Aug 08, 2015 digging deeper into the ongoing topic of christology, this week john crowder walks us through the importance of keeping a high view of the incarnation and person of jesus christ. High christology of the gospels part 3 bible advocate. Overall, the johannine jesus is portrayed as the divine revealer. When jesus entered the house, the gospel writer claims that he wanted no one to know about. In christian theology this is called the chalcedonian definition and is based on the concept of th. What makes biblical theology such a difficult field to practice is precisely the task of scrubbing away the later definitions and trying to understand just what the earlier church voices were attempting to say. Jul 11, 2017 some scholars see johns gospel to be the product of a long period of development, so one might focus in on the christology that emerged in the course of that development.
These two topics can be found in the biblical books of john and mark. Sep 27, 2011 christology in the fourth gospel introduction. In addition, john s presentation represents a clear statement on the preexistence of christ, supporting jesus preeminent position in the first century as messiah. Johns gospel proclaims a majestically high christology. John s high christology reveals a crucial gospel in graecoroman times, bringing coherence between the philosophies of both internal greek and external jewish logos functions. It often includes such topics as the preexistence and eternality of christ, ot prophecies about christ, christs humanity, deity, and incarnation, as well as the issue of his temptations and sinlessness, his death, resurrection, ascension and exaltation, return, three. High christology in the gospel of john 1855 words bartleby. Digging deeper into the ongoing topic of christology, this week john crowder walks us through the importance of keeping a high view of the incarnation and person of. Following an introductory examination of rudolf bultmanns. Kims efforts to extract a low christology from john in which jesus was simply a man working on behalf of god for the liberation of humanity are similarly flawed. Christology in the fourth gospel thoughts of a living. As many scholars have noted, johns gospel proclaims a majestically high christology. What evidence exists in the gospel of john to support ernst kasemanns insight that the johannine jesus is like a god striding over the earth. Mark opens his gospel, just as john, with an affirmation of jesus divine status.
John wastes no time in getting started with christology in the gospel. Under the present heading we shall briefly indicate the views concerning christ held by the apostles st. Structure and issues, and the useful article by marten. John presents a very different jesus compared to the synoptic gospels. Indeed, many people have seen in john a christology that finds no parallel in the other gospels. I chose the above passages because they illustrate, quite clearly, what the terms mean. In addition, johns presentation represents a clear statement on the preexistence of christ, supporting jesus preeminent position in the first century as messiah. The gospel of john has perhaps the strongest subordinationist christology in the new testament, and it expresses it within the filial bond of father and son. Together, these two fields contribute to a very thorough view of jesus from a religious standpoint.
Johns high christology as iberation theology iberation theology is the movement within the church that values the overthrow of economic, social and political oppression, whereas johns high christology is a theological assessment rooted in the divinity of christ and the need for compassion and love for human beings based in gods love for us. Johns christology then is exalted and explicitly incarnational. That revelation consisted of his teachings, both about himself and about his role. This gospel moment, then, is an example of high christology. Christology relates to many areas of theology, but most important is its place in the life of the believer.
The second half of john does contain one text that some scholars have interpreted as expressing this christology. Apr 06, 2012 this gospel moment, then, is an example of high christology. None of this is to say that mark and matthew are entirely lowchristological works, or that john is entirely high christological. Jan 29, 2016 christology relates to many areas of theology, but most important is its place in the life of the believer. Investigation of the johannine high christology should be done in two ways. I will argue that some conventional readings of john are precarious and. The christology of the gospel of john the gospel of john was written later than the synoptics, and so its christology is more explicit than theirs, being the product of thejohanninecommunitys struggle to define its beliefs in contrast with those given in the traditional jewish doctrines of the time.
