Sometimes I ask people what was Jesus' last name. Most often they answer me: “Probably Christ, although I’m not sure.” Then I continue: “If this is so, then it turns out that Joseph Christ and Mary Christ were carrying the little son of Jesus Christ with them by the hand?” When people hear this, they understand that Christ is not a surname at all. What is this word, "Christ"? Where did it come from and what does it mean? Let's try to figure this out.

Translation and transliteration

First, we will talk about translation, or rather about one of the methods of translation. When translators transfer ideas from one language to another, they often resort to imitation. sound. In this case, the meaning of the words is not translated. This is especially true for names and titles. This approach is called transliteration. Bible translators also had to decide how best to convey the ideas of the source text in the target language (for example, names and titles): by direct translation (that is, by meaning) or by transliteration (that is, by sound). And there is no special rule here.

Septuagint

The first translation of the Bible was made in 250 BC. BC: The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into Greek. This translation is called Septuagint(or LXX) and is still in use today. Because the New Testament was written 300 years later and also in Greek, its authors often quote the Septuagint, and not the Old Testament, written in Hebrew.

Translation and transliteration in the Septuagint

The figure below depicts how this has affected modern Bible texts:

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew - sector 1. The arrow from sector 1 to 2 indicates the translation of the Old Testament into Greek in 250. BC. At that time, the text of the Old Testament already existed in two languages ​​- in Hebrew and Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek and therefore placed in sector 2. The Old and New Testaments were available in Greek, which was one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world 2000 years ago.

Sector 3 indicates the modern language, for example, Russian. Usually the translation of the Old Testament is made from the Hebrew original (arrow from sector 1 to 3), and the New Testament from the Greek original (2 -> 3).

Origin of the word « Christ»

Now consider the word "Christ" in exactly the same sequence; this word is found in the text of the New Testament in Russian.

The Old Testament original uses the word " mashiyach»; the explanatory dictionary defines him as "the anointed one." The kings of the Jews were usually anointed kings (the rite of anointing with oil), and therefore were anointed ones i.e. messiahs. The Old Testament, however, contains a prophecy about a special messiah. When translating the Septuagint, the translators chose the Greek equivalent Χριστός (which sounds like Christ). This word comes from the word chrio, which means "to smear or rub with oil." Therefore, the word Christos passed into the Greek Septuagint in accordance with its meaning (that is, it is not a transliteration). This is the translation of the Hebrew word 'mashiyach'. The New Testament writers continued to use the word Christ in their lyrics to associate Jesus with anointed.

In the Russian Bible, the Old Testament word Mashiyach often translated from Hebrew as "the anointed one", but the transliteration "Messiah" is also sometimes used. New Testament word Christos" transliterated as "Christ". The very word "Christ" indicates a special Old Testament title; first it passed into Greek from Hebrew, and then, by transliteration, into Russian.

Since the word "Christ" rarely found in modern texts of the Old Testament, it is very difficult to catch its connection with the Old Testament. But, as we see from our analysis, the biblical semantic series "Christ" = "Messiah" = "Anointed One" means something identical . Moreover, we know that we are talking about a special title.

Anticipation of Christ in the 1st century

Below is a passage that tells about the reaction of King Herod to the birth of Christ, when the Magi from the East came to bow to the "King of the Jews." This is a famous Christmas story. Please note: the word "King" appears in the text with a capital letter, which means that we are talking about the King of kings:

... Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and say: where is the one who was born Tsar Jewish? On hearing this, King Herod was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. And, having gathered all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked them: where should Christ be born? (Matthew 2:1-4)

Herod and his spiritual advisors were well aware of the name Christos, even before the birth of Jesus. However, in this case it did not specifically refer to Jesus. The point is that the word "Christ" is the Greek name used in the New Testament, and the Jews of the 1st century read it. " Christ” is not a name, but a title (and has always been a title). This word appeared hundreds of years before Christianity.

dilapidatedcherished prophecies about the coming of "Christ"

In fact, the prophetic title of "Christ" is already found in the Psalms written by David around 1000 BC. BC - long before the birth of Jesus.

