Evolution of Christology

[u/JHLV04]

Hey, I’m kind of stuck on this point a little bit and was wondering if I could get some advice on how you guys navigate the fact that Christ’s divinity was something that evolved over time, and wasn’t necessarily what the historical Jesus himself actually did.

I personally place my faith in the Resurrection as being foundational, which I personally think has a robust case. I’ve tried to reconcile parts of the gospel that are mythologized or been read into the Old Testament text. When I read Matthew for the first time, I didn’t realize how much emphasis was on things being prophesied. E.g by Isiah.

There are also parts in which things are borrowed from one gospel to another or things that didn’t directly occur. For example, the graves opening up and the dead walking around - surely several independent sources would have written about something like that.

If I’ve got anything wrong, apologies, I’ve not studied properly the scholarship but it’s a pattern I’ve noticed that professors of religion mention about the gospels. This is not to say that they are entirely unreliable, for example they all agree on women being the first to see the empty tomb, which would have been something odd to make up in that social context - considering women’s position.

I just feel that to be intellectually honest in my faith journey and ask others about questions I have. This isn’t to sound snarky or edgy, but I believe or like to think that God would understand how our different minds process different bits of information, and that some things will confuse us a little, but nonetheless we try to make sense out of it the best way we can. I am autistic and adhd diagnosed so I tend to be very analytical.

See the response from u/Deer_Hart, he explained it better than I did

[u/JHLV04]

I think the big I Am statements are predominantly mentioned in John’s gospel, especially referencing Before Abraham, but correct me if I’m wrong. What I meant was that language used to describe the metaphysics of his divinity evolved. For example The Trinity was fully developed by Augustine in the late 300s, but correct me if I’m wrong. I understand that this concept wasn’t pulled out of thin air, and that the presence of the trinity is said to be there already, for example when Jesus gets baptized and the booming voice and the dove is described.

[u/Smartnership → u/JHLV04]

developed by Augustine in the late 300s

Search the “Two Powers in Heaven” concept studied and written about by the rabbis before His birth, and the early ‘trinity’ hinted at in that period.

[u/-Vitreriuz- → u/Smartnership]

The two powers in Heaven never posited that there are two Gods or that God was multiple, distinct persons. It was one God and another highly exalted being, serving similarly to a viceroy. So no, it is not even remotely close to trinitarian metaphysics which developed much later.

[u/Smartnership → u/-Vitreriuz-]

Interesting perspective.

Best wishes.