A text said to contain with a high christology emphasizes the divine aspects of jesus identity. The purpose of this series is to explore a supposed rift in how jesus is depicted in the gospels. Some scholars see johns gospel to be the product of a long period of development, so one might focus in on the christology that emerged in the course of that development. When we compare the earliest gospel mark to the latest john, its not clear to me that the former presents a low christology as opposed to the high christology of the latter. May 23, 2018 in this short book the body of which is 78 pages, kim argues that the gospel of john should be understood not as teaching exclusivism but inclusivism and empowerment through a low christology in which jesus was not god incarnate but the jewish messiah who worked on gods behalf ix, 1. John uses high christology throughout the entire gospel 2. In lieu of an abstract, below is the essays first paragraph. Its common parlance today to hear people discussing the high christology of the gospel of john and the very low christology in the synoptics. Sep 27, 2012 in preparation for a paper on the divinity of christ this post examines christology as presented in the gospel of matthew. Yet even granting that these four works share a common author, why do we believe that author was john. The most difficult obstacle in understanding john s christology is undoubtedly the word logos, because of his intro verse. John will be considered together with the other writings of the same apostle in the next paragraph. Morris notes, each of the evangelists in his own way brings out the deity of christ at the beginning of the gospel.
In this short book the body of which is 78 pages, kim argues that the gospel of john should be understood not as teaching exclusivism but inclusivism and empowerment through a low christology in which jesus was not god incarnate but the jewish messiah who worked on gods behalf ix, 1. Oct 01, 2010 the christology of the gospel of john the gospel of john was written later than the synoptics, and so its christology is more explicit than theirs, being the product of thejohanninecommunitys struggle to define its beliefs in contrast with those given in the traditional jewish doctrines of the time. Sep 27, 2018 was jesus the way, the truth, and the life. The incarnational christology of john gordon college. High christology of the gospels part 4 artios magazine. This verse alone makes people forget the fact that even in such a high christology gospel, john is still 100% unitarian. Many scholars have noted that johns gospel proclaims a majestically high christology.
Pauls incredibly high christology the bart ehrman blog. It was already acquiring this meaning in the third gospel, written for gentile readers luke 22. Jesus speaks gods words and does gods works, for all to hear and see jesus reveals gods identity and reveals his own identity, esp. John, the author, correctly understands that a distortion in understanding who christ is is the most dangerous thing that can happen to the church. This series of posts has clarified things rechristology lots for me. Johns gospel argues in several places that the appearing deity was not god.
The importance of logos christology in the gospel of john. Looking for a low christology in the gospel of john. The gospel of john presents jesus as the wordlogos, the son of god, who is god himself. Passages in the gospel of john have the highest christology of any in the new testamen. It is true that the synoptic gospel writers are not quite as forward about the identity of jesus as john is, but does that mean they have a low. Recognizing who jesus is, what he did and why these are essential to knowing him. What evidence exists in the gospel of john to support ernst kasemanns insight that the johannine jesus. The term christology from greek christos meaning anointed one or christ refers to the study of christ.
I will argue that some conventional readings of john are precarious and common proof texts, when read properly, are more indicative of a low christology. The four gospels portray jesus as having had a sense of mission much like the prophets in the hebrew bible, and they declare that jesus saw himself as the decisive revelation of god to his people. In this pericope, jesus and his disciples headed to tyre, where jesus continued his ministry in another location. Johns high christology reveals a crucial gospel in graecoroman times, bringing coherence between the philosophies of both internal greek and external jewish logos functions.
Are the christologies of mark and john radically different. In preparation for a paper on the divinity of christ this post examines christology as presented in the gospel of matthew. Johns gospel is often presented as having a high christology, particularly when contrasted with the low christology of the synoptics. What is the main difference between high and low christology.
The term christology from above or high christology refers to approaches that include aspects of divinity, such as lord and son of god, and the idea of the preexistence of christ as the logos the word, as expressed in the prologue to the gospel of john. What finally came through was a picture of a divine man supremely confident. Ive been reading through the gospels of mark and john, and frankly am puzzled by the low christology in mark, and the high christology in john. There is therefore in the nt, especially in the gospel of john, material which led to the classical christological definitions. People who stress the divinity of christ will lay emphasis on a miracles b jesus union with the will of his father c the gospel account of john, which has a high christological approach. John represents high christology, and mark represents the low version. In that sense, when read in light of the later councils of the church, johns gospel exhibits a high christology. Throughout the more than 2,000 years of christian history, there.
