Lesson 3

TITLE OF PRE-EXISTENT JESUS

John 1: 32- 34
Matthew 26: 42
Matthew 27: 54

Graces to beg for:

Creed / Aral: Learn the two major Christological titles of Jesus, namely; Son of God and Word.
Code / Asal: Differentiate how the titles are employed in the Old Testament as well as in the New
Testament.
Cult / Dasal: Demonstrate how you too are son/daughter of God’ and ‘word of God’

I. CONTEXT
Let us measure how advance you are in our lesson and how sharp is your retentions on your
catechetical experiences.

ACTIVITY
TRUE OR FALSE
Instruction: Write T if the statement is true, and F is the statement is false.
__________ 1. The title “son of God” is exclusively attributed of Jesus Christ.
__________ 2. The word of God did not remain in the auditory experience, but us became Incarnate.
__________ 3. A king in OT is never called “son of God”.
__________ 4. In the transfiguration, God the father made allusion to Jesus and called him “My
Beloved Son”.
__________ 5. The Hebrew understanding of the “word” (dabar) is only a reference to a single
“word”.
__________ 6. The word od blessing given by Isaac to Jacob by deceit (Gen 27: 35-38) could still be
revocable.
__________ 7. The incarnation of the word is a Matthean theology.
__________ 8. The Etrnal wors refers to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
__________ 9. The ‘Our’ in the Our Father is best translated in BIsaya as ‘Nato’ and not ‘Namo.’
__________ 10. The Gnostics deny the becoming flesh of the Word.
__________ 11. In the OT, the word has already achieved a status of a Divine Person.
__________ 12. We become ‘adopted sons/daughters of God’ upon First Communion.
__________ 13. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) defines the divinity of Jesus.
__________ 14. In Jn 1:40, it is Nathanael who told Jesus: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are
the King of Israel.”
__________ 15. The Synoptic Gospels (Mt, Mk, and Lk) start from the divinity of Christ (“High
Christology”) and the Johanine Gospel, from the humanity of Christ (“Low Christology”).
Score: Mean:

II. EXPOSITION
The previous lesson dealt with the name/s of Jesus. This and the two subsequent lessons will
introduce us to some significant Christological titles in the Bible, namely: *Lesson 3: titles referring to
the pre-existence of Jesus: Son of God and Word; *Lesson 4: titles referring to the early work of
Jesus: High Priest and Prophet : *and Lesson 5: titles referring to the future work of Jesus:
Messiah/Christ and Son of Man Other equally significant titles that are cursorily discussed are
lumped together under the heading, “Other Christological Titles.”

Here we begin the titles that Jesus Christ possesses before time. He is the Second Person of the
Blessed Trinity, the God the Son or the Son of God in relation to the Father. He is the Word that exist
in eternity. But we have to understand that the disciples would only come to know of the full import of
the titles after and in the light of the Resurrection.

The preexistence of Christ is part of the foundation of Christian faith on which this other doctrines
depend. Christ’s preexistence is foundational, how one understands it or rejects it affects the
remainder of Christology and one’s overall understanding of Christianity. This has been nowhere
more evident than in the modern attempts to explain (or explain away) the doctrine. Those modern
Theologians who ignore or deny Christ’s preexistence do so because it is incompatible with their
understanding either of his humanity or of the nature of religion. (DOUGLAS McCREADY, “He came
down from heaven: The preexistence of Christ Revisited” Journal of the Evangelical Theological
Society 40/3 (Sep. 1997.)
Implications If Jesus were not preexistent:
The implications of Jesus not being preexistent are staggering. William Myatt… stated, “Removing
the doctrine of Christ’s preexistence will leave us with different concepts of God, Christ, humanity,
salvation, and creation.” It would change absolutely everything. In essence for one to imagine that
disastrous scenario, one could take this paper and read into it, the exact opposite or negative. First
of all, suggesting that Jesus was a created being who did not exist in a prior state before His
incarnation would result in the Biblical having mistakes or errancy. If the Bible is wrong about this
fact, then it goes to reason that it is wrong about everything else within its pages. If one follows the
outline of this paper under the new assumption that Jesus is not preexistent, it would also mean that
He was not involved in any shape or form in the act of Creation. It would also mean that Jesus lied
about Himself. As Carson noted, denying Christ’s preexistence is paramount to .denying His divinity.
Not to get too dramatic, but if the Bible were, in fact, full of lies and mistakes, then the entire
universe would implode.
(PATRICK VINCENT, The preexistence of Jesus Christ, in https://mrpatvincent.com/2015/06/26/ the-
preexistence-of-jesus-christ/;accessed; 2 May 2017.)
SON OF GOD

