THEOLOGY 102
Christology and Mariology
CHRISTOLOGY
AN INTRODUCTION
What is Christology?
Christology
✓ Comes from the Greek word “Christos”
which means “Messiah or the Anointed
one” and “logos” which means study.
✓ It is the study of Jesus viewed as the
Messiah, which focuses on His nature,
teachings, and actions of Christ who is
considered both fully human and
divine.
Christology
Addresses the issue of Jesus being
both God and man and becoming
such in the:
INCARNATION:
the union of divinity with
humanity in Jesus Christ
Christology is the field of study within
Christian theology that is primarily
connected with the nature and person of
Jesus as recorded in the canonical Gospels
and Epistle of the New Testament.
Whenever We Try To Say
Who Jesus Is For Us, We
Engage In
CHRISTOLOGY.
T he following approaches or
perspectives in the study of
Christology highlight various
dimensions of Jesus Christ's
nature, role, and significance.
Approaches to
Christology
Ontological Christology
• Ontological Christology comes from the word
“onto” which means “being”; Jesus is fully human
and divine in person.
• The area of theology known as “Ontological Christology" is
devoted to studying the nature and essence of Jesus Christ. It
explores issues regarding the nature, existence, and
relationship between Jesus and the divine. Examining the
nature of the hypostatic union—the fusion of the divine
and human natures in the person of Jesus Christ—is
essential to ontological Christology.
Functional Christology
• The study of the work of Jesus achieved in the
plan of salvation.
• Functional Christology emphasizes what Jesus does or has
done for humanity's salvation and redemption by focusing on
the roles, functions, and activities of Jesus Christ.
Understanding the significance of Jesus' life, ministry, death,
resurrection, and ascension concerning salvation and the
accomplishment of God's purposes is the focus of this branch of
Christology.
• Functional Christology looks at Christ's work and mission,
while ontological Christology investigates the essence or being
of Christ.
Historical Christology
• It investigates facts and evidence of the historical
human Jesus. It also includes the words (teachings)
and works (miracles).
• A subfield of theology known as historical Christology is
concerned with comprehending the historical background
of Jesus Christ. With this method, the historical Jesus—a
person who existed in the first century, interacted with a
particular cultural and social milieu, and whose life and
teachings serve as the cornerstone of Christianity—is
unearthed and interpreted.
Dogmatic Christology
• It is according to the teachings, doctrines, and dogma of
the Catholic Church.
• Dogmatic Christology is the area dedicated to the
methodical development and expression of doctrines about the
person and nature of Jesus Christ. It has to do with the
official dogmas, teachings, and creeds of the Christian Church
that establish what constitutes orthodox views of Christ.
• The goal of dogmatic Christology is to offer authoritative and
unambiguous explanations of Jesus' identity and significance
concerning the Christian faith.
These approaches are interconnected and can
complement each other in understanding
Christ:
Ontological and Dogmatic Christology
focus on defining who Jesus is.
Functional and Historical Christology
emphasize what Jesus does and how He lived.
Together, they provide a comprehensive
framework for studying and deepening faith in
Christ.
The study of the
character, person, and
work of Jesus Christ is
known as Christology in
theology. There are many
different Christological
viewpoints and methods,
but two main categories
are as follows:
Two Categories of Christology
❑ Christology from Above ( Descending
Christology) Starts with the study of Jesus’
divinity and is preached by the church.
❑ Christology from Below ( Ascending
Christology) Starts from the point of human
experience and is associated with Church
doctrine.
Let’s Examine each
Category
Christology "from Above"
o This Christology begins with the preexistent Word
(Logos) with God in heaven and tends to emphasize his
divinity.
o The Word "comes down" to assume human flesh on
earth and to accomplish our redemption by dying on the
cross, rising, and returning as Lord to heaven.
o Notice how Christ's life proceeds according to this
Christology.
Christology "from Above"
o The Christology “from above” is the emphasis of the
theology we find in the Fourth Gospel and that of Paul.
o Christology "from above" was the dominant approach to
Catholic Christology from the medieval period up until
Vatican II.
o An exclusive or exaggerated Christology "from above"
tends to imply that Jesus is not human, but only appears
to have taken on our human condition.
