Fall 1973

CHRISTO LOGY 1. What is the core of the Christian faith?

At the center of Christian faith stands the conviction that Jesus of Nazareth, the first century Jew whom we call the Christ, makes the decisive difference in the future that is possible for each human person and for mankind.

2. Why do we call Jesus of Nazareth Christ?

Ever since the Apostles' experience of the Resurrection, the followers of Jesus have given him the Jewish title, Messiah, in its Greek form, Christ. Messiah was a rather vague and ambiguous title when the Apostles took it over. It meant one anointed and specially chosen by God to bring the fulfillment of God's promises to his people. In Christian usage the title came the mean the unique savior of all mankind throughout history.

3. What are the more important beliefs of Christians concerning Jesus Christ?

Christians believe that Jesus, who was executed by Roman crucifixion, was raised from the dead on the third day by God the Father who made him Christ and Lord (Acts 2:36); that the Christ originates from the Spirit and the Virgin (infancy narratives and Creeds); that having suffered total rejection, humiliation and pain, Jesus is exalted to be the judge of all men and all history with God the Father and will one day be manifest to the world as such; that he is present in history to and through his church by sacrament, word and Spirit; that he who is human, exactly as we are, is at the same time of the very being of God. divine, Son of the Father, Word by which God expressed himself in history, the shining in the world of the light that is God (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed); that in him the world and all men are redeemed from sin and despair.

4. What is the origin of the doctrine of the Resurrection?

Resurrection was taught in Judaism even before the time of Jesus. Both 285