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jettrooper
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Contained in the Scriptures are the keys to understanding the uniqueness of Christ’s humanity. According to the scriptures, Jesus’ birth was unique yet natural. Jesus was not spontaneously generated as Adam was but was born of virgin woman. This illustrated that Jesus was linked with the same human race but unique in His conception that made Him an uncursed soul as was Adam’s original state. This does not imply original sin but from the moment that any man is born death begins to occur in the body. This is the cursed state of existence that all men, except Christ, are born into. The Bible refers to this state as “slavery to corruption”(Romans 8:21).
His childhood was also one that was also natural in that he was subject to growing into adulthood; yet it was unique in that He was instructing in the temple at the age of 12. His human existence contained within itself all the real attributes of humanity. Flesh, blood, pain, temptation, trials, and physical growth. Hebrews 2:14-15 says “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (NASB). To all of the participants of the Nativity, as the child lay in a manager wrapped in swaddling clothes, no one doubted the complete humanity of the Christ.
As was most of His life so was His death both natural and unique. People who are dead for three day generally stay dead. The resurrection of Christ displayed the uniqueness of His humanity in the face of death. His humanity allows all of mankind to receive atonement.
Because He shared in humanity and made us brothers under the Father we can have reconciliation with God. As Hebrews 2:11-12 reads: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim Your name to my brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise." (NASB)
Many who reject the deity of Christ proceed on the assumption that the theology of the Trinity did not appear till AD 200-300. They are half right, the doctrine of the Trinity did not officially get put together until then, but the belief in Jesus being God etc was around before then no doubt they just didn’t classify it as the Trinitarian Doctrine.
Here are source materials available to anyone from the earliest Christian elders and teachers ad nauseum:
[h=3]Barnabas[/h](74 AD) The Letter of Barnabas "And further, my brethren, if the Lord [Jesus] endured to suffer for our soul, he being the Lord of all the world, to whom God said at the foundation of the world, 'Let us make man after our image, and after our likeness,' understand how it was that he endured to suffer at the hand of men" (Letter of Barnabas 5).
[h=3]The Huleatt Manuscript[/h]The Huleatt Manuscript (contested between 50 AD and 200 AD) "She poured it [the perfume] over his [Jesus'] hair when he sat at the table. But, when the disciples saw it, they were indignant. . . . God, aware of this, said to them: 'Why do you trouble this woman? She has done [a beautiful thing for me.] . . . Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priest and said, 'What will you give me for my work?' [Matt. 26:7-15]" (Huleatt fragments 1-3).
[h=3]Hermas[/h]80 AD Hermas "The Son of God is older than all his creation, so that he became the Father's adviser in his creation. Therefore also he is ancient" (The Shepherd 12).
[h=3]Aristides[/h]140 AD Aristides "[Christians] are they who, above every people of the Earth, have found the truth, for they acknowledge God, the creator and maker of all things, in the only-begotten Son and in the Holy Spirit" (Apology 16).
[h=3]Justin Martyr[/h]"The Father of the universe has a Son, who also being the first begotten Word of God, is even God." (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 63)
"Christ is called both God and Lord of hosts." (Dialogue with Trypho, ch, 36)
"Moreover, in the diapsalm of the forty-sixth Psalm, reference is thus made to Christ: 'God went up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet." (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 37)
Quote on Hebrews 1:8 to prove the Deity of Christ. "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever." (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 56)
His childhood was also one that was also natural in that he was subject to growing into adulthood; yet it was unique in that He was instructing in the temple at the age of 12. His human existence contained within itself all the real attributes of humanity. Flesh, blood, pain, temptation, trials, and physical growth. Hebrews 2:14-15 says “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (NASB). To all of the participants of the Nativity, as the child lay in a manager wrapped in swaddling clothes, no one doubted the complete humanity of the Christ.
As was most of His life so was His death both natural and unique. People who are dead for three day generally stay dead. The resurrection of Christ displayed the uniqueness of His humanity in the face of death. His humanity allows all of mankind to receive atonement.
Because He shared in humanity and made us brothers under the Father we can have reconciliation with God. As Hebrews 2:11-12 reads: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim Your name to my brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise." (NASB)
Many who reject the deity of Christ proceed on the assumption that the theology of the Trinity did not appear till AD 200-300. They are half right, the doctrine of the Trinity did not officially get put together until then, but the belief in Jesus being God etc was around before then no doubt they just didn’t classify it as the Trinitarian Doctrine.
Here are source materials available to anyone from the earliest Christian elders and teachers ad nauseum:
[h=3]Barnabas[/h](74 AD) The Letter of Barnabas "And further, my brethren, if the Lord [Jesus] endured to suffer for our soul, he being the Lord of all the world, to whom God said at the foundation of the world, 'Let us make man after our image, and after our likeness,' understand how it was that he endured to suffer at the hand of men" (Letter of Barnabas 5).
[h=3]The Huleatt Manuscript[/h]The Huleatt Manuscript (contested between 50 AD and 200 AD) "She poured it [the perfume] over his [Jesus'] hair when he sat at the table. But, when the disciples saw it, they were indignant. . . . God, aware of this, said to them: 'Why do you trouble this woman? She has done [a beautiful thing for me.] . . . Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priest and said, 'What will you give me for my work?' [Matt. 26:7-15]" (Huleatt fragments 1-3).
[h=3]Hermas[/h]80 AD Hermas "The Son of God is older than all his creation, so that he became the Father's adviser in his creation. Therefore also he is ancient" (The Shepherd 12).
[h=3]Aristides[/h]140 AD Aristides "[Christians] are they who, above every people of the Earth, have found the truth, for they acknowledge God, the creator and maker of all things, in the only-begotten Son and in the Holy Spirit" (Apology 16).
[h=3]Justin Martyr[/h]"The Father of the universe has a Son, who also being the first begotten Word of God, is even God." (Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch 63)
"Christ is called both God and Lord of hosts." (Dialogue with Trypho, ch, 36)
"Moreover, in the diapsalm of the forty-sixth Psalm, reference is thus made to Christ: 'God went up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet." (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 37)
Quote on Hebrews 1:8 to prove the Deity of Christ. "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever." (Dialogue with Trypho, ch 56)