The person and teaching of Jesus Christ
The person and teaching of Jesus Christ
This domain tests Christological titles, the Chalcedonian definition, the Kingdom of God, parables, the Sermon on the Mount and the passion-resurrection narratives, plus the criteria historians use to assess Gospel traditions.
Titles and natures
- Son of Man (Dan 7:13), Son of God, Messiah/Christ, Lord (Kyrios), Logos (John 1).
- Chalcedon (451): one person, two natures - divine and human - unmixed, unchangeable, indivisible, inseparable. Against Nestorius (two persons) and Eutyches (one nature).
- Hypostatic union; kenosis in Phil 2:6-11.
Kingdom and teaching
- The Kingdom is already present in Jesus' words and deeds yet still awaited - already/not yet.
- Parables of growth (mustard seed, leaven) and of crisis (talents, tenants).
- The Sermon on the Mount demands a 'greater righteousness' (Matt 5:20), love of enemies, and the Golden Rule.
- Table fellowship with sinners and Sabbath controversies enact the Kingdom's inclusiveness.
Worked example
Mark 2:1-12: the paralytic is lowered through the roof; Jesus says 'your sins are forgiven', then 'take up your pallet'. Reasoning: the healing is the visible sign validating the invisible claim to forgive; Mark uses it to disclose a divine prerogative and provoke the charge of blasphemy, foreshadowing the passion. The criterion of embarrassment supports the tradition's authenticity, since it embarrassed the early community.
Traps that cost marks
- Mixing up person and nature at Chalcedon.
- Saying Jesus proclaimed 'the Church' rather than the Kingdom.
- Reducing parables to moral allegories.
- Confusing resurrection with resuscitation (Lazarus).