Jesus Christ Essays (Examples)

Jesus Christ Is the Central Figure of Christianity Who Was Born in Bethlehem, Judea

sometime between 8 BC and 29 AD. The name "Jesus" is derived from a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Joshua, while "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew mashiakh or Messiah, which was a title that was later made part of Jesus' proper name. Christians traditionally believe that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, who was divinely conceived by Mary, wife of Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth. He is also believed to have died on the cross and then resurrected.

Since the primary source about Jesus and his teachings, The New Testament, was written in the latter part of the first century AD when most of the people who knew Jesus first hand had died, there is some debate about the historicity and nature of Jesus. However, most secular as well as religious…

Furthermore it is with Isaiah that one first becomes acquainted with the idea that the Messiah would die. "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth."

The passage clearly predicts a Messianic figure who dies, in order to bring peace to the multitudes. "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."

It speaks directly to the fact that he will die and that this death is necessary. "ecause he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."

The Old and the New Covenants

The Old…

v. 9)

I am the good shepherd" (10:11, 14)

I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25)

I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (14:6)

I am the true vine" (15:1; cf. v. 5)

It was John's responsibility to teach Christians that they can have eternal life.

There was an order of the way that John taught:

In Chapter One, Versus 1-4 John saw the proofs that Jesus was the son of God; then there was the teaching of the proof which he saw. Thirdly there was the personal aspect of his teachings, that Jesus is the Christ. The fourth is the promise of eternal life for Christians. After these points were made, John teaches Christians that by following God they can have eternal life. From this Chapter John teaches that having

Christian life is more than a profession; it is adopting a way of life.

Chapter…

" In this instance, the word revelation means "the communication of the knowledge of God" or "God's disclosure to humanity of Himself" (aixeras, Internet). Therefore, if God had to reveal to Jesus His own knowledge, this indicates that Jesus was not an omniscient being, for as a prophet, his own revelations to common, ordinary men and women were made possible via some form of communication with God the Father.

In conclusion, it is abundantly clear from the evidence presented above that Jesus Christ was not an omniscient entity, due to the fact that even though he was a great teacher and prophet, if not a philosopher, he did not know everything there is to know in the universe or else he would not have had to rely upon God the Father for spiritual answers and for direction in providing words of encouragement for those Jewish men and women lost in…

Jesus Christ is an inextricable part of my life. I have been a Christian all my life. Being raised in a Christian community has ensured that my faith does not waiver. The support of others in a community of Christians is a core component of the Bible. "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them," (Matthew 18:20)." Because of my community of faith, and because of my inner spiritual compass, I have never once doubted my faith in God. I cannot personally imagine a life without Christ. I do believe that one of my duties, one of God's missions for me on Earth, is to help spread the word of the gospel so that others may also know the joy of Jesus in their own hearts. The world will be a better place as more people come to believe in Christ, which is…

Sign Miracles of Jesus Christ

During Jesus' life, he performed many miracles, a large number of which are recorded throughout the bible in various books. Some of these miracles are mentioned by more than one disciple, and some take on more significance than others. Each of the miracles adds to the perceived ability of Jesus and his tie to God himself. Among them were the eight sign miracles that will be discussed here. These miracles not only point to Jesus' abilities, they also indicate his deity. While skeptics remain, there is much evidence that the miracles performed by Jesus actually occurred. Here, it is important to address all eight of the sign miracles and why they point to Jesus' deity.

The Healing of the Lame Man

One of the first miracles performed was the healing of the lame man (Hoffman, 2004). This man had been at the pool at Bethesda…

Christian

The miraculous birth of Jesus Christ is the defining event of Christianity. Christmas is celebrated as a means to commemorate this event, and to help all believers focus on the meaning of the nativity. Although Christmas has become commercialized, it is always possible to return to the roots of this special holiday.

The story of Jesus's birth is told throughout the New Testament. One of the most lucid passages describing the birth of Christ is in Matthew 1: 18-25. These passages describe "how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about," and also what it meant for Joseph and Mary (Matthew 1:18). When Mary was found to be pregnant before her wedding to Joseph, Joseph actually "had in mind to divorce her quietly" because he thought she had disgraced herself (Matthew 1:19). However, the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. In the dream, the Lord told Joseph that…

Matthew's Passion

Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ

The vast majority of Christian today look forward to the future glorious return of Christ and the realization of the Kingdom of God. This return was promised by Jesus himself, as he told his disciples that he went to prepare a place to which he would take his followers (John 14: 1-4). The surety of Christ's return was so strong that he even promised his disciples that "There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:28) However, as just these two verses suggest, there is a great deal of conflict and confusion as to what the precise meaning of these prophecies of a second coming amount. The first generation of Christians in the early church consistently referred to themselves as living in the last days and in the…

