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The Christian encounter with God is in and through the person of Jesus Christ. Christianity claims to
possess the fullness the fullness of divine revelation (DV 2, 7) in Jesus Christ, the Word become
flesh (Cf. Jn 1, 14). It confesses and proclaims that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man (ND
614-15) and in him is salvation as he is the only mediator and saviour of humankind (Mk 16,16;
Acts 4, 12; 1 Tim 2,5; ND 646) through his life, death and resurrection. How do you meaningfully
understand the historical development of these faith affirmations? In the Indian religious context
would it be appropriate to speak of Jesus as an avatar?
1. The Christian encounter with God is in and through the person of Jesus Christ.
We cannot understand the mystery of God unless god takes initiative to reveal himself.
God reveals himself differently in different cultures and religions in various times and
context.
For us Christian God has revealed himself in and through the person of Jesus. Therefore
whatever we know or speak of God is revealed by Jesus.
Early Church after his resurrection experienced him as Lord and God.
Later the church as a witnessing community, wanting to affirm this experience in new
historical context or setting emerged with the Dogmas. These are a few faith affirmations
in a particular historical context.
Jesus is the (unique) only mediator and saviour of humankind(Mk 16,16; Acts
4,12: 1 Tim 2,5, ND 646)
DV4 and Heb 1:1-2 will say after God had spoken many times and in various
ways(creation, theophanies, oracles, dreams, prophesies, laws, events etc.) through the
prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.
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Eph 1,19: It pleaed God , in his goodness and wisdom to reveal the mystery of his will
through Jesus Christ.
Through DV 2&7 - Church claims the Jesus Christ is the sum total of revelation.
Revelation is not quantitative but experiential. This doesnt mean Jesus exhausts the
mystery of God.
Whatever God wanted to reveal to humankind has revealed full in Jesus Christ. Yet
process of revelation has not ended in Jesus Christ.
God Continues to reveal even today but all other revelations have to be measured or
weighed against Jesus Christ.
Therefore in Jesus Christ god has revealed himself definitely, totally and
entirely(Fullness of revelation).
When applied to Jesus Christ the eternal pre-existent word, principle of order, creative power,
life giving reality, the wisdom which was present in the creation in the life of patriarchs,
Israelites, prophets etc has become personified in Christ. Therefore Christ is the presence of the
embodiment of God in human history.
Note:
Sarx = sinful nature of humanity( 1 Cor5,5)
Physical matter or substance
human nature.
Here it is Jesus is haring our human nature in its weakness and frailty.
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Condemned Arianism.
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Jesus is True God from true God light from light - begotten, not made
consubstantial with the father.
Condemned Nestorius
Jesus Christ is one person (One hypostasiss) and 2 natures human and divine
without division or separation, without confusion or change. this union is called
hypotatic union.
4. Jesus is the only mediator and saviour of Human kind:Mk 6,16;Acts 4,12;1 Tim 2,5,ND
646)
Salvation in Christ:
Its objectively available and it can be subjectively appropriated through faith in jesus Christ.
NB:
9.Christology Rayan Lobo, SJ
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The context of these texts are not doctrinal but mere faith statements.
Finally I would say for me as Christian, Christ is unique and its an intimate
truth of my faith experience.
Similarities:
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Dissimilarieties:
Conclusion:
From above discussion we know these two concepts are from two different world
views.
Each concept makes sense only in a particular religious and cultural context.
Therefore it is not proper to say Christ is one of the Avatara and Krishna is an
incarnation of god.
Extra:
Dogmas are detailed explanations about what the scripture says and the deepest and
most profound statements of Christian Faith.
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Monophysitism: Before the Incarnation there were two natures, divine and human; but after the
Incarnation there remains only divine nature since the human nature is absorbed into the divine
nature.
Monotheletism: Christ has only one, divine, will; he has no human will.
Monenergism: There is only one, divine, action in Christ; he has no human operation.
Nestorianism: It is an extreme position of the Antiochean school of thought which defended the
humanity of Jesus. Jesus is real human person. He is human with body and soul. Logos indwells in
him. Logos united (accidental union) with human being by Jesus. This union is conjecture.
Nestorius makes distinction between the divine and human qualities. Both these qualities remain
separate in the person of Jesus. Mary is called not as Theotokos meaning mother of God, but
Christotokos meaning mother of Christ.
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