christ’s humanity copyright by norman l. geisler 2007

Christ’s HumanityChrist’s Humanity

Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2007Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2007

The Essential Orthodox Doctrines 1. God’s unity 2. God’s tri-unity 3. Human depravity 4. Mary’s virginity 5. Christ’s purity 6. Christ’s deity 7. Christ’s humanity 8. God’s mercy 9. Faith’s necessity 10. Christ’s atoning death

11. Christ’s bodily resurrection 12. Christ’s bodily ascension 13. Christ’s priestly session 14. Christ’s second coming [15. Bible’s infallibility] [16. Literal interpretation]

The Essential Orthodox Doctrines 1. God’s unity 2. God’s tri-unity 3. Human depravity 4. Mary’s virginity 5. Christ’s purity 6. Christ’s deity 7. Christ’s humanity 8. God’s mercy 9. Faith’s necessity 10. Christ’s atoning death

11. Christ’s bodily resurrection 12. Christ’s bodily ascension 13. Christ’s priestly session 14. Christ’s second coming [15. Bible’s infallibility] [16. Literal interpretation]

Christ’s HumanityChrist’s HumanityI. The Biblical Basis

II. The Creedal Statements

III. The Doctrinal Importance

IV. Unorthodox Views

V. Some Objections

I. The Biblical Basis




V. Some Objections

I. The Biblical BasisI. The Biblical BasisA. He had a human motherB. He had a human conceptionC. He had a human prenatal lifeD. He had a human childhoodE. He had a human adulthoodF. He had human relativesG. He had human friendsH. He had human emotionsI. He had a human death

A. He had a human motherB. He had a human conceptionC. He had a human prenatal lifeD. He had a human childhoodE. He had a human adulthoodF. He had human relativesG. He had human friendsH. He had human emotionsI. He had a human death

A. He had a human mother A. He had a human mother His mother “Mary” was a human being with

a human ancestry (Lk. 3). She had a human cousin named Elizabeth (Lk. 1:36). Mary went through a normal nine month human pregnancy (Lk. 1:36; 2:6). She had a human delivery of her child. She had normal human anxieties (Lk. 2:44, 48). She had other human children (Mk. 6:3). She attended human social events (Jn. 2:1) and religious feasts (Lk 2:22-23).

His mother “Mary” was a human being with a human ancestry (Lk. 3). She had a human cousin named Elizabeth (Lk. 1:36). Mary went through a normal nine month human pregnancy (Lk. 1:36; 2:6). She had a human delivery of her child. She had normal human anxieties (Lk. 2:44, 48). She had other human children (Mk. 6:3). She attended human social events (Jn. 2:1) and religious feasts (Lk 2:22-23).

B. He had a human conceptionB. He had a human conception

Mary was a virgin when she “conceived” (Mt. 1:23), but after the fertilization of her ovum by the Holy Spirit, the conceptus implanted Himself in her uterus in the normal human way.

Mary was a virgin when she “conceived” (Mt. 1:23), but after the fertilization of her ovum by the Holy Spirit, the conceptus implanted Himself in her uterus in the normal human way.

C. He had a Human Prenatal LifeC. He had a Human Prenatal Life

Jesus began as a conceptus, grew into an embryo, and went through all the human development a normal human fetus undergoes. His heart muscle began to pulsate 21 days after conception. He got a brain wave at 42 days after conception. By the third month he could feel organic pain and even suck His thumb. A couple months later He was dreaming and swimming in His mother’s the womb just like other babies do.

Jesus began as a conceptus, grew into an embryo, and went through all the human development a normal human fetus undergoes. His heart muscle began to pulsate 21 days after conception. He got a brain wave at 42 days after conception. By the third month he could feel organic pain and even suck His thumb. A couple months later He was dreaming and swimming in His mother’s the womb just like other babies do.

D. He had a human childhoodD. He had a human childhood1. He was circumcised (Lk. 2:21).

2. He grew physically (Lk. 2:52).

3. He grew in understanding (Lk. 2:52).

4. He obeyed his parents (Lk. 2:51).

Note: The stories of childhood miracles are apocryphal, coming from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. His “first” miracle was as an adult when He turned water into wine (cf. Jn. 2:11).

