Understanding the humanity of Christ

This is one of those topics I had struggled with really comprehending for years. I blogged a bit about this before in a partial review of Gordon Fee’s book Pauline Christology. I just wanted to chat a bit more about this topic.

In Philippians 2:5-7

TNIV: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
HCSB: 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form

Here is my summary of what I think these verses mean:

Jesus had existed in the form of God, and did not take advantage of his divinity to assist in his humanity.

This summary and the specific translations cited above helps me to relate to Christ’s humanity in way that I never really could.  I think that Jesus could have used his divinity to help him when he fasted and was tempted, but he did not.  He could have used his divinity to help him when he was suffering before and during his crucifixion but he did not.

This understanding allows me to better understand verses like Heb. 2:18 “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” TNIV I always struggled with this because elsewhere it says that God cannot be tempted James 1:13  I would wonder well how can Jesus really be tempted if he is God?  Well now this makes sense, at least it does to me.  Also it gives me some sort of renewed hope that I can or will someday be fully transformed.

What are your thoughts regarding this? I really would like to hear from some you on how you understand his humanity.

Theological Word of the Week

Trinity, the Doctrine of

Polemics

Gk. polemos “war”

Polemics is to engage in conversation, debate, or argumentation with a very aggressive approach. Sometimes this will involve an attack on (or refutation of) the opinions or principles of another. In the church, this often takes place when one argues for a particular theological position about which he or she is passionate. This is to be contrasted with the peaceful approach of “irenics.”

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I get these emailed to me on a daily basis and thought I would post one a week.  One that I found interesting or new to me.

Systematic Theology by Thomas Oden 3 Vol.

I just got my copy of:

Systematic Theology, 3 Volumes
By: Thomas C. Oden
Hendrickson Publishers / Hardcover

From Christianbook.com
Format: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 1561
Vendor: Hendrickson Publishers
Dimensions: 9 X 6 (inches)
ISBN: 1598560360
ISBN-13: 9781598560367
Preferred Customer Price: $41.99

I have been waiting for these volumes for a few months now, and finally it was in stock and has shipped to my home.  Christianbook.com has these volumes priced much better than amazon.com  You can purchase each volume separately.

Product Description

Emphasizing the beliefs common to all branches of Christendom rather than the issues that divide, Thomas Oden brings the full weight of two millennia of discussion to bear on the ever-contemporary questions of Christian faith. His magisterial study not only treats the traditional elements of systematic theology, referencing hundreds of theologians—Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, charismatic—but also highlights the foundational exegetes of history. Broadly ecumenical in the truest sense of the word, and written from the perspective of a theological liberal-turned-evangelical, Oden’s direct, frank, and provocative approach articulates the concerns of a broad spectrum of Christians—pastors, teachers, seminarians, and thoughtful laity.

Though comprehensive in scope, the set is arranged in a Trinitarian fashion with each volume focusing on one person of the godhead. The first volume explores the Christian understanding of God, creation and providence. The second volume discusses Christ and the Incarnation. The third volume considers the presence of the Holy Spirit in history, and his power in the lives and communities of present day believers.

Bloggiversary, already?

I just finish reading Jeff’s blog on how it’s been a year since he started blogging.  Which made me wonder how long have I’ve been blogging.  Well I thought “it’s been about a year”, but exactly when?  So I figure I should go and check.  I was shocked to see that I have been blogging for 2 years now!

I posted my first blog on September 13, 2006.  Two years have gone by, and I had no idea it had been that long.  I actually was blogging at blogspot, but nobody ever read any of my posts.  I officially moved to WordPress in December of 2007, and I am so glad that I made that change.   I have evolved, grown, learned, and made lots of new friends.

So it appears that I too have a Bloggiversary (that’s what Esteban calls it) to celebrate.

Tolerance – Respecting other faiths

Last week Nick had posted “Why I Respect Jehovah’s Witnesses” and one his readers just could not seem to understand why Nick would say this, and felt that there was some contradictions in what he is stating.  Last night I was reading “Love your God with all your mind” by J.P. Moreland and I came across this statement.  He is talking about being tolerant of other faiths.

I think those viewpoints are dead wrong and will argue against them fervently, nevertheless, I will defend your right to argue your own case.  Just as importantly, I will treat you with respect as an image bearer of God, even though your views are abhorrent to me.  Finally, while individual rights are important, they do not exhaust the moral life because virtue and duty are more central than rights to the moral life properly conceived.

I agree with what Nick said, and what JP has stated as well.  I think that we can and should be able to respect others, and defend their right to be able to present their case.

Nick and JP appear to be saying the same thing.  Should I stop reading JP, and just read Nick’s blog?    Hey Nick you are in good company.

Is Your Church Essential? FREE Book Download!

For those of you that want another free PDF book to add to your collection B&H Publishing is offering “essential church” for free.  Here is some background information about the book.

New research shows 70 percent of 18 to 22 year-old Americans are leaving the church. Essential Church?, the new book by best-selling author Thom S. Rainer and his son, Sam Rainer III, tells why they leave and what it takes to bring them back.

“The good news is that most of them would like to find a church that is healthy (and) wants more than business as usual,” they write.

For a limited time, download Essential Church? for FREE here.

BlackBerry Storm – full touch screen

For all of you propeller heads (when I worked at Disney that’s what the artist use to call us Tech People) out there the BlackBerry Storm is coming soon, only on Verizon. Hopefully this will be a real competitor against the iPhone.

Verizon has it here at it’s website, check it out.  There really isn’t any further information.  If it is as good as the iPhone I will get one myself next year when my contract is up.  I just don’t care to switch over to AT&T.

I just hope it is not another feeble attemt to compete with the iPhone.  All of the other ones that I have seen don’t come close.  Hopefully this one will, it’s good for consumers to have healthy competition, helps drive the price down.  Although I am hearing that this will start at $199.00.

Woman Pastors

Gospel Today which sells at most Lifeway Christian book stores have moved it out of the stands and placed it behind the counter because of the cover of the magazine.  Woman Pastors.  Seems rather petty to me I mean it’s not like it’s porn or lewd.  But I guess the owners of Lifeway feel that it may be offensive to it’s customers.

Even if the Baptise don’t agree with woman being Pastors I think this is a bit to paranoid.  They also don’t sell TNIV.

NET, NIV, ESV: A Brief Historical Comparison

Dr. Wallace took some time to write a summary on these translations. He was a major contributor to the NET bible, but I think that he was fair and objective in this article.  You be the judge.

He says:

An alternative to either of these is the NET Bible. One of the chief goals of the NET Bible has been to combine the three historic objectives of English Bible translation: accuracy, readability, and elegance.

I own the both the First Edition and the Reader’s Edition. But I have failed to warm up to it as a my reading bible. I think it is fine translation and what they have accomplished should be highly commended, and others should follow in their example.  Anyhow, here is the link NET, NIV, ESV: A Brief Historical Comparison

Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology

Well for those of you that like or enjoy Wayne Grudem’s book on Systematic Theology, there is a massive series of MP3s by him as he works through his Systematic Theology.  I don’t agree with every position that he takes, however I have found great value in his book and even use it at our school.  I have never heard him speak so for all I know he may put you to sleep.  But hey they are free.

This by no means endorses the site as they are a strict Calvinist site, as you all know I am not   I don’t have any personal gripes against them, well maybe except the hyper-ones, but I have many friends that take a moderate Calvinist position.  I am sure you will find value in most of the lectures.