His anointed... He who lives in heaven will laugh, the Lord will scoff at them. Then he will say to them…: “I have anointed my King over Zion, my holy mountain; I will proclaim the decree: The Lord said to me: You are my Son; I have now begotten you; … Blessed are all who trust in Him. (Psalm 2:2-7)

In the Septuagint, Psalm 2 reads as follows (I quote it with transliteration, that is, with the word Christ, so that you see the title of "Christ" as if you were reading the Septuagint in the original):

The kings of the earth rise up…against the LORD and against His Christ... He who lives in heaven will laugh, the Lord will scoff at them. Then he will tell them... (Psalm 2)

Christ is now "seen" in this paragraph in the same way as to a 1st century reader. The following psalms also contain references to the coming of Christ. For clarity, I have placed a standard biblical passage opposite the passage that contains the transliterated word "Christ":

Psalm 132 foreshadows the future (“... There I raise horn of David"), as well as many other passages of the Old Testament. And it's not that the New Testament allegedly takes statements from the Old Testament and "adapts" them to Jesus. Jews are always waiting for their Messiah (or Christ). And the fact that they are still waiting, or hoping for the coming of the Messiah, is explained precisely by the prophecies of the Old Testament, which are directed to the future.

Old Testament prophecies: specific as a key-lock system

Old Testament predictions are specific, they are directed to the future, and this makes the Old Testament an unusual book. It can be compared to a door lock. Just as a lock has a certain design, and therefore there is only one specific key that fits it, so the Old Testament has its own unique key. You can read about this in articles, and. Psalm 132 announces the condition, namely: Christ must come from the line of David. And here the question is pertinent: is Jesus the only suitable "key" by which prophecies are opened?

Not my

LESSON 9.Why is the Son called Jesus Christ? (v. 29-32)

NAME JESUS

“Jesus is the name of all above”, - one famous song begins with these words.

Is the name Jesus really above all names? What is so special about this name?

At the time when Jesus was born, this name was common, they were often called boys, as, for example, today boys are often given the names Andrei or Vladimir. However, this name was given to Him as a result of direct obedience to God's command. Even before the birth of Jesus, an angel told Joseph that Mary "will bear a Son, and you will call His name Jesus" (Matt. 1:21a). Joseph did as the angel of God commanded him - when the baby was born, he called Him Jesus (Matthew 1:25).

(Illustration:Mary, Joseph and baby)

Jesus obeyed God both in His life and in His death. Through His obedience, God gave Him the name above all names. “Wherefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name(Philippians 2:9).

Jesus- this name is actually above all names!

THINK CAREFULLY

1. Why the name Jesus above all names?

SAVIOR

God exalted Jesus and gave Him a name above every name. Even when Jesus was still a baby, His name was special, because God Himself commanded for Him this name, which means "Savior." The angel said to Joseph, "And you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21b).

Only Jesus can save us from our sins. Acts 4:12 says, "For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." There is no salvation outside of Jesus. He is the only way of salvation. And Jesus did everything necessary for this salvation. Jesus sacrificed Himself to give us peace with God.

“For it pleased [the Father] that all fullness should dwell in him,and that through Him all things may be reconciled to Himself, having made peace through Him through the blood of His cross, both earthly and heavenly” (Col. 1:19-20).

We don't have to look for some secret plan or person to help us escape. We don't have to wear uncomfortable clothes or live in a hut to be saved. We don't have to follow a strict prayer schedule or a very limited diet to be saved. Jesus is all we need!

THINK CAREFULLY

3. What does the name mean Jesus?

NAME CHRIST

Jesus is often referred to as Jesus Christ, but Christ is not part of the name given to Him by His parents. Why do we use the word " Christ» as part of His name?

Asking From his disciples about what people say about Him, Jesus asked them the question: “And who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16).

(Illustration: cross)

Peter realized that Jesus was Christ, the very promised Messiah who would save His people. God the Father predestined Jesus to be the Christ. He determined that Jesus must be the Christ and gave Him the authority corresponding to Christ. God the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus for His special work as the Christ.

In biblical times, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil to indicate their special office or ministry. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit at the time of baptism.

THINK CAREFULLY

4. Who predestined Jesus to be the Christ?

5. Who anointed Jesus for the ministry of Christ?

THE ANOINTED

The word "Christ" means "the Anointed One," but the anointing of Christ means much more than pouring oil on His head. By the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was designated and ordained to a special threefold ministry—as our chief prophet, our only High Priest, and our eternal King.

