Theological Synopses 1
Divinity
Vince Nixon
Systematic Theology
Dr. Kent Eilers
February 19, 2012
Jesus’ Divinity
Scripture – Jesus contains the full, and equal, divinity from God and the Holy Spirit (Col 2:9),
of which God confirmed (Mat 3: 16, Mark 1:10-11, Luke 3: 21-22, Acts 13:32-39). He was
begotten not made (John 1:1) and never in sin (2 Cor. 5: 21, Hebrews 4:15, 9:14, 1 John 3:5),
giving Him the power to conquer death for our sins (Romans 4:25, 1 Cor. 15:3, Gal. 1:4, 1 Peter
2:24).
Theologians: Grudem, Aquinas through McDermont, Grenz
Grudem:
When talking about Humanity and Divinity Grudem decided first to talk about the
Humanity of Jesus (pgs. 529-543), and then focus on the Divinity (pgs. 543-553), then lastly
combine the thoughts (pgs. 553-563). Grudem started Divinity first with Scriptural claims, which
means any scripture statements in which Jesus is God or Jesus is divine. Grudem points to three
points; when Jesus is portrayed as God (pgs. 543-544), called Lord (pgs. 544-545), and lastly as
“I am” (pgs. 545-547). Then seeing the need to justify the acts of God’s Divinity we see the
focus go to “Evidence That Jesus Possessed Attributes of Deity” (pgs. 547-549). Grudem
eventually led to a question of Jesus giving up some of His divine attributes while on earth,
known as the Kenosis Theory (pgs. 549-552). This was an interesting point of view, but I believe
that Grudem and I both agree it should not be one that we inherit. The conclusion being Jesus
being given titles and attributed actions that verify Him as an absolute Deity in which His name
was rightly “Emmanuel” (pg. 552).
Aquinas Edited by McDermott (will refer to as McDermott)
McDermott, when talking about the Trinity declared them as three persons existing in one
nature (pg. 472). He then went into talking about Jesus and the life of Christ in which he draws
from John Damascene in which “Christ’s humanity as God’s perfect tool” (pg. 473) showing that
the deity of Jesus decided that humanity was the perfect tool for this job of forgiveness. With this
said the role of Christ’s humanity was learning but in a learning from Himself (pg. 474,
hopefully I am translating this right). Instead of learning from others “he [Thomas Aquinas]
thinks Christ turned a deaf ear to that [teaching of others] until he could discover those things for
himself” (pg. 474). McDermott goes on from the purpose of Incarnation (pgs. 474-477) to two
natures in one person (pgs. 477-484) and the ability of Christ being able to forgive (pgs. 484490).
Grenz
Grenz starts with the nature of Divinity before Jesus’ nature of Humanity, as I like to do.
Grenz starts with the basic history of understanding Jesus’ deity (pgs. 246-262), the big ones for
me to mention I consider the original thought of converted Jews assuming Jesus to be a new
Moses (pg. 246) and the idea that Jesus’ Logos was divine and body was human (pg. 247). From
there Grenz walks through the history of Jesus and His teachings, which end us thinking if Jesus
is divine He is indeed sinless, if He is God’s messenger then He has true authority with the word
of God, and lastly if Jesus is God with us then His suffering is for our salvation (pg. 260). From
here Grenz then focuses on affirming “Jesus’ ontological unity with God” (pg. 270) and then
focuses lastly on why Jesus is referred to as Lord.
My Statement
I believe that a Jesus has equal divinity within the Trinity, and this leads to a full
understanding in Jesus’ ability to forgive me for my sins and be sentenced to death in order to for
me to be forgiven. In his fully divine power He was able to rise from the dead showing the His
divine nature. My only way to try to understand this idea is by a “two natures in one body”
theology. Through this I hope to preserve the idea of fully divine, fully human and will and has
been for all eternity.
Doctrine as Direction
To fully use this Doctrine that Jesus is fully divine would lead to a stronger understanding
of one’s need for forgiveness. I believe that a fully human yet not fully divine Jesus would lead
to an understanding that one could forgive their own sins. If Jesus could forgive other’s sins then
why not a fully human pastor as well? A partial understanding of divinity, for instance the logos
of Jesus being divine, would lead to a heresy much like Gnosticism. In which the role of
humanity is lessened in order to achieve divine nature in something which we cannot attain in
this life. A person with this theology would most likely look like someone with a very high view
of Jesus’ power and a need for Jesus to be in their lives.
Relational Aspect
The relational side of a full understanding of Jesus’ divinity would lead to an
understanding of the relation in the Trinity. With equal divinity the Trinity becomes the perfect
model for how a relation works. To look at Jesus’ Divinity in a lesser light would mean to say
God created something to die for our sins in His place. Instead we see a love so great that God in
His nature was put to death for our sins, and through His power was able to conquer death.
Works Cited
Grudem, Wayne A. Systmeatic Theology: An introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester,
England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
Thomas, Aquinas, and Timothy S. Mcdermott. Summa Theologiae: A Concise Translation.
Allen, Tex: Christian Classics, 1991.
Grenz, Stanley J. Theology for the Community of God. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 2000.