The Word of Life: Systematic Theology, Volume Two
Overview
The focal point in Oden’s second volume is Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh, and this idea engages Oden in a methodical examination of Christ’s deity, the incarnation, and Christ’s humanity. In pursuit of the historical Jesus, we are invited to an intimate look at Jesus’ public ministry, as well as His death and resurrection.
Top Highlights
“The conditions common to humanity included physical development (being born and passing through stages of growth), intellectual development (learning as humans learn), and even moral development (submitting to parents and to the law), within a distinct historical context, under a particular political regime, of a particular ethnicity, and in a particular family.” (Pages 80–81)
“The word ‘incarnation’ (Gk. sarkosis, Lat. incarnatus) means enfleshing, or becoming flesh, the union of human nature with the divine in one person. The term ‘flesh’ points to our entire created (not fallen) human nature. It signals that in the assumption of humanity ‘nothing was lacking that belongs to human nature’” (Page 93)
“Calvin stated the point with extraordinary precision: ‘In short, since neither as God alone could he feel death, nor as man alone could he overcome it, he coupled human nature with divine that to atone for sin he might submit the weakness of the one to death; and that, wrestling with death by the power of the other nature, he might win victory for us.’ Thus he ‘took the person and the name of Adam in order to take Adam’s place’ (Inst. 2.12.3; cf. Peter of Damaskos, Treasury, Philokal. III, pp. 125–28).” (Page 105)
“‘And being found in appearance as a man’ (Phil. 2:8), that is, ‘recognized as truly human’ (Weymouth transl.). This phrase does not imply that he was not really a man, but underscores the contrast—being God he was found in human form, appeared as such, and was recognizable as such. ‘His experience was that of every other man, eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, walking, standing, hungering, thirsting, shivering, sweating, fatigued, working, clothing Himself, sheltered in a house, praying—all things just as others’ (Luther, SCF, p. 144).” (Page 81)
- Title: The Word of Life: Systematic Theology, Volume Two
- Author: Thomas C. Oden
- Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
- Print Publication Date: 1992
- Logos Release Date: 2008
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Jesus Christ › Person and offices
- Resource ID: LLS:WRDLIFEODENSTV2
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T21:09:36Z