Being our chief prophet, Christ has fully revealed to us the will of God concerning our salvation. “Moses said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up for you from among your brothers a prophet like me; obey him in everything he says to you” (Acts 3:22). God has raised up Christ as the chief prophet to instruct His people.

Being our sole High Priest Christ has set us free through His one-time sacrifice, and now He constantly intercedes for us with the Father. Hebrews 7:17 says, "You are a priest forever...". The Old Testament priests made sacrifices again and again, but none of them took away sin. “And every priest daily stands in service, and repeatedly offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.He, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat forever at the right hand of God,waiting then until His enemies are made His footstool.For by one offering He has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:11-14). Christ made one perfect sacrifice and became our priest forever.

As High Priest, Christ also intercedes for us before the Father. When we pray, or when the devil accuses us, Christ in heaven asks for mercy for us because He paid the full price for all our sins. “Who condemns? Christ Jesus died, but also rose again: He is also at the right hand of God, He also intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:34).

Being our eternal king, Christ guides and guards us with His Word and Spirit. He provides us with eternal security in the freedom He has for us.

Christ Himself said: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). We are forever safe in the hands of Jesus! No one and nothing can snatch us from His loving embrace!

THINK CAREFULLY

6. Name the parts of the threefold ministry of Christ.

A.

B.

IN.

7. What does He do in each of them?

A.

B.

And

IN.

And

through

NAME CHRISTIANS

For the first time believers began to be called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). This name means more than just "followers of Christ." Christians are part of Christ and participate in His anointing! The Apostle Paul writes: “And you are the body of Christ, and individually members” (1 Cor. 12:27). Every Christian participates in the anointing of Christ. Just as Christ carried the threefold ministry, so every Christian is entrusted with the three sides of Christ's ministry: prophet, priest, and king.

How prophet you are called to confess the name of Christ. Matthew 10:32 says, “Therefore, whoever confesses me before men, him I will confess before my Father in heaven.”

Confessing Christ means more than openly declaring your faith in Christ once in church. It means being willing to say you believe in Christ, not only when your parents are watching and smiling at you from the pew, but also when your friends want to steal candy from the store or gossip about a girl in your class.

How priest you are called to a sacrificial life for Christ, sincerely struggling with your sin. The apostle Paul urges us: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which] is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Our lives should reflect the obedience and self-sacrifice that Christ showed. We must try to make every area of ​​our life holy and pleasing to God.

The Bible also tells us, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:11). We must fight sin in our world and in our lives. We need to acknowledge our sin every day and repent of it. If we fight with our brother or sister every day, then we need to repent every day and also ask him or her to forgive us.

How tsar you are called to do everything for the glory of the King and look forward to reigning with Christ. First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” When Jesus returns, He will say to the believers: Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 2 5:34). Ever since the creation of this world, God has prepared the Kingdom that we will inherit. And we will not just live in this Kingdom - we will reign in it together with Christ!

(Illustration: crown)

The apostle Paul wrote: “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:12 a ). Incredible as it may seem, the day will come when Christians will reign with Christ over a new creation in an eternal kingdom forever and ever!

Just as Christ was ordained to special offices as prophet, priest, and king, so you are called to live in holiness as a prophet, priest, and king. In your calling prophet you must be ready to confess the name of Christ. In your calling priest you must be ready for a sacrificial life for Christ and for a sincere struggle against sin in your life. In your calling king you can look forward to the time when, together with Christ, you will reign in eternity.

THINK CAREFULLY

8. In what city did believers first begin to be called Christians?

9. Name three of your callings.

A.

B.

IN.

10. What are you called to do in each of them?

A.

B.

And

IN.

REMEMBER

John 10:28
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

1 Corinthians 12:27
“And you are the body of Christ, and individually members.”

2 Timothy 2:12a
“If we endure, then we will reign with Him.”

Heidelberg catechism

29V. Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, the Savior?

A. Because He saves us from all our sins. So one should not seek and it is impossible to find salvation anywhere else.

31B. Why is He called the Christ, that is, the Anointed One?

A. Because He, having been ordained by the Father and anointed by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme Prophet and Teacher... He is also high priest… Besides, He is the King…

Westminster Shorter Catechism

23V. What offices does Christ perform as our redeemer?

ABOUT. As our redeemer, Christ fills the offices of prophet, priest, and king, both in a state of humiliation and in a state of exaltation.

KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS

Jesus- Name Jesus means "Saviour". Jesus is the only one who saves me from my sin and who is the only way for me to be saved.

