The Humanity of Christ
Jesus Christ is fully human.
This doctrine defines Christian orthodoxy. Denial places one outside the historic faith.
What the traditions say
Dogma defined at Chalcedon (451). Christ has a true human nature — body, soul, will, and intellect — "like us in all things but sin" (Heb 4:15).
Luther emphasized the "theology of the cross" — God revealed in human weakness and suffering. The genus maiestaticum communicates divine attributes to the human nature.
Essential to theosis: because Christ truly became human, humanity can truly participate in the divine nature.
Against Docetism and Apollinarianism. Gregory of Nazianzus: "What has not been assumed has not been healed." Christ must be fully human to save humanity.
The extra Calvinisticum: even during the incarnation, the divine nature was not confined to the human body. Both natures are fully maintained.
Key scriptures
- 1John 4:2 — Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
- 1Tim 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
- Heb 2:14 — Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
- Heb 4:15 — For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- John 1:14 — And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.