1. He was circumcised (Lk. 2:21).

2. He grew physically (Lk. 2:52).

3. He grew in understanding (Lk. 2:52).

4. He obeyed his parents (Lk. 2:51).

Note: The stories of childhood miracles are apocryphal, coming from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. His “first” miracle was as an adult when He turned water into wine (cf. Jn. 2:11).

E. He had a human adulthoodE. He had a human adulthood 1. He got hungry (Mt. 4:2). 2. He got thirsty (Jn. 4:7; 19:28). 3. He got physically tired (Jn. 4:6) 4. He went to social events (Jn. 2:2; Lk.

7:34, 36). 5. He was tempted by the Devil to sin

(Mt. 4:1; Heb. 4:15). 6. He got weary of the crowd (Mk. 6:31). 7. He cried over a friend’s death (Jn. 11:35).

1. He got hungry (Mt. 4:2). 2. He got thirsty (Jn. 4:7; 19:28). 3. He got physically tired (Jn. 4:6) 4. He went to social events (Jn. 2:2; Lk.

7:34, 36). 5. He was tempted by the Devil to sin

(Mt. 4:1; Heb. 4:15). 6. He got weary of the crowd (Mk. 6:31). 7. He cried over a friend’s death (Jn. 11:35).

F. He had human relativesF. He had human relatives “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary,

and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3). Before His resurrection even “His brothers did not believe in Him” (Jn. 7:5). And at one point “His own people…went out to lay hold on Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’” (Mk. 3:21). “After that [His resurrection] He was seen by James…” (1Cor. 15:7) who was converted and later became one of the “pillars” in the church (Gal. 2:9) and wrote an epistle (Jas. 1:1), as did His other brother “Jude” (1:1).

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3). Before His resurrection even “His brothers did not believe in Him” (Jn. 7:5). And at one point “His own people…went out to lay hold on Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’” (Mk. 3:21). “After that [His resurrection] He was seen by James…” (1Cor. 15:7) who was converted and later became one of the “pillars” in the church (Gal. 2:9) and wrote an epistle (Jas. 1:1), as did His other brother “Jude” (1:1).

G. He had human friendsG. He had human friends “Now Jesus loved Martha and her

sister [Mary], and Lazarus” (Jn. 11:5) at whose house he stayed many times.

His special friendship is expressed in Mary’s words: “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” (Jn. 11:3).

Indeed, “Jesus wept” when He stood by His dead friend (Jn. 11:35).

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary], and Lazarus” (Jn. 11:5) at whose house he stayed many times.

His special friendship is expressed in Mary’s words: “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” (Jn. 11:3).

Indeed, “Jesus wept” when He stood by His dead friend (Jn. 11:35).

H. He had human emotionsH. He had human emotions1. When He saw Mary crying over her brother’s death, He

“groaned in His spirit and was troubled” (Jn. 11:33).2. “Jesus wept” over Lazarus’s death (Jn. 11:35).3. He was angry with hypocrisy, declaring: “Woe unto you

Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (Mt. 23:29).4. He wept over Jerusalem, crying out, “O Jerusalem, O

Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets…. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Mt. 23:37).

5. He agonized in the Garden, “his sweat becoming like great drops of blood” (Lk. 22:44).

6. He had “vehement cries and tears” (Heb. 5:7).7. He felt forsaken by the Father, crying “My God, My God,

why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46).

1. When He saw Mary crying over her brother’s death, He “groaned in His spirit and was troubled” (Jn. 11:33).

2. “Jesus wept” over Lazarus’s death (Jn. 11:35).3. He was angry with hypocrisy, declaring: “Woe unto you

Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (Mt. 23:29).4. He wept over Jerusalem, crying out, “O Jerusalem, O

Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets…. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Mt. 23:37).

5. He agonized in the Garden, “his sweat becoming like great drops of blood” (Lk. 22:44).

6. He had “vehement cries and tears” (Heb. 5:7).7. He felt forsaken by the Father, crying “My God, My God,

why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46).

I. He had a human deathI. He had a human death Unlike the sons of Adam (Rom. 5:12),

Jesus was not intrinsically mortal, but he was capable of dying and did. Indeed, he “suffered” before He died (1 Peter 3:18), being “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). He was also “put to death in the flesh” (1 Pet. 3:18) that “he might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). He even felt “forsaken” in his death (Mt. 27:46).

Unlike the sons of Adam (Rom. 5:12), Jesus was not intrinsically mortal, but he was capable of dying and did. Indeed, he “suffered” before He died (1 Peter 3:18), being “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). He was also “put to death in the flesh” (1 Pet. 3:18) that “he might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). He even felt “forsaken” in his death (Mt. 27:46).