Christ- Name Christ means "The Anointed One". The Father ordained Christ, and the Holy Spirit anointed Him as my chief prophet, my only High Priest, and eternal King.

Chief Prophet– as my prophet, Christ fully revealed God's will to me.

Sole High Priest – as my only High Priest, Christ saved me by giving Himself as a one-time sacrifice, and continues to intercede for me before the Father.

Eternal King– as my eternal King, Christ guides and guards me with His Word and Spirit, providing me with eternal security in His hands.

Christian– by faith I become a member of the body of Christ and participate in His anointing.

https://www.instagram.com/spasi.gospodi/ . The community has over 58,000 subscribers.

There are many of us, like-minded people, and we are growing rapidly, posting prayers, sayings of saints, prayer requests, posting in a timely manner useful information about holidays and Orthodox events... Subscribe. Guardian Angel for you!

"Save me, God!". Thank you for visiting our site, before you start studying the information, please subscribe to our Orthodox community on Instagram Lord, Save and Save † - https://www.instagram.com/spasi.gospodi/. The community has over 60,000 subscribers.

There are many of us, like-minded people, and we are growing rapidly, posting prayers, sayings of saints, prayer requests, posting useful information about holidays and Orthodox events in a timely manner... Subscribe. Guardian Angel for you!

Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth - is mainly in Christianity that was predicted in the Old Testament and became a victim of atonement for the sins of all mankind. Much is known about Him, but at the same time, knowledge about His life and greatest deeds has no boundaries, for this is the whole essence and calling of a truly believing person. About why Jesus is called Christ and what are His other names, later in the article.

The meaning of the name of the Lord

Jesus is the modern church interpretation of the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which combines two concepts - the name of God in the Old Testament and salvation.

The name Yeshua was mainly given to boys in memory of the conqueror of the Earth, the disciple of Moses Joshua.

The name "Christ" is an epithet that indicates the character of Jesus from a Christian point of view. The word itself means "anointed one". This artistic trope was used in ancient Israel and was related only to priests and kings. What is the reliable evidence in the Bible.

Often in Orthodoxy one can come across the question of why Christ was called Jesus, and not Emmanuel, if such information is known to a wide circle of believers.

From Hebrew Emmanuel is translated as "God with us." This is one of the names of Jesus, which in in general terms explains the meaning of the descent into the world of God's Son. The second meaning is the iconographic image of the Lord, which represents Him at the age of a Youth, already marked with the seal of the lord, full of perfection in everything and the greatest spiritual maturity, hitherto unknown.

For the first time, the prophetic name Emmanuel was used in the prophecy of Isaiah, from where he began his journey.

Why is Jesus Christ called the Savior?

With all His Person and all His works, Christ proved that He came to earth in order to save the human race. Therefore, He was called the name Jesus, which means "Saviour."

Hence the legends about how Jesus Christ is also called. The Great Savior in Christianity has many different names:

• Shepherd;
• Teacher;
• Light;
• Path;
• True;
• Life;
• high priest;
• Prophet;
• Vine;
• Christ;
• Stone;
• Lamb.

The Bible says that Jesus himself characterized himself by such names:

• Son of Man;
• God's Son;
• Lord.

He also called himself “being from the beginning” – as according to the Old Testament, the Messiah should have been called. In other fragments the Lord calls himself "I am".

Most scholars argue that in the translation of the New Testament, Christ is most often referred to by the words Lord, Son of God and Teacher.

In Christian denominations, epithets are most often used that characterize the qualities and ministry of Jesus: the Lamb of God, the Eternal Word, the Savior, the Good Shepherd, and others.

Jesus has many other names, but no matter how a person calls Him, the main thing is sincere conversion, love and faith. After all, it is they who help to get closer to the Supreme Creator, purify the soul, change life forever, knowing His love and eternal grace, which bestows the great and incredible - eternity.

May the Lord keep you!

1. Why Jesus is called "the Christ"

"Jesus"(Heb. Yehoshua) - literally means "God is my salvation", "Savior".

This name was given to the Lord at birth through the Archangel Gabriel (Matt. 1:21), "because He was born to save men."

"Christ"- means "Anointed One", in Hebrew the anointed one is "Mashiach", in Greek transcription - "Messiah (messias)".