Topic: The Deity of Christ
You needed to choose two classmates dealing with different topics/views among themselves and also different from your own.
I. Give the name of the view against the full deity of Jesus Christ presented by your classmate (include your classmate’s name for reference).
As Michael points out, Christian Science is the view against the full deity of Jesus Christ. Although Christian scientists do believe in the trinity, and of course in God, and even in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, Christian Scientists do not follow Biblical truths.
II. Provide your own response to these objections. Use your own arguments, they must not be the same as the ones used by your classmates.
Christian Science is an outlier for a reason. Not only does the organization have a warped view of the trinity, it also has a distorted view of Jesus. According to an official Christian Science…

HTH-515 Topic 5Christology and SalvationI. The Humanity and Divinity of Jesus in the BibleIn the table below, identify six key biblical verses that establish Jesus's humanity (three verses) and divinity (three verses) and briefly explain their significance by paraphrasing what the passage says in your own words. [150-200 words]The Humanity and Divinity of Jesus in ScriptureScripture ReferenceBrief Explanation of TextsHebrews 4:15Chris is identified as the great High Priest, who stands between God and man. However, He lay aside His glory and became the Son of Man, identical to the human race in every way, including being tempted like humans are, but He did not sin.John 4: 6Chris is referred to as tired or wearied from his journey and was sitting by the well when the Samaritan woman came to draw water. The nature of tiring and weariness symbolizes Christ as humanMark 6: 3Christ is referred to as the carpenters son,…

The impact each has had on their respective followers, as well as the millions of other individuals who choose not to follow their teachings is overwhelming in nature. For two individuals who lived so many centuries ago to still hold sway over such a large portion of the population is a testament to their influence. Currently both Mohammed and Jesus are honored on special days throughout the year, and more than that they are also venerated and revered every single day by millions of faithful followers of their respective teachings.

The teachings of Jesus are currently being presented through the Christian Bible and primarily through the four gospels of the New Testament. These four books were written approximately forty to sixty years after the death of Jesus and relate the stories of his life and times. "hat Christians believe about Jesus' life and teachings is based largely on biblical texts,…

As an adolescent, Mohamed managed to make use of his businessman nature and his remarkable communicational skills. At the age of twenty five he was entrusted with taking care of the caravans of a rich widow which he later married. Being very fond of religion, Mohamed paid a great interest to udaism and Christianity, but was quick to dispose of both of them as he didn't share the principles of the two. He often visited a temple in Mecca where people were worshiping three hundred and sixty Gods. Mohamed felt attracted by Allah, the moon God, and began to claim that the moon God had been the one true God people should worship. As a very religious man that he had been, Mohamed was known to dedicate several weeks to the divinity by praying in a cave near Mecca where he allegedly had numerous visions of God and of heaven.…

The tempting figure of Satan serves as a much more prominent actor in the film's plot, not simply causing Jesus to suffer for forty days and forty nights in the desert, nor show Jesus all he will have if he abandons his father, but has an abiding visual presence, offering Jesus a view of paradise that is something to be created upon earth, with human physical desires and a human, physical body that Jesus must ultimately give up to fulfill his destiny. This Satan does not tempt Jesus with visions of power, or another dark kingdom as he does in the gospels, but with the tempting nature of human life on earth as good in and of itself -- a theme that is not present in any of the gospels, perhaps because Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John took a less salutary view of earthly life, given the circumstances the Gospel…

His followers claimed He had risen as He said He would, bodily appeared to them and then bodily ascended into Heaven, as Elijah prophesied. This experience emboldened them to come out of hiding and they gathered at the upper room of the Cenacle on the Day of the Pentecost. From then on, they openly preached the radical ethic taught by Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is the origin of Christian worship and prayer and it directly links Jesus to God and Jesus has been called Lord, the Christ, the faithful and true witness. His followers who observed and advocated His teachings of the Good News were called Christians. Christianity was later founded and spread by the Roman soldier, Saul, who persecuted the Christians but was converted into an apostle by a direct encounter with Christ on Saul's way to Damascus. He was later renamed Paul.

Jesus as a Jew demanded…

Morality is not a cookbook that one can follow in a step-by-step fashion.

This is a potent reply to people who often ask, 'why cannot I be good, without Christ,' or without even a sense of a constant, steadfast, personal ethical system. hen ministering to others, frequently one is asked: 'but can't I just follow the golden rule?' Although there is some truth to the importance of simply doing unto others as one would have done to one's self, more is needed when deeper ethical questions emerge. Furthermore, Paul would contend that simply following the law, Mosaic or otherwise, is not taking advantage of Christ's full gift to humanity. There is no driving, internal emotional drive to follow the law without the acceptance of grace and the sense that what one does on earth is thanks for Christ in heaven, for Christ's sacrifice.

Paul's primary theme in Romans 5 is…

Jesus' Testimony to the Pharisees in John 8:58

The Gospel of John reveals a number of "I AM" assertions made by Jesus Christ. They are bold declarations through which Christ makes a powerful point, namely that he IS divine. However, the language that Jesus uses also conveys a message about the mystery of His Person. He uses words and formulas that are deeply meaningful for the Hebrews to whom He speaks. "I AM" after all is more than a mere subject followed by a predicate. It is the name of God as He called Himself when He spoke it to Moses in the Old Testament. Therefore when Jesus says to the Jews, "efore Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58), he is deliberately equating Himself with the God of the Old Testament by using the language of that God.

