From the very moment that Jesus began to proclaim the kingdom of God was at hand and that all men should repent, there were questions regarding His identity and mission. Who was this man from Galilee who spoke with authority, raised the dead, and who so effortlessly won the affections of people from all walks of life? Questions such as this have occupied the minds of theologians and Christians for centuries. Clearly this was no ordinary religious figure. He came from humble beginnings and was not part of the religious establishment, yet He clearly possessed spiritual insight and power that had not been previously seen. Even His opponents recognized that He must have been given this power by God, as there was no other way to explain the things He did (cf. John 3:2). As we find throughout the pages of scripture, the world had never experienced a religious figure quite like Jesus.
His authority was not conferred upon Him by any religious party, and He possessed wisdom and power that was of unlimited measure. In fact, this was the subject of significant debates and controversies long after the Council of Nicaea took place in AD 325. We find that various ecumenical councils during the late-fourth and fifth centuries continued to seek clarity regarding the nature of Christ and His relationship to the other members of the Trinity. In Colossians 1:15-20, the Apostle Paul presents a very apt picture of the attributes Christ
Upon reflection, please answer the following questions.
- What might be said regarding the nature of Jesus? Was He simply a righteous man who was endowed with divine power from God the Father, or did He possess a divine nature himself?
- If He is to be regarded as a divine figure, how does this nature relate to his humanity?
- In your view, does Paul’s understanding of the nature of Christ seem to coincide with the way the doctrine of Christ was articulated by the councils of the fourth and fifth centuries? Explain your response.
Comments are closed