In the Old Testament, the anointed were called prophets, kings, and high priests, whose ministry represented the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Scriptures speak of the anointing of: the kings Saul (1 Sam. 10:1) and David (1 Sam. 16:10); high priest Aaron and his sons (Lev. 8:12-30; Is. 29:7); Prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16-19).
The "Large Catechism" explains the name "Christ" in relation to the Savior by the fact that “To his humanity all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are immeasurably communicated, and thus to Him in the highest degree belongs the knowledge of the Prophet, the holiness of the High Priest, and the power of the King.”.
Thus, the name "Jesus Christ" contains an indication of the human nature of the Savior.

2. Jesus Christ is the true Son of God

The name of Jesus Christ the Son of God the personal self-identity of Jesus Christ with the second Person of the Holy Trinity is established.“The Son of God is called the second Person of the Holy Trinity according to His Divinity. This same Son of God is called Jesus when he was born on earth as a man.”

In Holy Scripture, the name "son of God" is used not only in relation to Jesus Christ. For example, those who believe in the true God are called so (Gen. 6:2-4; John 1:12).
However, Holy Scripture leaves no doubt that the title "Son of God" in relation to Jesus Christ is used in a completely special sense. Thus, Jesus Christ Himself uses the name " my father"(John 8, 19), while in relation to all other people -" your father"(Matt. 6, 32):
“I ascend to my Father and your Father” (John 20:17).
While the Savior never uses the expression "Our Father" without uniting Himself in His divine sonship with other people. The difference in word usage indicates a different attitude towards the Father: "Your Father" is used in the meaning of the adoption of people by God, and "My Father" - in the proper sense.

3. The eternal birth of the Son of God

The special character of the sonship of Jesus Christ is indicated by the words of the Symbol: "The only begotten, who is begotten of the Father ... begotten, not created".

First of all, this means that The Son is not a created being.
The term " birth" means work from one's own essence, whereas " creation«- product from nothing or from another entity.

At birth inherited essential properties, that is, the essence, therefore you can only give birth to someone like yourself, while creation creates something new, essentially different from the creator.

You can only give birth to a creature equal in dignity, while the creator is always higher than his creation. In addition, the one who is born is always personally different from the one who gave birth, for
"in the proper sense of the word "birth" is the addition of a hypostasis."

From the doctrine of the descent of the Son from the Father by means of generation, it follows that the Son
1. not a creation of God;
2. comes from the essence of the Father and is therefore consubstantial with the Father;
3. has equal divine dignity with the Father;
4. personally different from the Father.
Birth from the Father is a personal (hypostatic) attribute of the Son of God, “by which He differs from the other Persons of the Holy Trinity.”

“God… exists in an eternal timeless being without beginning or end… For God, everything is now. In this eternal present of God, prior to the creation of the world, God the Father begets His Only Begotten Son by an eternal, always existing birth... born of the Father and having His origin in Him, the Only Begotten Son of God has always existed, or rather "exists" - uncreated, eternal and divine".

The words "born before all ages" indicate the pre-eternal character of birth, they say on the eternity of the Father and the Son. These words of the Symbol are directed against the heretic Arius, who believed that the Son of God had a beginning of His being.

Thus, "Son of God" is the proper name of the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity and in meaning is actually equivalent to the name "God".

This is exactly how the Jews of His day understood the Lord Jesus Christ, who “sought to kill Him… because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God His Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

Therefore, in the Symbol, faith in Jesus Christ is confessed as in "God is true from God is true". This means that "the Son of God is called God in the same true sense as God the Father."

Words "Light from Light" are called upon to at least partially explain the secret of eternal birth Son of God.
“Looking at the sun, we see light: from this light light is born, visible throughout the sunflower; but both are one light, inseparable, of one nature.

4. Jesus Christ is Lord

The divine dignity of Jesus Christ is also indicated by the title of Him Lord.

In the Septuagint by name Kyrios. (Lord) is given the name "Jehovah", one of the main names of God in the Old Testament. Therefore, for the Greek-speaking Jewish and Christian traditions, "the name of the Lord (Kyrios) is one of the names of God." Thus, Jesus Christ is "called the Lord ... in the understanding that He is the true God".

Faith "in the One Lord Jesus Christ" was the main confession for which the early Christians were ready to die, for it affirms the identity of Jesus Christ with the Most High God.

