JESUS IS A REAL GOD
AND A REAL MAN
Maria Angelica Chan
Christology
Term Paper
March 4, 2014
Who is Jesus?
Often today, when asked the question "Who is Jesus?" Catholics reply: "Jesus is the son of God". While such a statement is true as far as it goes, it does not explain fully enough who Jesus really is. The problem is that we are all sons and daughters of God yet we are not God. So, while Jesus is the son of God, He is also God the Son. It is the second part of the statement "...God the Son..." which gives the real clue to understanding the person of Jesus. Unfortunately, some theologians today have downplayed Jesus' divinity. They stress His human qualities; His compassion, love, justice, social conscience and so on. In doing so they deny the fact that Jesus was not just a good man, not just someone chosen by God to do a special mission in Palestine. In fact, Jesus is God Himself.
The name Jesus means in Hebrew "God saves". The name Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah" which means "Anointed". Saint John tells us that this is the divine name which alone brings salvation (John 3:5). Kings, priests and prophets were anointed as a sign of their special calling. Jesus was unique in that he was at one and the same time priest, prophet and king. Jesus is a member of the Holy Trinity, truly God. St. Irenaeus of Lyons would say: "...in the name of Christ is understood he who anoints, he who has been anointed, and the anointing itself by which he has been anointed: He who anoints in the Father, he who has been anointed is the Son, and he has been anointed in the Spirit, who is the anointing." (Adv. Haer, III,18,3)
Names of God in Scripture
(1) Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one.” It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His...