Page 12 - Christology - Student Textbook

Study Section 3: Definition of Christology. Beliefs on the
historicity of Jesus by different movements.

3.1. Connect.
How do we know Jesus really existed in history? Perhaps, like Santa Claus, He has just
been made up in the imagination of men’s minds. Perhaps the Bible is a fictional story
book and the characters that lived in it really did not exist. There are many people today
that think that Jesus is a myth.

This course is about the study of the person of Christ. If he was not a real person, then we are
wasting our time studying Him. But His claim is that He was and is God in flesh. And if His claim is
true, we had better take the time to find out who He was and is. He claimed to bring salvation to all
men. If true, then whether He really existed is extremely important. Our eternal future depends
upon it. Today, let’s look at some views people have about Him and see why their views are not in
line with reality. Let’s get started….

3.2. Objectives.

1. The student should be able to discuss the founders of movements which deny the Biblical
truths taught about Jesus.

2. The student should be able to describe errant teachings about Jesus to clearly identify
why their beliefs are wrong.

3.3. What is Christology

Christology is a compound word whose derivation is two Greek words: Christos (Christ)
and logos (to review or evaluate). Christology is the evaluation or the study of Christ.
17
Merrill C. Tenney notes that Christology should mean “the study of the doctrine of the
Messiah” because “Christ is clearly a translation of this old Jewish title.” In John 1:41, Andrew (the
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brother to Simon Peter) stated that he had found the Messiah. In the same Gospel according to
John, Jesus declared Himself the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:25). Jesus
was the Christ, the Messiah, prophesized in the Old Testament.

Beliefs on the nature and work of Jesus by Different
Movements in History

Depiction of Historical Jesus by Discrepant Movements
Before previewing the false teachings about Jesus Christ, it is significant
to concentrate on the primary teachings for these movements. Some
purport that Jesus “never existed”. Some purport that Jesus was simply
a glorified charismatic leader who never claimed the Deity, miracles, or
teachings that were later ascribed to Him by His followers. The only two

17 Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, eds., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, trans.
Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1964), 4, Λ-Ν: 73-74.
nd
18 Merrill C. Tenney, ed., The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, 2 ed. (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 1976), 1, A-C: 805.

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