At its most basic level, Jesus' "I AM" assertion in John 8:58…

Jesus

The four gospel books in the New Testament are the principal foundation of the information regarding the life of Jesus. These books include Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The four books tell the story of the life of Jesus, but from different perspectives. Christian faith depends on the four gospel books that narrate the historical life of Jesus. As a result, if the provisions in these four books are a correct historical account of Jesus, then the faith of Christians is practical. Moreover, if indeed Jesus rose on the third day from the departed, the claim that Jesus is the Son of God is rational. If the claim that Jesus taught the people many things highlighted in the four gospel books, then believing in Him is the only means through which Christians can have everlasting life. Although the gospel books particularly Matthew, Mark and Luke demonstrate the synoptic problem,…

There is only a small moment of this doubt in the Gospels, when Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemene wishing that he did not have to die. However, in this movie it is more than that. Jesus does not really understand what message his death will send, and he is just hoping that his death will have an impact. This Jesus also feels that helping people is trapping. He is disturbed to some degree by the hoards of people wanting his help, when he is surrounded by the lepers and ill people wanting healing. However, in the Gospels Jesus said that those are exactly the kinds of people he wants to be followed by: the ill, not the healthy, and the foolish, not the wise. His feelings of being trapped in the movie are more like those experienced by a celebrity being pursued by the Paparazzi than by Jesus.…

Christ Was and How it Relates to His Work

To be a Christian fundamentally means to believe in Christ, in the person of Jesus. There are many different types of Christians, including aptists, Catholics, Evangelicals, and Lutherans.

Christians believe that there is only one God, and that God is a Trinity of God the Father, Christ the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is not an example of three Gods (tri-theism), nor is it an example of one God changing forms (modalism). Instead, to Christians, God has eternally existed as one essence with three persons.

Since Christ is the second person of the Trinity, Christians believe that Christ has eternally existed as well. Jesus Christ was "God with skin on." He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless and perfect life, was fully man and fully God, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified as a sacrifice for…

Jesus to Luther

A Review of the Course "From Jesus to Luther"

Key Ideas of the Course

The key ideas of the course were those which were emphasized by each of the ten sessions. Each session helped break the history of Christianity into sections, beginning with Christ Himself and how He was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. I found Fulton Sheen to be a complementary source when it came to understanding this sense of fulfillment: Fulton Sheen (1990) makes clear in his "Life of Christ" that the sacrifice of the Old Law finds its ultimate perfection in the sacrifice of the ew Covenant established by Jesus Christ during the Passover of His 33rd year. Sheen explains the relation between Jesus' words at the Last Supper and the Passover by explaining how the Passover itself signified a new sacrifice for the Jews: "The old promise made to Israel in…

Orthodox Position of the Person of Christ

Jesus Christ is at the center of the Christian doctrine as every theological thought in Christianity revolves around his personality as one of the Holy Trinity. Christ's divine and human nature on one side and his mission of savior of the world, on the other, have provided endless sources for discussion and debates over the decades. Theologians, historians and philosophers have tried to reconcile their thesis when it came to Jesus, but in spite of the apparent similarities, they often reached very different conclusions. During the early Christian centuries, there were various theories that promoted the image of Christ. They covered a large specter of positions starting from him being considered a prophet (Ebionitism) or, at the other end of the spectrum, him being completely divine (Docetism) (McGrath, 2011). These theological theories were soon to be dismissed, although the latter bore more influence…

Jesus fulfill symbolism underly

Jesus fulfills the symbolism apparent in the Feast of Tabernacles in many different ways, although most of these ways are related to one another. During this feast, Jesus was able to feed 500 people (who had gathered for the upcoming Passover feast) while only utilizing the substance of two fish and five relatively diminutive loaves of bread. There is important symbolism in this fact, which is related to nourishment. In a literal sense, Jesus was able to feed the bodies of this great number of people. In a figurative sense, however, he was providing spiritual nourishment, since he was the son of Christ (a fact which would soon become apparent after his ensuing crucifixion and resurrection) (Musser, 2013). Thus, this action symbolizes the fact that believing in and following Christ will lead to spiritual fulfillment.

Jesus was able to fulfill this symbolism by providing spiritual nourishment…

Christology: The Identity of Jesus as oth God and Man

In the ible, Jesus identifies himself as both God and man most explicitly in the book of John. In the first book of John, the Apostle John famously writes: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). According to Elwell, statements such as "I and [my] Father are one" (John 10:30) and "before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58) refer to the fact that Jesus is connected to the wisdom of God in the Old Testament, to the Law of God in the Old Testament, yet also to the concept of God-made-flesh in the New Testament.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Walter Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary Theology. 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: aker, 2001), p.241]

Jesus is not merely the embodiment of…

He describes how he dines with the members of Antipas' court, "thus maintaining the table-fellowship connection of Mark and Daniel," (Freyne 98). Therefore, the account of government practices which can be validated by other reliable sources show the New Testament as presenting clear and reliable sources for the historical validity of the figure of Jesus. Thus, modern researchers have found great truths and reliable correlations between the figure of Jesus and the occurrences of government within the ancient world.