A. The Apostles’ CreedA. The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the

Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried…. The third day He arose again from the dead.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried…. The third day He arose again from the dead.

B. The Nicene Creed (325) B. The Nicene Creed (325) We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the

only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made…. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made…. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human.

C. The Chalcedonian Creed (451)C. The Chalcedonian Creed (451) Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in

teaching all men to confess [9] the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness…. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these "last days," for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness.

Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess [9] the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness…. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these "last days," for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness.

III. The Doctrinal Importance He Must be Human To Redeem Humans

III. The Doctrinal Importance He Must be Human To Redeem HumansA. Jesus is the Mediator between God and Man

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).

B. Jesus is the Reconciler of God and Man “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself…” (2 Cor. 5:19).

C. Jesus must be both God and Man to be Mediator and Reconciler of man to God.

A. Jesus is the Mediator between God and Man

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).

B. Jesus is the Reconciler of God and Man “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself…” (2 Cor. 5:19).

C. Jesus must be both God and Man to be Mediator and Reconciler of man to God.

Why the God-Man?Why the God-Man?

GodGodManMan

Because only the God-Man can bridge between God and Man

Because only the God-Man can bridge between God and Man

God-ManGod-Man

V. Unorthodox ViewsV. Unorthodox ViewsA. Apollinarianism—Fourth century heresy that diminished

the human nature, claiming Jesus had no human spirit.B. Docetism—First century heresy that denied the human

nature, claiming Jesus only appeared to be human but was not really human.

C. Nestorianism—Fifth century heresy that divided the human person (Jesus) from the divine nature, making two separate persons.

Note: It is a heresy to deny Christ’s humanity: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,

whether they are of God…. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist…” (1 Jn. 4:1-3).

A. Apollinarianism—Fourth century heresy that diminished the human nature, claiming Jesus had no human spirit.

B. Docetism—First century heresy that denied the human nature, claiming Jesus only appeared to be human but was not really human.

C. Nestorianism—Fifth century heresy that divided the human person (Jesus) from the divine nature, making two separate persons.

Note: It is a heresy to deny Christ’s humanity: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,

whether they are of God…. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist…” (1 Jn. 4:1-3).

V. Some ObjectionsV. Some ObjectionsA. Objection of Alleged Contradiction It is objected that it is contradictory to

be both God and man at the same time.

Response: Jesus is both human and divine at the same time but not in the same sense. So, it is not contradictory.

A. Objection of Alleged Contradiction It is objected that it is contradictory to

be both God and man at the same time.

Response: Jesus is both human and divine at the same time but not in the same sense. So, it is not contradictory.

FatherFather

Holy

Spirit

Holy

Spirit

SonSonHuma

nNatur

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Human

Nature

DivineNatur

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DivineNatur

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God’s Tri-UnityGod’s Tri-Unity

Note: 1) The divine nature is not the human nature.

2) Jesus had both natures at the same time, but they are not both the same nature.

Note: 1) The divine nature is not the human nature.

2) Jesus had both natures at the same time, but they are not both the same nature.

V. Some ObjectionsV. Some ObjectionsB. Objection that Human Nature is Sinful It is objected that human nature is sinful, and

Jesus was not sinful. Hence, he could not be human.

Response: Only fallen human nature is sinful, but human nature as such is not sinful:

1) Adam was created human but was not sinful.

2) In heaven we will be human but not sinful.

B. Objection that Human Nature is Sinful It is objected that human nature is sinful, and

Jesus was not sinful. Hence, he could not be human.

Response: Only fallen human nature is sinful, but human nature as such is not sinful:

1) Adam was created human but was not sinful.

2) In heaven we will be human but not sinful.

V. Some ObjectionsV. Some ObjectionsC. Objection that to Err is Human

It is objected that “to err is human,” and Jesus was human. So, He must have erred.

Response: “To err is human,” but it does not follow logically that “to be human is to err.” Humans won’t sin in heaven.

C. Objection that to Err is Human

It is objected that “to err is human,” and Jesus was human. So, He must have erred.

Response: “To err is human,” but it does not follow logically that “to be human is to err.” Humans won’t sin in heaven.

christ’s humanity copyright by norman l. geisler 2007

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