by Rodolfo N. Lentejas, Jr.

Created on: January 02, 2010

The Christological Nucleus

The entire story of the Christian mystery began with the single Christic event. However tragic, the death of Christ has become the very core and the very foundation of the Christian faith. The present articles of faith are a result of hundreds of years of Catholic tradition, evolving into various formulations and pronunciations yet remaining faithful to the very essence of the Catholic faith.

The early disciples of Jesus were confronted with questions affecting their faith and their relationship with the old law, particularly their attachment to the Law of Moses. After realizing that the teachings of Jesus were not in opposition with the Jewish practice, they continued to practice and in later years adapt into their communities some basic Jewish customs. During this period, however, they were still dependent on their Jewish roots. In fact, they still identified themselves as part of the big Jewish world.

It was only after the resurrection that they broke away and made themselves independent from the Jewish tradition. The resurrection made them decide to live on their own (autonomous). Thus, they started calling themselves followers of a certain Jesus of Nazareth, who was raised up from the dead. As a result, they also started proclaiming that this Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the new Messiah. This proclamation is very decisive because they had to break away from the law that binds them to the old custom. As a new community, they had found a new faith which now binds them, not anymore with the old law but to the risen Christ. The early followers of Jesus had really to decide where to put their allegiance—to the old law of Moses or to the new faith in Christ.

Their faith in Jesus led them to believe (credere) that God, their Father, had raised him up from the dead and as a result they had confessed (confessare) in their lips that indeed this person is the Son of God (Romans 10:9). Because of this, they went out and started proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. So it was only after the resurrection that Jesus as Lord became prominent because of the kerygmatic preaching of the disciples.

The action of Jesus, especially his resurrection, posed a soteriological character. His entire life which culminates at the cross is an act done, once and for all, for us. It was in him that salvation comes about; it was through him that we are reconciled once again; and it was with him that God comes close to us (God-with-us).

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>