The Biblical cannon also present more specified elements of correlation, such as Jesus' relationship with John the Baptist. John was a reliable historical figure, whose existence has long been assumed as historically accurate and backed up with sources verifying his locations and actions during and before the time of Jesus. In fact, the beginning of Jesus' ministry was heavily defined by his relationship with John the Baptist. Very little was recorded…

Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life

"He (Jesus) Took the Bread. Giving Thanks Broke it. And gave it to his Disciples, saying, 'This is my Body, which is given to you.'" At Elevation time, during Catholic Mass, the priest establishes a mandate for Christian Living. Historically, at the Last Supper, Christ used bread and wine as a supreme metaphor for the rest of our lives. Jesus was in turmoil. He was aware of what was about to befall him -- namely, suffering and death. This was the last major lesson he would teach before his arrest following Judas' betrayal. Eschatologically speaking, the above set the stage for the Christian ministry of the apostles, evangelists and priests. Indeed, every Christian is called to give of him or herself for the Glory of God and the Glory of Mankind. The message at the Last Supper was powerful. People have put themselves through…

He considers that one would be an ignorant if he were to declare himself a true Christian without being acquainted with parts of the Old Testament.

It would be wrong if someone were to interpret the Old Testament on the basis of the information in the New Testament. This would mean that the New Testament is the perfect interpretation of the Old Testament. However, the truth is that the more recent text is only one of the interpretations that people can make when relating to the Old Testament, thus meaning that the older document can be interpreted in a series of ways, each being different from the other. The New Testament is however one of the most accurate interpretations made by people with regard to the Old Testament.

Similar to how the information in the New Testament offers little to no occasions to be fought, right's book contains numerous solid…

Christian religion, the Old and New Testaments form a whole upon which its belief system is based. The transition between the Old and New Testaments resides in the person of Christ, who came to earth as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophesy.

This transition then occurs not only through the ultimate sacrifice of Christ at his death and resurrection, but also in his ministry during his lifetime. Christ uses the Old Testament in various ways in order both to establish the new order of the New Testament, but also to validate the authority of the Old.

As the son of God, Christ shows his relationship to the Father through his respect for the validity and authority of the Old Testament. He does this in various ways, of which one is his acceptance of the history of the Old Testament. Jesus refers to various persons of the Old Testament,…

Oscar Cullmann, Nolan, and Genezio Boff. Oscar Cullmann can be described as a Christian theologian within the Lutheran tradition. His most notable work involved the ecumenical movement. He was in part accountable for the formation of dialogue between the oman Catholic and Lutheran traditions.

Nolan was born in the city of Cape Town, South Africa. He is of English descent and is a fourth-generation South African. Influenced by Thomas Merton, Nolan became fascinated to the idea of spiritual life. Ultimately, Nolan joined the Dominican Order by 1954, studying in ome and South Africa eventually receiving a doctorate.

Born with the name Genezio Darci Boff, Boff hails from Concordia, Santa Catarina. Boff entered the Franciscan Order by 1959 being ordained as a Catholic priest by 1964. He spent subsequent years studying to earn a doctorate in philosophy and theology at the University of Munich, in 1970. His doctoral thesis studied measures…

" He is right that many Americans who call themselves Christians and who attend Christian worship services do not live their lives based on the Beatitudes. And then Kavanaugh also says "Nietzsche seems to have understood the Sermon on the Mount better than many Christians." ell wait a minute. If Nietzsche found the Sermon on the Mount "scandalous," and attacked it as "demeaning of the will to power," how can that be construed as understanding it better than many Christians?

To even bring Nietzsche into a discussion about "The Alternative Kingdom" is ludicrous. In Nietzsche's the Birth of Tragedy (p. 23) he says the "Christianity was from the beginning, essentially and fundamentally, life's nausea and disgust with life, merely concealed behind, masked by, dressed up as, faith in 'another' or 'better' life." In his essay, Human, all too Human, Nietzsche denounces the Christian idea of "...sins perpetrated against a god,…

Yet, before one can understand Johnson's call for a taking back of the feminine Christ, one must first understand how the feminine Christ was lost.

The starting point is with the ministries of Christ and to the point of his resurrection. This short period of time is the only time that Jesus himself was in charge of defining his philosophy, although even he recognized the fact that history would define him and not himself.