None of this is to say that mark and matthew are entirely lowchristological works, or that john is entirely highchristological. Between the gospel and the letters, there is certainly a common style especially among the letters, and much of the christology is the same. Christology in the fourth gospel thoughts of a living christian. Rabbi tovia singer exposes johns peculiar christology duration. Johns gospel is often presented as having a high christology but are alternative readings possible or even more credible. The culmination of a lifetime of work on the gospel of john, william loaders jesus in johns gospel explores the fourth gospel with a focus on ways in which attention to the structure of christology in john allows for greater understanding of johannine themes and helps resolve longstanding interpretive impasses. Indeed some have seen in john a christology that finds no parallel in the other gospels. A low christology portrays jesus as more human than divine.
Louis martyn and jorg frey go astray in their comparable books on the fourth gospel the gospel of john by assuming this new testament gospel says jesus is god. Jan 28, 2019 many scholars have noted that johns gospel proclaims a majestically high christology. In contrast to the thesis of ehrman and others that a high christology, which identified jesus as a fully divine figure, was an evolutionary development, a cohort of scholars has argued for something more akin to a big bang approach to the origins of a fully divine christology. From the introduction of johns gospel the divinity of jesus christ is immediately addressed when john writes in the beginning, implying. High christology of the gospels part 1 artios magazine. High christology in the gospel of john a very brief look at the new testament. John focuses on jesus use of metaphors and irony 3.
But my point here is that even gjohn doesnt make the high christological claims affirmed by the author rest simply or even particularly on. Christ enlightens every man that comes into the world, gospel of john 1. The most difficult obstacle in understanding johns christology is undoubtedly the word logos, because of his intro verse. Development in new testament christology the gospel. Only then may someone believe in jesus and have eternal life john 3. John, the gospel, is full of christology because all correct theology begins and ends with christ.
Scroggs, christology in paul and john philadelphia. Kasemanns quote describes jesus as a god, which offers an immediate insight into the high christology of jesus in the gospel of john. The key texts for temple christology in john are found primarily in the prologue and the book of signs jn 112. John emphasizes jesus as the word incarnate who came to redeem. And yet all other reasonable creatures, there have seeds of laws. Christianity teaches that jesus was not god only or a man only, but truly god and truly man, unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.
John s high christology as iberation theology iberation theology is the movement within the church that values the overthrow of economic, social and political oppression, whereas john s high christology is a theological assessment rooted in the divinity of christ and the need for compassion and love for human beings based in gods love for us. Logos in stoicism is a cosmic reason, the governing principle of all that is. I decided to specifically look into matthews gospel because it was recently charged in an online discussion forum i take part in that the writer of the gospel of matthew did not believe christ was god. Christology in the fourth gospel catholic resources. There are clear bits of historical context throughout. The gospel of matthew, the infancy narrative 2629 words 11 pages. Jesus never says he is god, kim tells his readers 2, as though this argument from silence is at all significant. The fourth gospel presents a more explicit christology than do the synoptic gospels, with several unique contributions to new testament christology, and, having the background of the historical presentation of jesus, john expounds and furthers theological themes.
In this essay i reevaluate the foundations of the purported high christology of johns gospel in light of recent johannine scholarship. Jan 14, 2019 johns gospel proclaims a majestically high christology. High christology of the gospels part 1 bible advocate. Oct 02, 2017 john, the gospel, is full of christology because all correct theology begins and ends with christ. The incarnational christology of john james parker criswell college, dallas, tx 75201 john leaves no doubt as to the purpose of writing his gospel. I decided to specifically look into matthews gospel because it was recently charged in an online discussion forum i take part in that the writer of the gospel of matthew did not believe christ. This high antic christology explains the centrality of christ in johns. The culmination of a lifetime of work on the gospel of john, william loaders jesus in john s gospel explores the fourth gospel with a focus on ways in which attention to the structure of christology in john allows for greater understanding of johannine themes and helps resolve longstanding interpretive impasses.