (John 4:25-26), Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18), Son of Man (Mark 14:62), the Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14), the (sacrificial) Lamb of God (John 1:36), the eternal, pre-existent Word (John 1:1), and the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 22:13).
“Christ” is not a surname but a title, derived from the Greek word Christos, which translates the Hebrew Mashiah (“Messiah”), meaning “anointed one.” While prophets and priests in ancient Israel were anointed, the term mostly referred to kings. The full significance of "Christ" is rooted in Old Testament expectations of God’s Messiah.
The phrase “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Romans 10:9) was among the earliest Christian statements of faith, distinguishing believers from non-believers. The title “Lord,” derived from Greek Kyrios and Aramaic mar, carried strong theological meaning due to its role in translating the Hebrew “YHWH,” the sacred name for God.
Many Christians see “Son of Man” as a natural balance to “Son of God.” While “Son of God” highlights Christ’s divinity, “Son of Man” affirms his humanity. Paul describes both Jesus and believers as "Son of God," but makes a distinction: believers are considered God's children through adoption, while Jesus is uniquely God's own Son, as stated in Romans 8:32.
Jesus is recognized in Christianity as saving people from their sins (Matthew 1:21) and acting with divine authority, a role reserved for God in Judaism. Early Christians used the fish symbol—spelled "Ichthys" in Greek—as an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
Christ is regarded as the one who carries the Holy Spirit. During his time on earth, Jesus was recognized as the person on whom God's Spirit resided. The event where Jesus received the Spirit during his baptism is especially significant for this reason (Matt. 3:13-17).
Next month, we'll discover even more aspects of Christ—some familiar, others new. Let's keep exploring Christology together.