Jesus' ministry involved numerous acts of kindness, preaching and forgiveness. Many of these acts are seen as miracles, or "Signs" as the Gospel of John refers to them. These included exorcisms, walking on water, turning water into wine, and raising people from the dead. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus' ministry lasted for a period of three years. The major event of the ministry phase was the giving of the Sermon on the Mount, where…

Christianity and Buddhism to Health

One of the most glaring aspects of this paper, Kramer Jr.'s "Worldview of Christianity and Buddha," is that it does not appear to have a hypothesis or a claim. The paper's theme, however, is clarified in the first paragraph as the author explicitly denotes that he will discuss aspects of Christianity and of Buddhism. But in doing so he never expressly writes a thesis statement, or tells the reader the single point to which all the others in this document relate. As such, there is a definite sense of confusion in reading this paper, since the reader understands that the author is detailing aspects of Christianity, Buddhism, and healthcare. Nonetheless, the reader is largely ignorant as to what the author's overriding reason for discussing this topic is, as well as his opinion about the subject. Essentially, the author has clarified the fact that the subject…

Jesus and Mohammed -- Their Lives & Legacies

Jesus Christ and Mohammed are thought of historically -- and today as well -- as the two individuals that have probably had the greatest impact on the world in a spiritual and religious context. hile other iconic spiritual and religious leaders have made their mark on history and society, Jesus (who founded Christianity; today there are an estimated 2.8 billion followers) and Mohammed (Islam's most holy figure; there are an estimated 2.2 billion Muslims), Jesus was believed to be the Son of God, who came to earth to offer humans an opportunity to have everlasting life. Mohammed, on the other hand, is believed to be the prophet who received the text of Islam from God and led the growth of Islam.

This paper traces the lives of Jesus and Mohammed, compares the impact that their deaths had on society, describes the way…

It increasingly seems unlikely that Christ will show up on a white horse to purge the world of sin. If this is necessary to the ideology of salvation, then one might do well to scoff at it. It does not seem to be legitimate to project that Christ will save the world from the evil which is wrecked upon it by humans or by nature. Indeed, it seems remarkably irresponsible for a modern human to merely sit waiting for Christ to save the world rather than take active steps as part of the social community to assure that the world is preserved. (for example, it has been suggested that ush's radical policy in the Middle East is "literally and determinedly drawn, consciously and unconsciously, toward the enactment of such a [endtimes] scenario, as he believes, for God's sake" [Hill] if this were true, it would be a perfect example of…

Jewish leaders, rather than a teacher of a profound ideology that changed the world. The martyring of Jesus is a significant part of his legacy, true, but it is not the only aspect of Jesus' legacy of significance that is highlighted in the gospel narratives. The bloody nature of the death of Jesus also shifts the emphasis from Jesus' mind to Jesus' body. Even in the gospels, although the suffering of Jesus is highlighted when the passion is discussed, the bloody and horrific nature is less at the forefront, than the Roman soldier's cruelty and taunting of Jesus as king of the Jews, unlike in the film, where the torture of Christ, rather than his worldly humiliation commands the viewer's visual attention. This may be an unfortunate aspect of any film that focuses on the passion of Jesus alone, because film is a visual rather than a verbal medium, and…

Jesus as Healer in First Century Judaism

This is a paper that analyzes Jesus as a healer at the time when he had to deal with first century Judaism.

Jewish law in the Old Testament prevented idolatry practices that prevailed before Judaism had an influence over people. Pagan rituals often consisted of worshippers making sacrifices to idols, and the initial prophets went through hardships to help these people change their ways. To begin with, the task of changing their beliefs was momentous, as preaching about a God that cannot be seen was difficult and opposed easily. However, with the grace of God, the prophets succeeded after persisting for many years.

As a result of the efforts of the prophets that came before Jesus, the Jewish world was well-versed in all the laws that they were given through the prophet Moses. These laws were rigid because they aimed at ameliorating the…

Julius believed the darkness was "induced by God" (21). Josephus is another historian whose work became popular because it "provided rich information on a few figures in the New Testament" (Voorst 83). John the Baptizer is mentioned with "extensive treatment" (83) and Jesus is mentioned in relations to James' death. Here he names Jesus as the brother of James that is "called Christ" (83). Josephus' most popular mention of Jesus where he is recorded as a man because his "nature and form were human, but his appearance was superhuman and his works were divine" (85). Josephus does not call him an angel but he finds it difficult to call him a mere man. Jesus is noted for opposing the law but never doing anything shameful. Josephus also writes that Jesus was followed by many and he also goes into the Pilate affair, noting that the "miracle-worker" 86) was "no criminal,…

How would one find the patience to persevere with the methods and practices recommended by the author here when the patient, despite their best conscious intentions and statements, does not really (at least initially) want to devote themselves to the necessary spiritual and psychological tasks necessary to achieve healing? As effective as the methods McMinn describes may be, there are doubtless many cases of extreme resistance in counseling; how can the counselor find a balance between a vigorous attempt to encourage true healing and development and the level of spiritual understanding and theological distance that is required in order to provide effective Christian counseling?

