Christology
Christology is the biblical revelation of the person and work of Jesus Christ, showing that He is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the true King, the perfect Priest, the final sacrifice, and the one through whom God's redemptive purposes are fulfilled.
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Why It Matters
Without Christology, the Bible's storyline remains incomplete because the Scriptures ultimately point to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Understanding who Jesus is and what He has accomplished is essential for understanding salvation, the kingdom of God, and the hope of new creation.
Plain Language
Christology means understanding who Jesus is according to the Bible. The Scriptures reveal that Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet but the promised Savior, the Son of God, and the one through whom God brings forgiveness, restoration, and new life.
Extended Definition
Christology examines the biblical revelation that Jesus Christ is both fully divine and truly human, the promised Messiah who fulfills the hopes of Israel and accomplishes God's plan of redemption. The New Testament presents Jesus as the incarnate Son of God who lives in perfect obedience, dies for sin, rises from the dead, and reigns as Lord. Through Him, God's promises are fulfilled and salvation is secured.
- Jesus should not be reduced to a moral teacher or religious reformer.
- Christology must hold together both the humanity and the divinity of Christ as revealed in Scripture.
- The identity of Jesus cannot be separated from His saving work.
Canonical Role
Storyline Function: Christology stands at the center of the biblical storyline because the promises, prophecies, institutions, and hopes of Scripture ultimately converge in the person of Jesus Christ.
Gospel Connection: The gospel proclaims the life, death, resurrection, and reign of Jesus Christ as the decisive act through which God saves sinners and restores creation.
Church Formation: Christology shapes the church's worship, doctrine, mission, and discipleship because believers follow Christ as Lord and Savior.
Biblical Storyline Arc
Creation Root: The promise of redemption begins immediately after the fall, when God declares that a future descendant will defeat the serpent and restore what sin has broken.
Promise of a Coming Deliverer
The early chapters of Genesis introduce the promise that a future offspring will defeat evil and restore humanity.
Messianic Promise Through Israel
God's covenant promises to Abraham and the formation of Israel prepare the stage for the coming Messiah.
Davidic King Expectation
God promises that a descendant of David will reign forever and establish a kingdom of justice and peace.
Prophetic Anticipation
The prophets speak of a coming servant, king, and redeemer who will save God's people and establish God's kingdom.
New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the promises of the Old Testament as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior who dies for sin and rises from the dead.
Consummation: At the end of the age, Christ returns in glory to judge evil, establish His kingdom fully, and bring the new creation.
Foundational Passages
Key Terms
Teaching Path
Start Here: Explain that the Bible tells the story of God's plan to save humanity through a promised Savior.
Next Step: Show how the Old Testament anticipates the coming Messiah through promises and prophecies.
Deeper Study: Examine the New Testament's testimony about the identity and work of Jesus Christ.
Teaching Warning: Do not assume that listeners understand the biblical meaning of Messiah or Son of God.
For Those New to Scripture: Begin with the question of who Jesus really is and why His life and death matter.
Canonical Threads
Related Doctrines
Ministry Applications
Confessional Anchors
WCF 8.1-3 confesses that the eternal Son took on a full human nature in the person of Christ, the one mediator between God and man, holy and without sin, appointed to execute the offices of prophet, priest, and king.
HC Q29-35 confesses that Jesus is the name of the Savior, that He is anointed prophet, priest, and king, and that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.