by Marilynn Chadwick
Christology is one of three studies of the persons of the Trinity, the other two being Paterology, the study of God the Father, and Pneumatology, the study of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles Creed, with its affirmation of both the doctrine of the Trinity and strong Christology, was written in the second century to combat the rise of false teaching in the early church.
The Doctrine of Christology can be defined as the study of the person, nature, and work of Jesus Christ. This week, we’ll explore how our Christology, what we believe about Jesus, influences how we live out our Christian faith.
But first, what is “proper” Christology? Creators of creeds and heretics alike have debated Christology for centuries. Sound Christology must be anchored in Scripture. Biblical Christology is consistent with the creeds of the church. Christology also informs our view of the Trinity and, more specifically, how we experience the person and character of Jesus. We look at the person and work of Jesus Christ from his pre-Incarnation existence to his Second Coming.
When it comes to Christology, prayer is referred to by some as “primary theology.” What we believe about Jesus Christ informs prayer, and prayer, in turn, influences how we walk in the world. Prayer is not simply a practice born out of a saving relationship with Jesus, but rather a means of getting to know him. Some theologians believe our current age’s fuzzy image of Jesus is due to a lack of strong Christology. This, in turn, impedes our developing an intimate friendship with Jesus and weakens our witness.
That’s why it’s important to have proper Christology which grounds us solidly in the identity of Christ. This gives us more reason to study God’s Word and abide in Christ daily. A healthy Christology builds balanced, mature, and fruitful believers.
The Incarnation, God in human flesh in Jesus Christ, is the centerpiece of our Christology and the defining event of Christian theology. Yet, the skepticism of modern historical biblical criticism has subjected the Incarnation to denial or even disbelief. The Apostle John recognized healthy Christology as the means of discerning false teachers in the first century:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already” (1 John 4:1-3 ESV).
Theologians in the early centuries of the church labored to formulate sound doctrinal statements on the person of Jesus Christ. This resulted in the creeds which affirmed Jesus as “fully God and fully man”. We have these theologians and early church fathers to thank. Their work gave us the high Christology which became the foundation for orthodox theology through the centuries.