Action

After having read this book, I will make a conscious effort to obtain a greater knowledge of scripture and the ways in which it can impact day-to-day life. While I felt I had a decent understanding of scripture before, the way in which the author…

eligion

Is Jesus the Only Savoir? Is onald H. Nash's opportunity to develop a passionate and well-developed argument answering yes: yes, Jesus is the only Savoir. However, Nash does not rest on the reader's understanding or experience of faith to make his case. The author takes a different approach, using logic and reason to explain that at least to a believer in Christ, there can be no other paradigm other than Christian absolutism. According to Nash, pluralism by its very definition violates the tenets inherent in the New Testament. It is therefore impossible for a theologian, especially a Christian one, to be a pluralist.

Nash's scapegoat, for better or worse, is John Hick. Hick is a theologian who has succumbed to the temptation of thinking pluralistically and who attempts to show that Jesus is in fact not the only savior. Nash picks apart Hick's argument by revealing the logical fallacies…

For this reason, it is important to identify the most basic differences between Hinduism and Christianity (Christian esponse to Hinduism (http://contenderministries.org/hinduism/christianresponse.php)."

While Hindus believe in a Creator the truth behind that creator is that there are many Gods within the Brahman. The Christian faith provides one Lord, one God and one true creator.

The bible instructs man to worship and love only one God.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deuteronomy 6:4

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15

In the Hindu faith each person is nothing more than a manifestation of the Brahman. It is something that can create great stress with the belief that one is on earth because in a previous life they were not worthy.

The Christian faith believes that God created all mankind with free will. He…

Christology

hen confronted by a man who claims that Jesus Christ -- because he was human -- could not also be from God and of God, what should the response be? This paper delves into that topic.

hat is the biblical basis for Jesus' humanity? On page 239 of Christology the author explains that Christ was "sinless and also utterly different from other men"; and his "true humanity is specifically witnessed to as if it might be called in question." He was the Son of God but he also was human, and to show his humanity he was invited to dinner with Levi, "…along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners" (Mark 2:15). His humanity had been prophesized in various passages in the Old Testament. "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came…

Jesus Feed 5000 people

Seven astounding signs are there in the Gospel of John. The first one is the process of evolving water into sweet wine. Second is the instance of curing the son of royal. Third is the instance of curing of an invalid man, suffering since thirty-eight years. Fourth one is the nourishing of the 5000 starving people. The fifth one involves strolling on the water at mid-night. Sixth one is blessings to the blind man so as to enable him to see. The seventh one involves nurturing of the dead Lazarus. These symptoms provide us sufficient grounds to raise our spiritual thinking that led to regard Jesus as God. The fourth astounding symbol in John's gospel is about feeding 5000 starving people. All such wonders were performed not to exhibit His enchanting power. These were performed since Jesus had great propelling heart for His people and desired…

Jesus

Although many modern Christians do not realize it, an understanding of Jesus' historical context is extremely helpful, perhaps even essential to true understanding of Christianity. After all, it is only once one understands the geographical, political, religious, and social environment of Jesus' time period that one can truly understand the impact of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons that a historical perspective is important is because many modern-day Christians are separated from their Jewish roots. However, one must always bear in mind that Jesus was not a Christian; Jesus was a Jew and his life and death had been foretold in Jewish prophecies for hundreds of years. In addition:

Jesus addressed his gospel- his message of God's imminent kingdom and of judgment, of God's fatherly providence, of repentance, holiness, and love- to his fellow countrymen. He preached only to Jews. Not a syllable shows that he detached this message…

lives Jesus Mohammed relation respective religion. The paper formatted APA guidelines, include research sources. Be complete steps paper: 1. Trace lives Jesus Mohammed historically.

Jesus and Mohammed

Standing as the two principal religions on the planet, Christianity and Islam are most recognized for the individuals who made it possible for them to exist. Jesus is the major figure in the world of Christianity while Mohamed is the central figure in the Islamic world. Given religion is presently one of the most debated topics, one of the best methods of understanding each of the two religious faiths would be to analyze the characters that stand at the base of each of them.

Although there is no exact evidence to demonstrate when Jesus was born, most sources point toward the belief that the act occurred somewhere before the death of King Herod the Great. There are a series of scholarly accounts meant…

Spear of Destany

The history of civilization is full of legends and myths that have cut across cultural barriers and are nowadays some of the most well-known stories related to the old times of religion and civilization. One of these myths include, among others, the Holy Graal, the Shroud of Turin, or the Spear of Destiny, both of them linked to the life and death of Jesus Christ.

The present research provides a detailed account of the history of the Spear of Destiny, or the Holy Spear, which is considered to have been the one that eventually killed Jesus on the Cross. The accounts of this artifact is important and to some extend crucial for the history of Christianity in particular because of the role it played in the final hours of Jesus' life and, at the same time, due to the mysticism and meaning that has been attributed to…

Signs and Miracles:

Jesus' Performance of Eight Miracles and Proof of His Deity

he Bible offers us not only a great record of historical significance, but also proof of various elements that have led society to believe in God, in Jesus, and in the Bible itself wholeheartedly, by means of religion. hough some doubt the existence of such beings and the truthfulness of the documents that make them exist, this paper will attempt to prove that at least one aspect was, in fact, true. his relates to the fact that Jesus, the supposed Son of God, was indeed a miracle worker, and the miracles he performed made him a deity to be revered, which the following paragraphs will describe and analyze.