5. The image of the appearance of the Holy Trinity in the world

The words of the Symbol "Imzhe all bysha" are borrowed from Jn. 1, 3: "All that was, and without Him it was nothing, a hedgehog was."
Scripture speaks of the Son of God as a kind of instrument through which God the Father creates the world and governs it.“By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or authorities—all things were created by him and for him” (Col. 1:16).

Since the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity are consubstantial, They have a single action, but the attitude of each of the Persons of the Trinity to a single action is different. St. Gregory of Nyssa explains how the Persons of the Holy Trinity relate to Divine actions:
“Every action that extends from God to the creature, proceeds from the Father, extends through the Son and is accomplished by the Holy Spirit”

Similar statements can be found in many Church Fathers. Usually, to clarify this idea, Sts. the fathers turn to Rom. 11:36: “For from that and by that and in him all things” (glor.). Based on these words, Paul, the patristic expression arose: "from (from) the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit."

Thus, in the Divine actions, the trinity of Hypostases and their inexpressible order are displayed. Moreover, the image of intradivine life is different from the image of the revelation of the Holy Trinity in the world. In the pre-eternal existence of the Trinity, birth and procession take place “independently” of one another, while in the plan of the Divine economy there is its own timeless sequence: the Father acts as the Source of action (property), the Son as the Phenomenon or Performer, acting through the Holy Spirit, and the Holy The Spirit appears as the final, manifesting and assimilating the Divine action of the Force.

Thus, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). At the same time, the Father is the Source of love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
The Son is the Manifestation of Love, its Revelation: “God's love for us has been revealed in the fact that God has sent His Son into the world” (1 John 4:9).
The Holy Spirit Assimilates Love God's people: "The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 5:5).

Such an order of the Divine Persons does not detract from the dignity of the Son and the Holy Spirit. St. John of Damascus states that the Father works through the Son and the Holy Spirit "not as through a ministerial instrument, but as through a natural and hypostatic Power."

This idea can be illustrated by the following example: fire and the light emanating from fire cannot be separated. On the one hand, the light will logically follow the fire, but on the other hand, the fire illuminates, and the light illuminates, and the fire warms, and the light warms. Also, the Son and the Holy Spirit do what the Father does.

Moreover, it should be noted that there is no need for such an order of the Revelation of the Deity. We do not know why God is pleased to reveal Himself to the world in this way. No internal or external necessity compels Him to do this; God reveals Himself this way only because He wants to.

; ; ; ; ; ; ).

B. The double name of Jesus Christ is the shortest creed of Christianity: Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Christ (Messiah). Jesus lived and worked with the knowledge that He is the very Messiah that was foretold in the OT. Nevertheless, He tried to hide His messianic dignity (; ; ), because did not want people to use Him in their own (eg, political) interests (). He called Himself the “Son of Man”, thereby giving His contemporaries the opportunity to see the Messiah in Him, but without saying it directly (; ; ; ; ; etc.). The title "Son of Man" meant that Jesus is a man, a child of the human race. But he also had to call to mind the predictions about the coming of the Son of Man "with the clouds of heaven" (). Sometimes Jesus revealed himself to some believers as the Christ (eg, to a Samaritan woman - and to a man born blind -). Jesus wanted the disciples to recognize Him as the Messiah, not from His words, but from His deeds; people themselves must see in him the one they expect and bear witness to his messianic worth (cf. ). When asked by Jesus who he thought he was, Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus called this testimony the revelation of God, His Father (). Jesus deliberately arranged his entry into Jerusalem as it was foretold in . He entered the holy city as the Messiah (). To the question of the high priest, Is He the Christ, Jesus answered: “You said” (). Likewise, He answered Pilate's question about whether He was a King and explained Rome. the governor who came into the world in order to testify to the truth (). In filial humility, Jesus revealed Himself to be the Christ, the Messenger of God, and God, resurrecting Him, testified Him as such before the world. The Church of Christ arose precisely because God put faith in Jesus as the Messiah into the souls of people, and its purpose is to preach Jesus as Lord and Christ (; ; ).

