SAMHER'S CHRISTOLOGY (summary of Foundations, pp. 176-321)
-James J, Bacik
l. The relationship between a transcendental and categorical Christology
A. Transcendental, descending, essential, existential-ontologleal Christology
Is sn effort to develop aft a priori Idea of the God-man and to establish
the conditions of possibility of faith In Christ.
B. Categorical, ascending, historical Christology deals with the historical
Jesus, the biblical accounts, our concrete relationship with the risen Lord.
C. The transcendental makes It possible to hear the historical message of Jesus
without thinking it mythological, alien, unimportant, etc. The need and
desire for the transcendental arises only because of the historical encounter with Jesus as the Christ. The real starting point Is faith tn
Christ. A transcendental analysts can't establish faith but it can help
vindicate one's belief In Christ.
II. Categorical
A. We can start with faith In Jesus as the Absolute Savior, I.e. In encountering
him Sod as irrevocably present for our salvation. This relationship to
Jesus is salf*va11 dating and reflection on It can never fully capture it.
Even those who reject or are unaware of the relationship are still involved
In it.
B. Rahner thinks there is much we can know about the historical Jesus hut a
sufficient minimum is that he understood himself as the absolute Savior, the
final prophet through whom the kingdom would come.
C. Jesus thought the kingdom of God was near, used the apocalyptic language
of Imminent expectation, did not personally synthesize the notion of "soon"
and the unknown character of the coming of the kingdom, but was not In
error because humans need an unknown future and his approach was a good way
of responding to the nearness of God and the need for personal decision.
0. Jesus was a miracle worker (they are presupposed by the authentic sayings
and they are not denied by Talmudlc sources.)
E. Our relationship to Jesus Is an unfinished task. 'A person is always a
Christian tn order to become one' p. 306. We must strive for a personal
and intimate love for Jesus Christ but this shouldn't be a substitute for
other frustrating relationships. Man Jesus continues to be the mediator.
By loving him In others we can come close to God. Jesus Is the concrete
absolute and worthy of a genuine human love.
it!. Transcendental
A. incarnation must be shown to be an intrinsic possibility within evolutionary view of the world. God is the source and good of the one unified
material-spiritual evolving world. Matter develops toward spirit and
humans are the result of this process and they now freely move this
process towards a final fulfillment In which God's self-giving Is fully
SAMHER'S CHRISTOLOGY (summary of Foundations, pp. 176-321)
-James J, Bacik
l. The relationship between a transcendental and categorical Christology
A. Transcendental, descending, essential, existential-ontologleal Christology
Is sn effort to develop aft a priori Idea of the God-man and to establish
the conditions of possibility of faith In Christ.
B. Categorical, ascending, historical Christology deals with the historical
Jesus, the biblical accounts, our concrete relationship with the risen Lord.
C. The transcendental makes It possible to hear the historical message of Jesus
without thinking it mythological, alien, unimportant, etc. The need and
desire for the transcendental arises only because of the historical encounter with Jesus as the Christ. The real starting point Is faith tn
Christ. A transcendental analysts can't establish faith but it can help
vindicate one's belief In Christ.
II. Categorical
A. We can start with faith In Jesus as the Absolute Savior, I.e. In encountering
him Sod as irrevocably present for our salvation. This relationship to
Jesus is salf*va11 dating and reflection on It can never fully capture it.
Even those who reject or are unaware of the relationship are still involved
In it.
B. Rahner thinks there is much we can know about the historical Jesus hut a
sufficient minimum is that he understood himself as the absolute Savior, the
final prophet through whom the kingdom would come.
C. Jesus thought the kingdom of God was near, used the apocalyptic language
of Imminent expectation, did not personally synthesize the notion of "soon"
and the unknown character of the coming of the kingdom, but was not In
error because humans need an unknown future and his approach was a good way
of responding to the nearness of God and the need for personal decision.
0. Jesus was a miracle worker (they are presupposed by the authentic sayings
and they are not denied by Talmudlc sources.)
E. Our relationship to Jesus Is an unfinished task. 'A person is always a
Christian tn order to become one' p. 306. We must strive for a personal
and intimate love for Jesus Christ but this shouldn't be a substitute for
other frustrating relationships. Man Jesus continues to be the mediator.
By loving him In others we can come close to God. Jesus Is the concrete
absolute and worthy of a genuine human love.
it!. Transcendental
A. incarnation must be shown to be an intrinsic possibility within evolutionary view of the world. God is the source and good of the one unified
material-spiritual evolving world. Matter develops toward spirit and
humans are the result of this process and they now freely move this
process towards a final fulfillment In which God's self-giving Is fully