Jesus performed many miracles during his lifetime, and various individuals, including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, his disciples, recount these in the Bible. he table below provides a list…

Passion of the Christ

Director Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ, has had a tremendous impact on New Testament studies and culture at large. The movie's violent nature has created a great deal of controversy, but the movie has largely been seen as an accurate portrayal. In terms of New Testament studies, the movie's reach is limited, as it contains a relatively restricted look at Jesus' teachings, and the movie has been criticized as anti-Semitic. Perhaps the movie's greatest impact has been on culture at large, as it has increased interest in Christ's resurrection. Religious groups have taken this opportunity to use the movie as an outreach opportunity, while internationally The Passion of the Christ has generated a great deal of controversy, and met mixed reactions.

Much has been made of the violent nature of Gibson's film. Noted film critic Roger Ebert wrote unflinchingly, "This is the most…

After this scene, Luke appears to be defeated, and his sudden final escape is another type of symbolic resurrection in the film. His apparent defeat also serves to make him more human than the figure of Jesus in the New Testament, and therefore someone that the film's audience could more easily identify with. His desertion by his supporters during this time is also very much like Jesus, who sacrificed himself for the rest of humanity but who was reviled by many for his efforts, and eventually ignored and denied by some of his own followers. In the film, however, it is the entire community of prisoners that first reveres and then reviles Luke, making the story far more poignant and immediate than Jesus' betrayal in the New Testament.

The most telling features of Luke's character and life in the film that connect him to Jesus Christ, however, are the suggestions…

Meeting Jesus for the First Time

It is rightly said that all religious believers tend to create a heroic figure out of their prophets, a man often of divine ancestry and one who is able to transcend the barriers of time and space. Thus to an extent religious believers are idolatrous and no other example is better than Christianity and the figure of Christ. All Christian worship is a response to a worshiper's image of Jesus. Jesus in the history has been depicted as a mythical figure, one who defies all physical and biological laws and performs extraordinary functions. Marcus J. Borg a distinguish professor of Religion at Oregon State University in this regard has written a fascinating book "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time" which explores the popular images of Jesus being created in the literature and by the people. Borg argues that these images are false depiction…

resurrection Jesus considered "signs" Gospel?

Jesus' resurrection as one of the 'signs' in the Gospel

There is much controversy with regard to the resurrection of Jesus and concerning whether or not it should be considered a sign in the Gospel of John. In order to determine if the resurrection should be considered a sign, one must focus on the set of details accompanying this particular event. The resurrection's significance, its purpose and the body that performed it all need to be taken into account so as for one to be able to gain a more complex understanding of the episode. The resurrection stands as a symbol for the concept of new life, as rebirth is one of the most important ideas that one can possibly think of when considering Jesus Christ.

When trying to address this topic, one needs to focus on the moment when Jesus walked on water and…

Historiography in Jesus' era, or the ethics of writing good history, was also different from our own -- objective, historical accounts were rare, rather each historian wished to present his or her version of the facts.

History and belief invariably 'butt heads,' and when confronted with arguments about the life of Jesus that challenge all notions of science and history, such as the resurrection of dead: Charlesworth admits "Historians cannot answer this question" as "this question extends beyond the methodology and focus of historians" (Charlesworth 118; 121). For believers, aspects of Jesus will always exist outside of historical time, but it is the duty of those who seek the historical Jesus to put their own personal biases and agendas aside when reviewing the evidence. A singular Jesus may never emerge, but scrupulous historical and literary analysis can reveal a clearer picture of the many versions of Jesus that existed during…

Jesus Christ and Paul on the Contemporary Church

Jesus of Nazareth is seen widely as the founder of Christianity and one who did the indelible deeds and miracles that have over the centuries formed the foundation of Christian beliefs and the reference for exemplification of how a Christian beliefs. Some of the deeds and achievements that Jesus exemplified are the significance of baptism in the life of a Christian and it is the central passage that signifies the life of a Christian, a passage that He passed through as a person. Jesus also emphasizes on the centrality of repentance in the life of a Christian through his teachings and the parables He used for teaching. He also expressed the need for Christians to have empathy and compassion on people in need as a means of making solid the Christian belief and putting it into action. Yet another achievement that Jesus…

Revelation 20:1-6 (the Millenium)

The objective of this study is to examine the 1000 years of Revelation 20:1-6 (The Millennium) an exegetical and theological topic therefore the review will be extended beyond only the biblical in terms of research and will examine the views of other scholars in this area of inquiry.

The lue Letter ible states the following in the ook of Revelations, Chapter 20, Verses one through six:

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things…

Pre-Existence Christ

The Pre-Existence of Christ

The pre-existence of Christ is the central tenant of Christianity. This paper will review the pre-existence of Christ including supporting views and arguments against the pre-existence of Christ, proving that Christ did exist before His incarnation. Christ existed before the dawn of ages; he was not an afterthought in the mind of God, but rather, always was, and ever will be, as stated in the scriptures. To think otherwise would be heretical; such a statement is counter to every doctrine ever derived from the Gospels.

