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| | [[Image:David Christ on the Cross.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Christ on the Cross by [[Jacques Louis David]].]] | | [[Image:David Christ on the Cross.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Christ on the Cross by [[Jacques Louis David]].]] |
| − | '''Jesus Christ''' (''c.'' 4 BC - AD 30) is the [[only begotten Son]] of [[God]], [[incarnation|incarnated]] in the virgin [[Mary]], and [[Crucifixion|crucified]] for us under [[Pontius Pilate]]. The [[Nicene Creed]], the most widely accepted confession of the [[Christian]] [[faith]], explains that Jesus will return to earth at the end of days to judge the living and the dead. The birth of Jesus is celebrated by Christians worldwide on [[Christmas]], and the [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] three days after [[crucifixion]] and death is celebrated as [[Easter]]. | + | '''Jesus Christ''' (''c.'' 4 BC - April 3, 33 AD<ref>Or possibly April 7, 30 AD.</ref>) is the [[only begotten Son]] of [[God]], [[incarnation|incarnated]] in the virgin [[Mary]], and [[Crucifixion|crucified]] for us under [[Pontius Pilate]]. The [[Nicene Creed]], the most widely accepted confession of the [[Christian]] [[faith]], explains that Jesus will return to earth at the [[End times|end of days]] to [[Last Judgment|judge]] the living and the dead. The birth of Jesus is celebrated by Christians worldwide on [[Christmas]], and the [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] three days after [[crucifixion]] and death is celebrated as [[Easter]]. |
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| − | The coming of Jesus was [[Bible prophecy|prophesied]] in the [[Old Testament]], where he is his referred to as "the [[messiah]]," or anointed one. He changed the world forever with teachings of [[love]] and [[faith]] and [[forgiveness]], using [[parable]]s like the [[Prodigal Son]] that flow from the existence of [[God]]. "Jesus triumphed over the [[Devil]], and personally set the ultimate example for mankind, by enduring the horrific process of scourging and death by crucifixion under the ancient Roman regime in obedience to God's will." Laws against blasphemy prevented Jesus from describing himself as God, so he repeatedly referred to himself in the [[Gospels]] as the [[Son of Man]], which can be translated as "''the'' Son, a man." | + | The coming of Jesus was [[Bible prophecy|prophesied]] in the [[Old Testament]], where he is referred to as "the [[messiah]]," or anointed one.<ref>''See, e.g.'', [[Isaiah, Chapter 7#14|Isaiah 7:14]] - "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin[3] shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."</ref> He changed the world forever with teachings of [[love]] and [[faith]] and [[forgiveness]], using [[parable]]s like the [[Prodigal Son]] that flow from the existence of [[God]]. "Jesus triumphed over the [[Devil]], and personally set the ultimate example for mankind, by enduring the horrific process of scourging and death by crucifixion under the ancient Roman regime in obedience to God's will." Laws against blasphemy prevented Jesus from describing himself as God, so he repeatedly referred to himself in the [[Gospels]] as the [[Son of Man]], which can be translated as "''the'' Son, a man." |
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| | Jesus is the only Son of God and prophesied [[Messiah]] who, at the appointed time, was sent by His [[God the Father|Father]] and became a man to be the payment for the penalty of [[sin]] that separated us from God and to reveal to us the loving nature of God and the way to [[salvation]] through his human person (1 John 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19). Although He was sinless, he bore the penalty for sin upon Himself for us and is our true [[Savior]]. | | Jesus is the only Son of God and prophesied [[Messiah]] who, at the appointed time, was sent by His [[God the Father|Father]] and became a man to be the payment for the penalty of [[sin]] that separated us from God and to reveal to us the loving nature of God and the way to [[salvation]] through his human person (1 John 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19). Although He was sinless, he bore the penalty for sin upon Himself for us and is our true [[Savior]]. |
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| | ''See also:'' [[Christology]] | | ''See also:'' [[Christology]] |
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| − | [[Christology]] is the branch of [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theology]] relating to the person, nature, and role of [[Jesus Christ]]. The term literally means "study of Christ". | + | [[Christology]] is the branch of [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theology]] relating to the person, nature, and role of Jesus Christ. The term literally means "study of Christ". |
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| | == Jesus' Life == | | == Jesus' Life == |
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| | ===Incarnation of the Son of God=== | | ===Incarnation of the Son of God=== |
| | [[Image:Gerard van Honthorst Nativity.jpg|thumbnail|350px|right|Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst]] | | [[Image:Gerard van Honthorst Nativity.jpg|thumbnail|350px|right|Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst]] |
| − | The Son of God, who was always with the Father before all creation, took upon himself flesh, that is, become a human being, taking the flesh of manhood from his mother Mary but without her being impregnated by any man. He was born of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of John begins,<blockquote>"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... and the Word become flesh and dwelt among us"</blockquote>. There are two understandings of this. Though both hold that the Son of God, Divinity Himself, became a man, they understand differently the beginning of the Gospel of John. | + | The Son of God, who was always with the Father before all [[creation ]], took upon himself flesh, that is, become a human being, taking the flesh of manhood from his mother Mary but without her being impregnated by any man. He was born of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of John begins,<blockquote>"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... and the Word become flesh and dwelt among us"</blockquote>. There are two understandings of this. Though both hold that the Son of God, Divinity Himself, became a man, they understand differently the beginning of the Gospel of John. |
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| − | The first understanding sees in the Son of God being the Word ("logos" in Greek) that He is the communication of the Father and thus in some sense the purpose of His coming was to mediate the knowledge of God to man among whom He would dwell and be one with them. But as mediator He is in no way inferior to the God He communicates because He Himself is God. The Trinity is emphasized though by implication (the word "Trinity" is of later usage to describe the phenomenon as presented by the New Testament). This understanding rests upon the use of "logos" in Philo and elsewhere meaning "reason", "word", "rationale" | + | The first understanding sees in the Son of God being the [[Word of God|Word]] ("logos" in Greek) that He is the communication of the Father and thus in some sense the purpose of His coming was to mediate the knowledge of God to man among whom He would dwell and be one with them. But as mediator He is in no way inferior to the God He communicates because He Himself is God. The Trinity is emphasized though by implication (the word "Trinity" is of later usage to describe the phenomenon as presented by the New Testament). This understanding rests upon the use of "logos" in Philo and elsewhere meaning "reason", "word", "rationale" |
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| | The second interpretation, while in no way negating His coming to be the communication of the Father to man necessitating the incarnation and explicating the Trinity, rather says that we need to look not to Philo and the "logos" philosophy but to the Aramaic Jewish thought of the time. Doing so, we can see that the Gospel of John intends to rip away a veil, and in doing so, will show us that it was God Himself and no mediator, that leaped down to take the form of a human being, and that this is to be spoken of boldly. | | The second interpretation, while in no way negating His coming to be the communication of the Father to man necessitating the incarnation and explicating the Trinity, rather says that we need to look not to Philo and the "logos" philosophy but to the Aramaic Jewish thought of the time. Doing so, we can see that the Gospel of John intends to rip away a veil, and in doing so, will show us that it was God Himself and no mediator, that leaped down to take the form of a human being, and that this is to be spoken of boldly. |