This document discusses different approaches to understanding who Jesus is, known as Christology. It outlines a "from above" approach that begins with Jesus' divine nature and pre-existence and a "from below" approach that starts with the human Jesus of history. While an exclusive emphasis on either approach has issues, many theologians today prefer starting "from below" to appreciate Jesus' full humanity and solidarity with us, which can inspire discipleship. The document also examines how Jesus has been understood in different contexts like Latin America, Africa, and the Philippines, where he has been seen as a liberator or one who endured suffering.

1. CHRISTOLOGICAL
APPROACHES
LECTURE BY JEFF CLYDE G. CORPUZ

2. Essential Question
•If Jesus
would ask
you this
question,
How would
you respond?
“Who do you
say that I
am?”

3. The Question of Relevance: Why is it
important?
Jesus is God’s response to our deepest
human longings.

4. The Many Faces of Jesus
Today

5. Latin America
Africa
Philippine Jesus?
Korean Jesus
CONTEXTUAL
THEOLOGY

6. World religions

7. •Advocate of
non-violence
The Many Faces of Jesus Today

8. Political, social, economic

9. • liberator from
economic and
political
oppression
(Latin
America and
Caribbean)
The Many Faces of Jesus Today

10. • champion against racial prejudice
and discrimination (South Africa)
The Many Faces of Jesus Today

11. In film and Multimedia
• The Last Temptation of
Christ
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• The Passover Plot
• The Sacred Mushroom & the
Cross
• Jesus the Magician
• The DaVinci Code

12. • A friend
• A brother
• As confidante (a
person whom you
can trust)
The Many Faces of Jesus Today

13. “Jesus’ name has been used and abused
to justify crimes, to frighten children and
to inspire men and women to heroic
foolishness”
-Albert Nolan O.P.

14. Who is Jesus for the
Filipinos?

15. Two prominent image of Christ :
Santo Niño
Nazareno
(Suffering Chirst)

16. Santo Niño
Strengths
• Teaches the reality of
the incarnation
• God identifies with the
“little ones”.
• Reveals the condition to
be part of God’s
Kingdom is to be
childlike

17. Santo Niño
Weakness
• Confine
appreciation of
Jesus to his
childhood
• May give the
impression of
“domesticated”
God, a Catholic doll

18. Nazareno
Strengths
• God is compassionate to
humanity.
• Sometimes the innocent would
have to suffer for the sake of
the guilty because of love
• Inspires us to bear our
sufferings patiently and with
honor.

19. Nazareno
Weaknesses
• Image of suffering Christ may
leave out the resurrection
event.
• Inspire passive suffering
rather than active struggle
against unjust affliction.

20. ACTS 4:5-14
“And there is salvation in no one
else; for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given
among men by which we must be
saved.”

21. Salvation in Jesus
MT 1:21 “To save his
people from their
sins”
• Jesus Hb. “Yeshua”
– “God saves”

22. How is
Christology
done?
Basic
approaches:

23. • Christology “From Above”
• An approach which begins with
the pre-existent Word who is in
heaven/from eternity, and who
descends into human history,
becoming incarnate in Jesus
• Focal point: Incarnation
• Starting point: Church’s dogma
From above

24. • Christology “From Below”
• An approach which begins with the
human Jesus of Nazareth, and traces
his story from birth to mission,
culminating on his death and
resurrection
• Focal point: Resurrection
• Starting point: Jesus of history (esp.
as contained in biblical accounts
From below

25. TWO POLES OF CHRISTOLOGY
•over/exclusive emphasis on “From Above” may
result to a denial of Christ’s humanity (e.g.
docetism – physicality, crucifixion, death were all
illusion)
• over/exclusive emphasis on “From Below” may
result on a rejection of Jesus’ divinity (Arianism –
Jesus as the highest creature, subordinate to the
Father)

26. What is the approach preferred
by many theologians today?
• Preference for the “From Below”
Approach: Why? –
• Helps us appreciate the full
humanity of Jesus and hence his
solidarity with us - Inspires
discipleship in the context of a
world which identifies more with
stories rather than dogmas.
Hesus na aking kapatid