The first Christians were Jews. Therefore, there is some Jewishness in Christianity. The Jews believe in one God who was the Creator of heavens and earth. So do Christians. However, Christians are not Jews because they also believe that Jesus is God. The Jews could never be able to accept this. For them, Jesus was at most a Galilean rabbi. Therefore, Christians have to develop an elaborate system of theology to harmonize these conflicting claims. In the reading of the epistle to the Colossians today, we read of Paul's contemplation of the divinity of Jesus.
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15).
Men cannot see God. Even Moses could only see the back of God (Exodus 33:21-23). Therefore, God forbade the Israelites to make images of God, lest the Israelites would transfer their faith in God to the idols (Exodus 20:4-5). When Paul made the statement above, the Jews would be very much offended. But Christians have developed a concept of "Sacrament" to handle the situation. A sacrament is a visible sign through which God give the recipient grace. For example, baptism makes use of water (a visible sign) to remove the sins of the recipients. This removal of sins is equivalent to receiving grace.
Equipped with this concept of Sacrament, we can extend it to include a lot of people and things. Jesus is visible and gives us grace. Jesus is a sacrament. The Church is visible and she brings God's grace to men. Therefore, the Church is also a sacrament. Like Abraham whom God had chosen to bring blessings to all peoples, Christians are visible and they bring God's grace to men. Therefore, Christians are also sacraments.
Of course, when St. Paul wrote this, he did not intend to describe Jesus in a sacramental way. He simply confessed what he experienced of Jesus. According to the gospels, Jesus appeared to the apostles after resurrection. They were astounded and confessed that Jesus was God (John 20:28). St. Paul had never met Jesus in person. He only encountered Jesus in visions. Paul had no doubt that this Jesus could only be God. That was why Paul believed that Jesus was the image of the invisible God.
Men cannot see God. Even Moses could only see the back of God (Exodus 33:21-23). Therefore, God forbade the Israelites to make images of God, lest the Israelites would transfer their faith in God to the idols (Exodus 20:4-5). When Paul made the statement above, the Jews would be very much offended. But Christians have developed a concept of "Sacrament" to handle the situation. A sacrament is a visible sign through which God give the recipient grace. For example, baptism makes use of water (a visible sign) to remove the sins of the recipients. This removal of sins is equivalent to receiving grace.
Equipped with this concept of Sacrament, we can extend it to include a lot of people and things. Jesus is visible and gives us grace. Jesus is a sacrament. The Church is visible and she brings God's grace to men. Therefore, the Church is also a sacrament. Like Abraham whom God had chosen to bring blessings to all peoples, Christians are visible and they bring God's grace to men. Therefore, Christians are also sacraments.
Of course, when St. Paul wrote this, he did not intend to describe Jesus in a sacramental way. He simply confessed what he experienced of Jesus. According to the gospels, Jesus appeared to the apostles after resurrection. They were astounded and confessed that Jesus was God (John 20:28). St. Paul had never met Jesus in person. He only encountered Jesus in visions. Paul had no doubt that this Jesus could only be God. That was why Paul believed that Jesus was the image of the invisible God.
Paul was expressing the idea of pre-existence of Jesus. This concept predated the gospel of John for some 40 years.
for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17).
Christians resolved the conflict between monotheism and the divinity of Jesus by developing the theology of the Son of God and His incarnation. Things were getting more complicated then. Some people began to contemplate the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Different theories were suggested but many had become heresies. For the time being, I am not capable enough to write on these theological controversies. I hope by the time I finish my theological studies, I will be competent enough to talk about it.
for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17).
Christians resolved the conflict between monotheism and the divinity of Jesus by developing the theology of the Son of God and His incarnation. Things were getting more complicated then. Some people began to contemplate the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Different theories were suggested but many had become heresies. For the time being, I am not capable enough to write on these theological controversies. I hope by the time I finish my theological studies, I will be competent enough to talk about it.
Dear Jesus, You are our God and our Saviour. You are divine. Otherwise, we have not been saved. May we continue to walk in Your light and be able to discern more. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment