Thurs 8/29:

Oden: 213-228; 233-245 (27 pages)

***OPTIONAL: Driscoll/Breshears: 209-241 (32 pages)

Question 1
Please give a general outline/summary of the main points from the reading. You should highlight
a minimum of three points. We are looking for a summary of what you read, not a reflection.

Right away Oden emphasizes that Christianity is not about the institution, but it is a personal
relationship believe a person and a man, named Jesus Christ. Faith in Him as Christ our God is
the key (page 320 PDF). Oden continues on the importance of Jesus from the standpoint of
human history and that erasing Jesus would be a tragedy of unlimited proportions (page 321).
Oden took a very brief space on one page to list some facts of how we know Jesus,
The bare facts of his life can be sparely stated. Date of birth: between 5 BC and AD 4. Place: Palestine.
Ethnic origin: Jewish. Vocation: probably first a skilled construction artisan like his father, then a traveling
preacher of the coming rule of God. Length of ministry: three Passovers (John 2:13; 6:4; 12:1). Date of
death: Friday, 14 Nisan (the first month of the Jewish year), probably, by our calendar, April 7 AD 30 (or
by some calculations 3 April, AD 33). Place of death: Jerusalem. Manner of death: crucifixion. Roman
procurator: Pontius Pilate (AD 27–33). Roman emperor: Tiberius. (page 322)

Oden offers a better explanation of who Jesus is,

Classic Christian teaching answers without apology: what was said about Him then is true now;
He actually was:
Son of God,
promised Messiah,
the one Mediator between God and humanity,
truly God
truly human,
who liberated humanity from the power of sin by His death on the cross, who rose from the dead to confirm
His identity as the promised one. (pages 324-325)

Oden presents a section of several pages about studying Jesus, but he writes it with us, Jesus’
disciples, in mind (page 325). Following that are pages with a wealth proof for who Jesus is
(page 329), early Christian sermons (page 330), how His work showed who He is (page 334),
and then that Jesus’ deity is confirmed as the Christ by the action of His saving work (page 335).
Oden argues now that the “Worker” is identified, now it is okay to begin looking at the work of
salvation (pages 336-340). Oden looks at what Christ did in descending and ascending (included
a useful chart) and took only a brief space to tell about Jesus’ offices.

Question 2
What are three questions that you have after the reading?
Question 3
What are 2-3 things from the reading that were new to you? Was there something presented that
was different from a belief you currently/previously held?

Question 4
I have read/watched ______ % of the material this week.