CHRISTOLOGY

MODULE 1

Prepared by:

RONRIE U. CONSTANTINO
Instructor
 COURSE OUTLINE IN REL.ED 12
Course Title Christology
Semester One (1)
Hours of Meeting per Four (4) Credits Four (4)
Week units
The course focuses on the person of Jesus Christ as He
is portrayed in the Gospels. After delving into the gospels
Course Description of faith-documentations and presenting the historical
context within which Jesus lived, His life, mission and
religious significance are explored. Finally, the Filipino
Catholics’ faith in Jesus Christ is briefly tackled.
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
Course Intended - Have a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ;
Learning Outcomes appreciate his/her faith in Him and challenge
(CILO) oneself to live, celebrate and proclaim it.

Course Contents
I. Etymology and III. Public Ministry IV. The Paschal V. Faith-
Definition of A. The Mystery Proclamation
Christology Words of A. Passion and about Jesus
II. The Early Life Jesus Death VI. Jesus Christ in
(Infancy) of B. The B. Resurrection the Filipino
Jesus Deeds of C. Ascension Context
Jesus

Preliminary Midterm Pre-final Final Examination

Examination Examination Examination

General References
▪ CBCP. The Acts and Decrees of the Second
Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II).
Pasay City, Philippines: St. Paul Publications,
1991.
▪ Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and
Catholic Education of the CBCP. Catechism for
Filipino Catholics. Manila: Word and Life
Publications, 1997.
▪ Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and
Catholic Education of the CBCP. Catechism for
Catholic Church. Manila: Word and Life
Publications, 1994.
Course References
 ▪ Johnson, K. Why Do Catholics Do That? A
Guide to the Teachings and Practices of the
Catholic Church. USA: Ballantine Books, 1995
▪ Komonchak, J. et al. The New Dictionary of
Theology. Pasay City, Philippines: Daughters of
St. Paul, 1991.
▪ McKenzie, J. Dictionary of the Bible. USA:
MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1965.
▪ O’Collins, G., Farrugia, E. A Concise Dictionary
of Theology (Revised and Expanded Edition).
Quezon City, Philippines; Claretian Publications,
2001.
▪ Riverside-World Publishing Co. The New World
Dictionary-Concordance to the New American
Bible. Pasay City, Philippines: Daughters of St.
Paul, 1994.
Books
▪ Maaṅo, F. Jesus: From Eternity…to Eternity.
Sibs Publishing House Inc., 2016.
▪ Arboleda, A.R. Jr. SSP. Simple Questions
Simple Answers on the Bible. Makati City,
Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1986.
▪ Babay, M. Discovering Together God’s Word.
Pasay City, Philippines: St. Paul Publications,
1989.
▪ Charpentier, E. How to Read the Old Testament.
Quezon City, Philippines: Claretian Publications,
1985.
▪ Colla, L. The Amazing Story of Jesus of
Nazareth. Philippines: Vera-Reyes, Inc., 1984.

One hundred percent (100%) is the highest point one can

earn based on the following Parameters:
Grading System
Written Works - 25%
Performance Tasks - 45%
Quarterly Assessment - 30%
Course Policies 1. Knowledge is power. Strive to learn even to the
hardest way.
2. Read and understand every part of the module. If
there are some contents or tasks which you find
difficult to understand, try to re-read and focus. You
may also ask help from your family at home, if it
 doesn’t work, you may send a private message on
your subject teacher.
3. Before reading the module and working on the
activities, answer the pretest first.
4. At the end of each lesson try to reflect and assess if
you were able to achieve the learning objectives.
Remember that you can always read again if
necessary.
5. Learn to manage your time properly. Study how you
can manage to work on this module in consideration
of your other modules.
6. In answering the learning activities (pre and post-
test), you are obliged to do it in the Learning Activity
Sheet/s.
Constant Reminder: “Do not print the whole module;
print only the activity sheet, and submit it to the
school.
7. Cheating in the form of plagiarism and dishonesty is
strictly intolerable.
8. Have patience and be an excellent one. Please do
not practice procrastination and mediocrity.
9. Practice the virtue of honesty in doing all your tasks.
10. Lastly, the activities in the module must be done by
you and not by others. Your family and friends may
support and guide you but you must not let them do
the work.
11. DO YOUR BEST AND GOD WILL DO THE REST.
 LESSON 1: UNDERSTANDING CHRISTOLOGY (PRELUDE)
The center of our Christian Faith is Jesus Answer Lesson 1: Pre
Christ. Hence, He is the heart and center of Catechesis. To have Test first on page 1.
a deeper understanding of Jesus, our task is not only to be in
touch with Jesus but also to be in communion with Him, for only He can lead us to the
love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity (CFC 407).
The following are principles of understanding Jesus Christ as presented in the
Catechism for the Filipino Catholics (470-474):
First, we must recognize that to really know Jesus is a life-long task because to know
Jesus is to know the only one whom "God has raised up” (Acts 2:32), who "takes away
the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29), who is the "only Son of the Father”, full of grace and truth
(Jn 1:14). It is life-long, too, because only in Jesus Christ do we come to know our own
true selves, and the deepest meaning and destiny of our lives.
Second, knowing Jesus is a living, changing, growing and deepening experience. It is not
like knowing some fact of information, or knowing how to do something, some · skill.
Rather, knowing Jesus means entering into a personal relationship with him. As PCP II,
declares, “the believer lives in Jesus and Jesus lives in Him” (PCP II 66). Knowing Him”
animates and liberates us in a way like no other relationship could possibly do.
Third, the Jesus we come to know is both the historical earthly Jesus and the Christ of
faith. One cannot be separated from the other. St. Paul exemplifies this in his description
of the Gospel:
“The gospel concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
was made Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness, by his Resurrection
from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 1:3-4).
Fourth, to know Jesus means being committed to following Him, being His disciple. There
is no authentic “knowing Jesus Christ” outside of personal commitment to his teaching
and way of life. Knowing Jesus must make a difference in our lives. It must be
accompanied with a loving service of others in living faith.
Fifth, that we come to know who Jesus is from what he did, his salvific mission. This is
exemplified by one Eucharistic acclamation which proclaims: “Lord, by your Cross and
Resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world!” John's gospel was
written according to the same principle: “Jesus performed many other signs as well...But
these have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is Messiah, the Son of God, so
that through this faith you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20: 30-31). So we turn to the
Gospels, which "faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while He lived among us,
really did and taught for our eternal salvation” (DV 19).

Answer Lesson 1: Post

Test on pages 2-3.
LESSON 2: ETYMOLOGY AND DEFINITION Before Proceeding to
Christology (from the Latin, Christus and Logos, the this Lesson, answer
study of Christ) is the field of study within Christian theology LESSON 2: PRE-TEST
on page 6.
which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of
Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament.
Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the
nature and person of God the Father. As such, Christology is concerned with the details
of Jesus' life (what he did) and his teachings (what he said) in order to arrive at a clearer
understanding of who he is in his person, and his role in salvation.
A major component of the Christology of the Apostolic Age was that of Saint Paul
whose central themes were the notion of pre-existence of Christ and the worship of Christ
as Kyrios (the Lord). Following the Apostolic Age, a number of issues in Christology were
debated, and due to seemingly minor, but politically charged differences, in the 4th
century schisms among denominations developed.
In the 13th century, Saint Thomas Aquinas provided the first systematic
Christology that consistently resolved a number of the existing issues. In his Christology
from above, Aquinas also championed the principle of perfection of Christ's human
attributes. The Middle Ages also witnessed the emergence of the "tender image of Jesus"
as a friend and a living source of love and comfort, rather than just the Kyrios image.
According to theologian Karl Rahner, the purpose of modern Christology is to
formulate the Christian belief that "God became man and that God-made-man is the
individual Jesus Christ" in a manner that this statement can be understood consistently,
without the confusions of past debates and mythologies.
Two ways of Studying Christ
Approaches:
▪ History - thru bible, books, teachings, writings
▪ Theology
Two kinds of Christology
➢ Christology from Above
- focuses on pre-existent Logos (word) who became man (Jesus Christ)
- emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus Christ
➢ Christology from Below
- flows from examination of Jesus Christ as presented in the synoptic gospels
(Matthew, Mark, Luke)
- emphasizes the study of the life, mission, and the message of salvation brought
about by Jesus Christ.
Sources of Knowledge About Jesus
The Four Gospels as Faith-Documents
These New Testament writings are collections of stories about Jesus' birth,
infancy, teachings, deeds, death and resurrection according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John. They are faith summaries that best describe what the early Church/ Christians held
to be most significant about Jesus, namely, that He is Himself the Gospel, the Good News
of God for man.
THE FOUR GOSPEL VERSIONS
Gospel MARK MATTHEW LUKE JOHN
Evangelist Secretary of Tax Collector Beloved Beloved
Peter Physician Disciple
Date of ca. 64 A.D. ca. 70-75 A.D. ca. 80-85 A.D. ca. 90-100 A.D.
Composition circa(ca.) -
around the year
Place of Rome/Syria Syria Greece/Rome Ephesus
Composition
Persecuted Jewish Gentile First century
Christians of Christians Christians Christian
Intended Rome churches
Audience established
around the
Roman empire.
To present To present To present To present
Jesus as the Jesus as the Jesus as the Jesus as the
Suffering fulfillment of the universal Incarnate Word
Servant of the promises in the Savior. of God.
Purpose God who will OT; Jesus as
lay down His the New Moses
life to save
people from
their sins.
Winged Lion: Winged Man: Winged Bull: Eagle: Jesus’
Symbol Jesus’ Kingship Jesus’ Jesus’ Sacrifice Divinity
Humanity

Answer Lesson 2: Post

Test on pages 5.
LESSON 3: THE EARLY LIFE (INFANCY) OF JESUS
The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers Before Proceeding to
to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical the this Lesson, answer
gospels and in various apocryphal texts. LESSON 3: PRE-TEST
on page 6.
New Testament accounts of the Nativity of Jesus
appear only in the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew. There has been debate
among scholars as to whether these two accounts can be partially reconciled or if they
are totally contradictory. Some scholars view the narratives as non-historical while others
view the discussion of historicity as futile, given that Luke and Matthew do not seem
concerned with presenting a historical narrative but shape their accounts to the traditions
of their age. Scholars of the historical Jesus generally do not consider much of the birth
narratives to be historically useful. Both gospels describe Jesus being born in Bethlehem,
in Judea, to a virgin mother. Luke features the Christmas story, in which Joseph and Mary,
as part of a census, travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born and laid in a manger. Angels
proclaim him a savior for all people, and shepherds come to adore him. In Matthew, wise
men follow a star to Bethlehem to bring gifts to Jesus, born the King of the Jews. King
Herod massacres all the toddler boys in Bethlehem to kill Jesus, but the holy family flees
to Egypt and later settles in Nazareth.
Common Truths Affirmed by both Matthew and Luke:
1. Mary is the mother of Jesus.
2. Joseph is the legal (foster) father of Jesus.
3. Jesus is virginally conceived in the womb of Mary.
4. Jesus is born in Bethlehem, a town of the province of Judea.
5: Jesus is a son of Abraham and descendant of David (Davidic blood).
6. Jesus spends his childhood and youth in Nazareth, a town of the province of Galilee.
Matthew clearly presents Jesus as the expected Messiah the whole Israel was
waiting for. Luke beautifully presents Jesus as the Good News (salvation) for all and, in
a special way, for the poor, the underprivileged, the voiceless, and the outcasts.
The gospel writers' stories, however, were never intended as factual narrations of
events but as proclamations of the believers' faith in the birth and life of the Messiah...
the purpose of the gospels is theological and faith-inspiring. The infancy stories in
the gospel according to Matthew and Luke are there to complete the main theme of these
gospel accounts themselves, that is, the salvation brought by Jesus Christ. It is, thus,
clear that the theological tone of these stories is the marvelous work of God in
accomplishing our salvation, the major event of which was the passion, death and
resurrection of Jesus. In these stories, it is almost impossible to separate fact from
imaginative projection. According to Scripture scholars today, Jesus' infancy stories may
be understood as “theological meditations arising from the prayers, the questions, the
surmises and the poetry of the early Christian communities“ (Knox, P.11).
The Mysteries of the Infancy Narratives
1. The Genealogy of Jesus (Mt 1:1-17) traces the family tree of Jesus, his genesis. Jesus
is a son of Abraham and David. He belongs to the house of Jacob and the family of David,
He is the true Messiah promised by God since the fall of man in Adam.
2. The Announcement of John the Baptist's Birth (Lk 1:5-25) recalls the
miraculous conception of John the Baptist in Elizabeth's womb. His parents, Zechariah (a
Temple priest) and Elizabeth, were both barren and in old age. His conception was truly
God's work because of his great role in the plan of salvation (cf. Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 523).
3. The Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary (Lk 1:28-38) narrates the incarnation of
the Son of God in the womb of Mary. Mary's response to the invitation of the angel is an
example of humble and full obedience to God's will. Mary was immaculately conceived
