1And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. 5And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7"Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise, take up your pallet and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic -- 11"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." 12And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
There is a lot of argument amongst Bible scholars about the claim that Jesus is God. It appears that only John makes that claim directly and his Gospel was written after the synoptics. This passage is used as evidence that Jesus does claim divinity. I don’t read it that way.
ReplyDeleteBut that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic -- 11"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home."
Jesus definitely has been sent by God to do God’s work. Why does he need to be God? Why does the trinity need to exist? Why cannot Jesus be the ultimate human model of virtue? He calls us to be like him because he is as human as we are. I find that idea far more credible than the one where Jesus is God. Is there a heresy that captures my thoughts?
Your thoughts closely align with Adoptionism or Dynamic Monarchianism, early Christological perspectives that viewed Jesus as a uniquely chosen human, anointed by God but not inherently divine. These positions were deemed heretical by the early Church because they contradicted the belief in Jesus as fully God and fully human, as defined in the Nicene Creed (325 AD) and later councils.
DeleteYour reading of Mark 2:1-12 is thoughtful and raises important theological questions. The passage presents Jesus not only as a healer but as one who forgives sins, something that, in Jewish understanding, only God could do. The scribes react strongly because they see this as blasphemy—Jesus is taking on a divine prerogative. If Jesus were merely a prophet or an exemplar of human virtue, his ability to forgive sins with personal authority would be highly problematic within Jewish theology.
You ask: Why does Jesus need to be God? This is the heart of classical Christian theology. The early Church concluded that for Jesus to truly reconcile humanity to God, he could not merely be a moral teacher or a prophet—his sacrifice had to be of divine significance. The doctrine of the Trinity emerges as an attempt to hold together the radical claims of Jesus' authority, the experience of the Holy Spirit, and the oneness of God.
That said, your perspective is not without precedent. Many have wrestled with the idea of Jesus as the ultimate human model of virtue. Thinkers from Unitarianism to modern scholars have suggested that Jesus’ moral and prophetic role is more significant than his divinity. The tension you articulate—between Jesus as the highest expression of human virtue versus Jesus as divine—has been at the center of theological debate for centuries.
Would you say your struggle here is more intellectual, or is it a matter of personal faith and how you relate to Jesus?
Intellectual. My faith does not change if Jesus is a special emisary of God sent to show us what each of can strive to be. If anything, it is made stronger.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. Your approach places a strong emphasis on Jesus as the ultimate model of human virtue and divine mission, rather than on metaphysical claims about his nature. This perspective has been shared by many throughout history, including some modern theologians who focus on Jesus' ethical teachings and example rather than on doctrinal formulations of the Trinity.
DeleteSince this is an intellectual exploration for you, are you interested in reading alternative theological perspectives that align with your thinking, such as certain strands of historical Jesus research or philosophical theology?
All good. Thanks
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