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When asked to define God in one word, Christians often use the word love. If God is, in fact, love, as well as humankind’s creator, then God is also a parental figure in a relationship with creation. Thus, God is the heavenly father whom Christians call upon in prayer, as instructed by God’s son, Jesus…
Coming to know God’s presence begins with how humans experience presence within themselves and with one another. An ages old topic — most notably from the time of Augustine — theologians, philosophers, and spiritual mystics have grappled with how to define God’s presence, generally through the relationship between the mind as subject and connecting with…
Investigating a supernatural claim often means gathering evidence and positions against and for the claim. In the case of the virginal conception, the discussion involves varying perspectives, including scientific, historical, and theological (O’Collins 287). From the scientific standpoint, some scholars flat out reject the virginal conception as yet another miraculous event that is scientifically out…
Known in modern day as a ‘soft account’ of Jesus’ incarnation (O’Collins 232), Neo-Arianism keeps the Arian position that God is an ingenerate, non-shareable essence (Butler 362) who created Jesus’ existence and allowed for his immortality (Butler 366). However, unlike Arianism, Neo-Arianism claims that humankind is capable of understanding God’s essence, and that Jesus is…
Defining Jesus’ two natures and wills in one person begins with the Greek terms ouisa, hypostasis, and physis /prosopon. These terms took shape in the second century, with Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Irenaeus, and Origen first drawing distinctions between Jesus as the Son of Mary and Jesus as the Son of God (O’Collins 170, 173). Based…
Understanding why the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit is central to salvation begins with the Synoptic Gospels. Here, the Holy Spirit is an integral part of Jesus’ mission (O’Collins 153): his birth (Matt 1:18-21), baptism (Luke 3:21-22), ministry (Mark 1:12; Luke 4:14; Luke 12:12), and death (Matt. 27:50). Then, John’s Gospel and the…
Much of the resurrection’s in-depth meaning can be found in Paul’s letters — particularly in 1 Corinthians, Colossians, and Romans. In addition, because Paul, a former Pharisee, is apparently well versed in Hebrew Scripture, his teachings on the resurrection reframe the Jewish interpretation of redemption, atonement, creation, and divine kingship. Beginning with atonement, the Jewish…
When examining Christology as an integral branch of theology (Module 5 Slide 9), much of the study begins with how Jesus is portrayed in Scripture: Was he primarily a historical figure who lived a fully human life and perhaps experienced some degree of a divine or spiritual calling (low Christology)? Or was he God incarnate…
As a letter that is mostly likely a collection of letters compiled into one book within the New Testament, 2 Corinthians features Paul covering a range of topics, based on at least one prior visit, or possibly two prior visits, to Corinth. This paper will explain the occasion for 2 Corinthians (‘2 Cor’), an overview…
Grace. Law. Righteousness. Faith. These key terms, expressed in Martin Luther’s Death to the Law, encompass much of Luther’s theology and its relationship to Paul’s letters. This paper will explain how Luther’s use of the aforementioned terms has parallels with Paul’s writings, yet Luther’s theology is a significant departure from Paul’s. Beginning with the Law,…