What Is Christology?

Christology is the theological study of Jesus Christ — who He is and what He has accomplished. It is the central doctrine of Christianity because everything depends on the person and work of Christ. As Jesus asked His disciples, 'Whom say ye that I am?' — the answer to this question determines the destiny of every soul. The person of Christ has been the subject of intense theological reflection throughout church history. The New Testament presents Jesus as truly God and truly man. He is the eternal Son of God, 'who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God' (Philippians 2:6). He is also truly human, 'made of a woman, made under the law' (Galatians 4:4). The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD formulated the classic statement: Jesus Christ is 'to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person.' This means Jesus is one person with two distinct natures — divine and human — neither mixed nor separated. His deity was not diminished by becoming man; His humanity was not absorbed into His deity. Christology examines the states of Christ — His humiliation and exaltation. In His state of humiliation, Jesus laid aside the full use of His divine attributes (not the attributes themselves) to live as a servant, suffer, and die. In His state of exaltation, He was resurrected, ascended to heaven, and seated at the right hand of God, where He intercedes for His people and rules over all things. The offices of Christ are also central to Christology. Jesus is Prophet, revealing God's truth; Priest, offering Himself as sacrifice and interceding for His people; and King, ruling over all creation. As Prophet, He is the final revelation of God — 'no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' As Priest, He offered the perfect sacrifice and 'ever liveth to make intercession for them.' As King, He reigns until all enemies are put under His feet. The work of Christ centers on His atoning death. He died as a substitution, paying the penalty for sin that we deserved. He died as a propitiation, satisfying God's wrath. He died as a reconciliation, removing the enmity between God and man. And He died as a redemption, purchasing His people from slavery to sin. Christology is not merely academic. To know Christ is to know the only Savior, the perfect example, the coming Judge, and the eternal King. Every Christian must grow in the knowledge of Christ, 'till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.'