II. PERSONALITY AND MISSION

A. BEING BEFORE EARTH LIFE (PRE-EXISTENCE)

Unlike St. books of other religions (for example, Hinduism), the Bible does not address the question of the existence of a person before his earthly birth; nevertheless, the pre-existence of Jesus is spoken of here. The indignation of the Jews caused by the words of Jesus is quite understandable: “Before Abraham was, I am” (). In the beginning He was "with God", He is the creative Word through Whom everything "began to be" (). Therefore, Jesus speaks of the glory that He had with the Father "before the world was" and that the Father loved Him "before the foundation of the world" (). Ap. It seems clear to Paul that Jesus Christ, in His pre-mortal existence, was "the image of God" (). But Jesus does not see His godlikeness as an inalienable privilege; He renounces His deities. primacy before the Father for the sake of conferring. on Him a great mission.

B. SELF-DENIAL AND HUMANITY

1) about the self-denial and self-abasement of Jesus said St. Paul (). For the sake of saving people, Jesus Christ renounced His deities for the duration of His earthly life. essence (His self-denial) and fully accepted the human. nature (His self-abasement; ⇒ Image of a servant). The creeds of the ancient Church and the reformed churches spoke of perfect deities. the nature of Jesus and at the same time. about His perfect human. nature, while they were based on the word of St. Scriptures. With the incarnation (incarnation) of Jesus, His humble path to death (self-abasement) began;

2) the incarnation of the Son of God is shrouded in deities. secret, not amenable to human. comprehension. The supernatural nature of His birth (; ) lies in the fact that He was "born of the Virgin Mary from the Holy Spirit." Here exist at the same time. two seemingly mutually exclusive opposites: the Son of God and the Son of Man - in one Person. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem (etc.), “when the fullness of time had come” (); acc. chronological According to calculations, this happened between 8 and 4 years. BC. Ordinary people (shepherds) were the first to hear from the lips of an angel the news of the birth of the Savior of the world. God's heavenly host accompanied the incarnation of Christ with praise: "Glory to God in the highest." The appearance of the star of Jesus in the sky prompted the Magi from the East to come to bow to the Newborn (). (⇒ Genealogy.)

B. MISSION

The word “it is done”, pronounced by Jesus on the cross (), indicates that the great mission, laying. on Christ by His Father, has been fulfilled. In this mission - mediation between the human race. and God – Jesus sees the meaning of His life (; ; ). This goal was set before Him by the Father: to eliminate the alienation that arose as a result of man's falling away from his Creator (⇒ Sin). As the Son of Man, Jesus was the "second man" and the "last Adam" (), who set an example of the true relationship of man to God. He is the First, Original, "the image of the hypostasis of God" (), in which God's plan for the creation of man () was again embodied. Jesus Christ is not stained by sin (; ; ; ; ); He is distinguished by perfect obedience and absolute devotion to His Father (; ; ). He came to reconcile God and man in Himself (and next), so that people could come to the Father again through Him (; ; ); He is "the firstborn among many brethren," the "true vine" of the reconciled people of God (;ff.). In doing the work of reconciliation, Christ destroyed the works of the devil () and deprived death of its power ().

D. PUBLIC SERVICE

1) in view of the obvious selectivity of the gospel narratives, it is difficult to draw up a clear historical picture of societies. ministry of Jesus, through which He fulfilled His mission on earth (⇒ Gospel of Matthew, I, 1). The gospels are not biographical. essays, and above all testimonies about the preaching and deeds of Jesus, the purpose of which is to call people to faith. And yet, comparing the synoptic data. Gospels and ⇒ Gospel of John, Society. Jesus' ministry can be divided into three periods: a) the beginning of the ministry, i.e. the time between the baptism of Jesus and the imprisonment of John the Baptist. This period is described only in -. Jesus reveals to His first disciples who He is and returns to Galilee (). He performs His first miracle at a wedding in Cana () and stays in Capernaum for several days. In April, Jesus travels to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. He clears the temple of merchants and talks with Nicodemus at night (). This is apparently followed by His referral. a short stay in Judea (-), which can be judged by the fact that four months before the harvest (), i.e. in December, returning through Samaria to Galilee, in the city of Sychar He has a conversation with a Samaritan woman; b) the second period is marked by the ministry of Jesus in Galilee, described mainly in synopt. Gospels ( - ; - ; - ). The time of almost universal admiration for the great Preacher and Wonderworker was over by the time Jesus was the second time in the course of His associations. ministry came to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover. The situation changed: the scribes and Pharisees spoke out against Him more and more sharply, and the admiration of the people already seemed like a fleeting flash. That is why Jesus reproached the inhabitants of those cities in which He performed most of His deeds (). He spent half a year in Galilee and the surrounding areas. Of all the events of this period, the Gospel of John tells only about the miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish (). acc. John, Jesus at this time once visited Jerusalem (); c) The third period of Christ's ministry began with His journey to Jerusalem for the last Passover. As the synoptic Gospel, Jesus went to Jerusalem through the east. region of Jordan (; ). John testifies that at first He came to Jerusalem on the ⇒ Feast of Tabernacles (and next), in December he was present here at the Feast of Renewal (), without leaving the city. He spent the winter in seclusion beyond the Jordan () or in Ephraim (), then to go to Jerusalem () for the last time. Based on the foregoing, it can be assumed that the earthly ministry of Jesus lasted more than two years. It is impossible to say more precisely about the duration of His earthly activity, because the exact time of the baptism of Jesus is unknown - the Gospels did not aim to convey the exact chronology of events;