The theological viewpoint is
consistent with verses that
highlight Jesus' deity and
eternal nature. is found in
the Gospel of John, which is
often considered a key text
for Christology from above.
As presented in the
Gospel of John in the New
Testament, St. John's
Gospel emphasizes the
divinity of Jesus Christ
and explores the profound
nature of his relationship
with God the Father.
In the opening verses of the Gospel of
St. John, it is declared that:
“In the beginning was theWord, and theWord
was with God, and theWord was God.“ He was
in the beginning with God. All things came to
be through him, and without him, nothing
came to be.What came to be through him was
life, and this life was the light of the human
race; the light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it.”
This highlights the divine
nature of Jesus by emphasizing
his pre-existence and his active
role in creation.
The Word taking on flesh
(incarnation) in Jesus Christ is
expounded upon in the
following verses.
In the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians 1:15-17 Is
Another Passage That Reflects A Christology From
Above:
"He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. For by him all things
were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers
or authorities—all things were created through
him and for him. And he is before all things, and
in him all things hold together."
Jesus' identity as the invisible
God is affirmed in this passage
from Colossians, which also
highlights his creation and
maintenance of everything.
The terminology stresses the
centrality of Christ to the
cosmos and his authority over
the entire creation.
Depiction of Christology from above Jesus the word of God
Jesus the Son of God
Jesus the Divine Person Jesus the incarnated word of God
Christology "from below"
• Starts with Jesus of Nazareth, that is, the Jesus of history, and
tends to emphasize his humanity.
• We begin with Jesus, a human being like us in all things but sin,
living out his early life in obscurity and who, by his unique
proclamation of the Kingdom of God, stands out from the rest of
humanity.
• He is led to Calvary and the Cross by his lifelong giving of
himself in service to others.
• God raised him and exalted him.
• Notice how Christ's life proceeds according to this Christology?
• It ascends.
Christology "from below"
•This Christology is the emphasis of the theology we find
in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
•Christology "from below" is the dominant approach to
in Catholic Christology today.
•Too much focus on Christology "from below" tends to
suggest that Jesus is only human and not divine. He
fulfills a unique role in the history of human beings,
calling us to the demands of the Kingdom of God.
The apostle Paul's
description of Christ's
humility and exaltation in
Philippians 2:5–11 is one
instance that is frequently
brought up in talks of
Christology from below.
Philippians 2:5-11
“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in
Christ Jesus,Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied
himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and
found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient
to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted
him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Depiction of Christology from below
Jesus Son of Joseph Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus the son of a
Carpenter
Jesus Son of Mary
Who Do You
Say I Am?
The "Who do you say I
am?" question and Peter's
subsequent confession, as
recorded in the Gospels of
Matthew (16:15-16) and Mark
(8:29), hold significant
implications for Christology -
the study of the nature and
person of Jesus Christ.
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples
this question in Matthew 16:13-16
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he
asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of
Man is?“ They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others
Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.“ He
said to them, "But who do you say that I am?“ Simon Peter
said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
God.“ Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon
son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to
you, but my heavenly Father.
•In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples two
related questions:
•“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
•This question seeks to understand public
opinion and reflects the various perceptions of
Jesus at the time (e.g., some saw Him as John the
Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah).
•“Who do you say I am?”
•This second question shifts the focus to the
personal faith and conviction of the disciples.
• Peter's statement is important for the
evolution of Christology because it affirms
Jesus' divinity and his identity as the Messiah.
• It acknowledges Jesus as the Son of the living
God and the prophesied Messiah in addition
to being an excellent teacher and prophet.
• This confession serves as a cornerstone of
Christian theology and advances the idea that
Jesus is fully human and fully divine, which is
a fundamental component of traditional
Christian doctrine.
Although this starting
encounter first occurred two
thousand years ago, the
question remains with us. To
every Christian of every era, the
lord Jesus asks: "but who do you
say that I am?" And like Peter,
we respond.
Jesus’ question, “Who do you
say I am?" Has many correct
answers, including you are
the crucified Messiah, the
Christ of Cana, and the Son of
Man among the poor.
Asking "Who do you say I
am?" prompts reflection on
one's personal understanding
and confession regarding the
identity of Jesus Christ,
making it a key aspect of
Christian discipleship and
theological exploration.