For centuries humankind has debated the origins of life; Christianity however, has supported the notion that life stems from Christ, and Christ comes from God, as the only manifest Son of God. Christ confirms this, as stated and proved in the book of John when Christ says,[footnoteef:1] "And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the…

Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Introduction
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona is divided into four parts, each part examining some aspect of the subject of the Resurrection of Christ. Part 1 examines the significance of the subject and why it matters. Part 2 explores the facts regarding the Resurrection and the evidence that is available to prove or disprove the Resurrection. Part 3 examines the rebuttals and arguments of those who wish to deny the Resurrection. Part 4 explains the Resurrection by situating it within the larger context of God’s plan and Who Christ Himself believed Himself to be—a necessary addition to the chapter in the light of recent media, such as The Last Temptation of Christ and other books and films, which posit that Christ struggled with a sense of his own divinity or was not fully aware of His mission or…

Israel's celebrated prophets, Isaiah is the king. The writings which bear his name are very profound and the prophecies from his book are all about faith. One great theme found in Isaiah is the theme of salvation by faith. It's about faith in God's promise to carry out salvation through his son, the virgin born Immanuel, which means "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14). The term Immanuel is a definite symbolic name for Christ, pointing to the incarnation of the Son of God. This word is a title that describes the deity of Jesus, implying that God came to be among His people and did so in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. The child born of a virgin is a sign about having the faith to trust in God and his continuing presence and action in our lives. Isaiah, indicating that he is presenting the divine Child as though…

centrality of the parables in Jesus teaching

The historical life of Jesus is significantly discussed in the Gospels of the New Testament which, though from different perspectives, give the facts around Jesus as basically the same. He was portrayed as a person whose birth was foretold by the prophets and came through the Virgin Mary, wife of Joseph. He is seen to grow up as a very intelligent boy whose level of intelligence was divine since he challenged the teachers of the law and other religious leaders in the temple with his questions. Further, Jesus comes out as a great leader who would attract large followings, with the selected 12 disciples being those beside him everywhere he went, helping him to spread the gospel of salvation. Jesus performs many miracles, and unlike the sorcerers, each miracle he performed, planned or random came with a lesson that the rest of the…

spiritual matters do so with an eye to explain spiritual matters in a way that is acceptable to modern man. For these authors, Jesus was a great man, but not the son of God. For this group, the early church was a group of misguided and overly enthusiastic groupies who needed a political leader with divine attributes, and the record of Jesus contained in the New Testament is nothing more than the embellished stories which they told each other in order to find comfort in their political and social misery. Not so for Dr. Stewart Custer. Dr. Custer's treatment of the Book of Acts in his book Witness to Christ is a biblically-based scholarly work which expounds on the record while honoring the identity of Christ as the Son of God, and God the son. For bible students who want to get to know the historical context of the early…

The image of physical resurrection implies that all believers can attain spiritual salvation through Christ. "e will all be changed," says Paul in I Corinthians 15:52). Jesus Christ serves as a symbol of the spiritual resurrection that comes from faith. hether in spirit or in body, resurrection is possible through unconditional faith. Although for many Christians, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is literal, Paul further hints that the resurrection of the physical body might have purely symbolic meaning: "I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable," (I Corinthians 15:50). The notion of actual physical resurrection -- the raising of a corpse from the dead -- might be reserved for a being as miraculous as the Christ.

Through belief in Christ as the son of God, all will attain eternal salvation, another central Christian concept Eternal salvation…

As with the Gospel of Mark’s theme of impending darkness and suffering, what is the Good News? Is there a message of joy here? How do you talk to your parishioners about embracing the cross, even as we approach life with joy and hope?

Darkness and suffering are recurrent themes throughout the Bible. God’s love is offered as a resolution to the suffering endemic to human existence. The Gospel of Mark’s unique apocalyptic vision simultaneously presents the Good News to teach the truth about Jesus as the Son of Man. Depending on how the text is read and interpreted, there is certainly a message of joy embedded within the Gospel of Mark. I would therefore communicate the key themes related to the Son of Man, the identity of Jesus, and the means to salvation while disseminating the Good News to parishioners.

The beauty of the Gospel lies in its fantastic…

Joseph Alosi

John Paul II and Jesus Christ

Even with the fact that they were separated by two millennia, Jesus Christ and Pope John Paul II were actually more similar than someone might be inclined to think. It was especially difficult for John Paul II to adopt an attitude similar to the one put across by Jesus 1900 years before him, taking into account that people in the contemporary society are more vulnerable and exposed to diverse concepts that are likely to turn them into sinners. However, the former pope managed to keep his integrity and fought for the well-being of mankind throughout his life in spite of the fact that he suffered greatly as a result of his beliefs.

One of the most important similarities between Jesus and Pope John Paul II is represented by the fact that they both followed a life path that was filled with traumatizing…