2) VOCATION OF EMPLOYEES. After Jesus gathered around Himself the first disciples (; ), He chose twelve disciples from the multitude of His followers (and next; and next). Their task was to follow Jesus, to preach, to heal diseases in His name, to cast out evil spirits (; ) and to be His witnesses (; ; ; ). These twelve formed the basis of His first community (⇒ Apostle);

3) GOSPEL. The main idea of ​​Jesus' preaching is contained in His words: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (). When asked by the Pharisees about when this Kingdom would come, Jesus answered: “The Kingdom of God is within you” (). Thus, He pointed to Himself as the One who established the Kingdom of God on earth. It was in the preaching of the Kingdom of God that the essence of the gospel of Jesus and His disciples was contained (⇒ Gospel ⇒ Sermon on the Mount ⇒ Beatitudes ⇒ Kingdom of God). Naib. distribution in the East, the form of teaching was ⇒ parable. Jesus Christ often spoke in parables (see ;). In them He revealed the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. But only His disciples were given to understand the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven, while others could not penetrate into it (). The words of Jesus had a powerful effect on people. His words sometimes plunged the people into horror, because. He "taught as one with authority, and not as scribes and Pharisees" (). (⇒ Teacher, IV);

4) POWERFUL ACTS. Jesus not only preached, but also acted, clothed with spiritual power: “His Word was with power” (). Many people He freed from sins; and among them were the paralytic (), the great sinner (), the adulteress (). “The power to loose and bind” Jesus gave to His disciples (; ; ). Possessing the power to forgive sins, Jesus healed the sick, cast out evil spirits and Satan (⇒ Miracle, III, 2). These "signs" bear witness to what is at work in Christ. the Kingdom of God has come and that Jesus is the promised Messiah (). But this ministry of Jesus must be distinguished from the work which is the crown of His earthly life;

5) WAY OF THE CROSS. The suffering of Christ can be considered in two aspects: a) the passionate path of Jesus begins with His incarnation: “He came to his own, and his own did not accept Him” (). He "had no place in the hotel" (); Herod tried to kill the baby (); parents "did not understand the words He said" (); the inhabitants of Nazareth “kicked Him out of the city and took Him to the top of the mountain on which their city was built to overthrow Him” (); His relatives said: “He lost his temper” (); “and His brothers did not believe in Him” (); the Jews "took stones to throw at him" (); Peter “recalled Him ... began to rebuke Him: Be merciful to Yourself, Lord! let it not be with you!” (). An easily influenced people clings to Jesus: Whole the world follows Him "(), but He is a sufferer among people, He repeatedly has to hide from them (). People think in a different way and do not recognize the suffering, not understood by them Jesus. And He retires and prays. Gethsemane and Golgotha ​​are two climaxes on this path of misunderstanding and non-recognition, on the path of unthinkable mental and bodily torments; b) but the understanding of the sufferings of Christ as spiritual and bodily torments does not fully reveal their true meaning. These are not just humbly endured suffering, but deeply conscious actions. Already at the age of twelve, Jesus realizes His chosenness and speaks about it. Even then, it is revealed to Him that His life is subordinate to the highest, divine “should” (). The baptism of Jesus (and par.) is the essence of the story of His suffering. Not in need of repentance and confession of sins, He voluntarily joins the ranks of sinners: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes to myself the sin of the world" (). Being tempted (and par.), Jesus consciously chooses the way of the cross and categorically rejects the proposed