How Jesus Became God

ACTS Winter 2017

St David’s United Church Calgary

How Jesus Became God Chapter 3

Did Jesus think he was God?

Session # 4• Opening • Presentation • Break • Video • Discussions • Closing

Opening

Holy Manners Bookstudy 38

How Jesus Became God

Chapter 3. Did Jesus Think He

Was God?

Inventing the Human - Harold Bloom

•Harold Bloom, professor at Yale, author, and critic.

•Bloom credits Shakespeare with “inventing the human”

•NYT Review - handout

Inventing the Human - Bloom

Bloom wrote a masterpiece on what he considered the great contribution of the Bard - presenting characters in his plays as human - with all their strengths and weaknesses - so that by what they say on stage - soliloquies and monologues especially they reveal who they are to the audience. We do not see them as plaster saints or sinners, but as real people.

Did Jesus think he was God?

•Ehrman presents Jesus as human.

•the Gospels often contradict traditions about Jesus’ divinity.

•Let us consider how Ehrman makes his case.

The main point made by Bart Ehrman in this chapter is that Jesus had divinity ascribed to him by his followers, but he himself did not claim that for himself.

Did Jesus think he was God?

Passages in the gospels that seem to point to Jesus making divine claims for himself were actually pious explanations of stories told about him.

Did Jesus think he was God?

We move from a focus on the mythological context from which Jesus and the early church emerged to an actual textual critical assessment of how Jesus is presented in the Bible.

Did Jesus think he was God?

This well-laid-out presentation confronts us directly with how modern biblical scholars approach the texts today.

Did Jesus think he was God?

It also suggests to us how contemporary biblical scholars seek to present Jesus honestly and not simplistically.

Did Jesus think he was God?

Ehrman provides a sensitive introduction describing how he emerged from biblical fundamentalism, but also remains appreciative of mentors he had at Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College (the evangelical Harvard) both of which are located in the Chicago area

Did Jesus think he was God?

Ehrman's doctoral work in theology was done at Princeton. after he had left the conservative Christian community but continued his career as a historian of Jesus, the Bible and the early church.

Did Jesus think he was God?

Ehrman's extensive studies in biblical scholarship have resulted in his making the following three claims about Jesus:

Did Jesus think he was God?

1. Jesus was an apocalyptic preacher from Galilee who was strongly influenced by John the Baptist, but took his message further. (both John and Jesus were killed)

Did Jesus think he was God?

2. Jesus had a Hebrew prophetic/messianic self-understanding but he also developed his own unique awareness of what that messian-ism meant.

Did Jesus think he was God?

3. Jesus did not view himself as God.

As the messiah - Yes,

but as God - No.

Did Jesus think he was God?

1. Many of his followers would claim that Jesus was equal to, but not identical with God - and thus a divinity.

2. Jesus would never claim to be God.

3. This sets Jesus apart from the direction taken by the classic Christian tradition - the real focus of this book.

Discussion

1. Ehrman spends a lot of time and effort in this chapter explaining the methods used by scholars to develop their under-standing of the actual historical Jesus.

2. We may or may not follow all this, but it is there for us to struggle with if we want to do so.

Discussion

1. how Ehrman compares and contrasts oral and written cultures

2. the various sources used by the synoptic gospel writers - Q, M, L

3. the basic differences between the synoptics and John

Interesting Points

Characteristics of the apocalyptic times of Jesus:

- dualism - pessimism - judgement - imminence

Discussion

Steps describing how Jesus developed his messianic self-understanding

- the meaning of "Christ" - "Son of Man" as a biblical theme assumed by Jesus - his self-understanding of messiah in an apocalyptic sense

Did Jesus think he was God?

Jesus saw himself as the "apocalyptic" king of the Jews For many he was understood as the "political" king of the Jews

Did Jesus think he was God?

VideoBart Erhman

Was Jesus an Apocalpyticist? excerpt from

Documentary “Apocalypse Later” by Zeke Piestrup

6m41s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE2oaGa2fJU

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

The Kingdom of God is like:

Ehrman concludes -

1. Jesus ministry was not focused on his divinity

2. His focus was on God and the kingdom God was going to bring.

3. Jesus saw himself as the king of that coming kingdom.

Discussion

Next Readings Session 5 - 20 Feb 2017

Chapter 4. The Resurrection of Jesus: What We Cannot Know

Study Websitehttp://hjbg.stdavidscalgary.net

Closing