Page 46 - Christology - Student Textbook

Many scholars believe that the Angel associated with the one who visited various people in the Old
Testament was the pre-incarnate Christ. For example, an angel of Jehovah called to Abraham when
he was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:15) and an angel visited Hagar in order to supply
what she needed (Gen 16:7-13; cf. Exod. 3:1ff; Acts 7:30-35; Judges 6:11-23; 13:9-20). Scholars
believe that the second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ, who was visible to people in the New
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Testament was in the Old Testament the “full manifestation of God in visible form.” Secondly,
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there is no mention of the appearance of the Angel of Jehovah after the incarnation. There are
also similarities between the Angel of Jehovah and the incarnate Christ.
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Incarnate Titles Applied to the Humanity of Jesus Christ

Son of Man
“Son of Man” was a title most often used by Jesus (Matt 8:20)
concerning Himself. The title emphasis the humanity of Christ. In Daniel
7:13-14, Daniel saw someone who looked like the Son of Man coming in
authority. This scene depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ because
Daniel describes the One who will be coming as the Judge the world:
“He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and
peoples of every language worshiped him” (Dan. 7:14 [NIV]). It is a
parallel passage to Phil. 2-9-11 where “every knee shall bow and every
tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.“

Suffering Servant
While the suffering servant in Isaiah is often associated with the nation of Israel, the passages in
Isaiah 53 indicate a specific person. This person suffers and dies for Israel in order to redeem Israel
(Isa. 52:13—53:12). Since God in His deity cannot die, it is fair to ascribe the title of the suffering
servant to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Son of David
The promised son of David was the rightful heir to Israel’s throne and the fulfillment of the Davidic
covenant. Jesus Christ descended from David (2 Sam 7:11-16; 1 Chr. 17:11-13; Ps. 132:11; Isa. 9:6-7;
11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15-18). The New Testament confirm this truth (Luke 3:23, 31; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8;
Rev. 22:16). Other New Testament passages state that Jesus Christ is the inheritor of David’s throne
(Matt. 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 1:32-33, 69; 23:38; John 1:49; 18:37; 19:19). The fact that Christ is
immortal but was born from the line of David validates Him as the Son of David.

Abraham’s Seed
This designation of Christ supports the fact that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise made to
Abraham. This promise came through Isaac’s seed (Gen 17:19). Christ is both the Son of David and
of the seed of Abraham (Matt. 1:1).

First Born

127 Ibid., 46.
128 Ibid.

129 Ibid.

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