and was called by the angel "full of grace." The child to be conceived in her womb is the
Son of the Most High, the "anointed one", the one sent by God. Mary, then, is not just the
Christokos (Mother of Christ) but Theotokos (Mother of God),
4. The Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-55) is an act of confirmation of the angelic words
on the part of Mary. Elizabeth, her cousin, being made aware by the Holy Spirit that Mary
was the mother of her Lord, called her "blessed among women as she also called blessed
"the fruit of your womb" (Jesus). Mary, in return, sang her Magnificat, a song of praise
and thanksgiving to God.
5. The Birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1:57-66) confirms John the Baptist (Lk 1:57-66)
confirms John the Baptist's significant role, that is, to be the prophet of the Most High, the
immediate precursor or forerunner of Jesus. He was to prepare the people for the coming
of "the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world." John the Baptist bore
witness to Christ by his preaching, by his baptism of repentance and his martyrdom.
6. The Birth of Jesus (Lk 2:1-1, Mt 1:18:23) fulfills the Old Testament prophecies about
the coming Messiah. He was born poor, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a
manger because there was no room for them in the inn. This event beautifully captured
in the letter of Paul to the Philippians: "Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not
deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took
the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men... " (Phil 2:6-11).
7. The Circumcision of Jesus (Lk 2:21) was done according to the Law of Moses which
stated that, on the 8th day after his birth, a male child must be brought to the Temple to
be circumcised. The ritual signified Jesus' membership in the Jewish community and
Judaism. It anticipated His Baptism in the Jordan (cf. CCC 528).
8. The Visits of the Magi and the Shepherds (Mt 2:1-1, Lk 2:15-20) manifest Jesus as the
Messiah of Israel, the Son of God and Savior not just for the Jews but for all peoples of
the world. The magi or wise men were led by the star and they brought Jesus gifts: gold,
frankincense and myrrh representing the kind of person He was and the mission He would
have (cf. CCC 528).
9. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:22-38) is a Jewish ritual of consecrating
the first-born male child. Jesus, as the first son of Mary and Joseph, should be offered to
the Lord. Simeon and the prophetess Anna, two righteous Jews, waited for the coming of
Jesus. Jesus was for them the Messiah, the glory of Israel, a sign to be contradicted by
many and one who was destined as the cause for the rise and fall of many in Jerusalem.
At the same time, He was to be the light to the nations (cf. CCC 530).
10. The Flight to Egypt (Mt 2:19-23) recalls God's people's exile and anguish in the
past, in the land of Egypt. Later, Jesus' exodus from Egypt presented Him as the New
Moses who was to be the ultimate liberator of God's people from their slavery to sin (cf.
CCC 530).
11. The Massacre of the Innocents (Mt 2:19-23) signifies that Jesus' life will be a life of
persecution. The prophecy that “Mary's heart will be struck by a sword” means that she
will participate intimately in her Son's suffering and saving mission. The sacrificial offering
of every innocent blood for Christ is perpetually celebrated and honored in the Church's
liturgy every December 28.
12. The Return of the Holy Family to Nazareth (Lk 2:39-40) begins the hidden years of
Jesus as an ordinary Jew who was obedient to the Law of God and a member of good
standing of the Jewish community. Through this experience, Jesus teaches us the
lessons of silence, of family life and of work (cf. CCC 531-533)
13. The Losing and Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-52) shows Jesus'
total consecration and obedience to His mission that flows from His divine sonship (cf.
CCC 534).

Answer Lesson 3: Post

Test on pages 6-7.