The title Son of God is not exclusively attributed to one person throughout the history. Rulers
and emperors- from the Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1000 BC) in China to Alexander the Great in
Greece – assumed titles that convey filial infinity with the divine. Augustus Caesar, in Jesus’ time,
claimed for himself the titles Divini filius (“son of the Divine one”) and Dei filius (“son of God”) , both
abbreviated as DF, to give emphasis to his image as divine. According to Crossan, early Christians
adopted and attributed to this title to Jesus Christ.

OLD TESTAMENT

The title son of God is not uncommon to the Old Testament. The word son is used to mean not
only filiation but also close connection or intimate relationship. Thus a hero or warrior is called “son of
strength”, a wicked man as “son of wickedness,” a hostage as “son of pledging,” a shift bird as “son of
lightning,” one doomed to die as “son of death,” a wicked man as “son of Belial,” a disciple of a
prophet as “son of a prophet,” as “son of a prophet”, etc.

The title son of God – or the plural sons of God – is applied to persons having special
relationship with God or those holding authority from God. It can refer to the following:

Son/s of God Biblical Text

When human beings began to grow numerous on the earth and
 angels daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw how beautiful the
daughters of human beings were, and so they took for their wives
whomever they pleased (Gen. 6:1-2)
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord, he said to me, “You are my son;
kings today I have begotten you” (Ps. 2:7)
For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him and
good people deliver him from the hand of his foes. (Wis. 2:18)
So you will say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord: Israel is my son, my
whole people of Israel firstborn. I said to you: Let my son go, that they msy serve me(Ex.
4:22-23)

The title originally has no reference to a messianic figure until the first century BC, and no
reference to divinity until the early Christian period. The king as lieutenant of God, is honored with this
title especially when he is providentially chosen to be the type of a Messiah, the Chosen one, the
Elect of God, is called Son of God in a very special way. Psalm 2 sheds light on this type of King-
Messiah (1-11).

EXERCISE

Name: ___________________________________Section:______________Date:______________
Recall your religious experiences and see jow they shaped you as God’s son/daughter. Complete the
sentences below. Read the instructions – continue cluster sharing.

ACTIVITIES

Sentence (1)I am a son/daughter of ___________ Because ______________

Completion 1:
Cite five instances in which
your sonship/daughtership is
best expressed, and supply
the reasons (e.g.; “I am a son
of hardship because I was
born into a poor family”; “I am
a son of discernment because
my parents weighed in
prayerfully whether to have
another child –that’s me- or no
more.”)
______________________________________________________.
(2) I am a son/daughter of ___________ Because ______________
______________________________________________________.
(3) I am a son/daughter of ___________ Because ______________
______________________________________________________.
(4) I am a son/daughter of ___________ Because ______________
______________________________________________________.
(5) I am a son/daughter of ___________ Because ______________
______________________________________________________.

Sentence (1)I am a ‘son/daughter of God’ because ____________________

Completion 2: ______________________________________________________.
Give five existential reasons
why you can be called (2) I am a ‘son/daughter of God’ because ____________________
‘son/daughter of God,’ ______________________________________________________.
e.g. “because I have obeyed
(3) I am a ‘son/daughter of God’ because ____________________
all the 10 Commandments.”
Do not invoke for now
______________________________________________________.
ontological or given reasons,
e.g. “because God created (4) I am a ‘son/daughter of God’ because ____________________
me” or “because I was ______________________________________________________.
baptized Christian.” Note that
all persons are’sons/daughters (5) I am a ‘son/daughter of God’ because ____________________
of God’ ontologically, however ______________________________________________________.
sinful one can become.
Cluster Sharing:
After accomplishing the activities above, you will be grouped (by your teacher) into clusters. Share
 your answer to your group. One cluster member is tasked to collate the different answers and report
them to the class. The teacher may summarize them and identify the class’ dominant response.

NEW TESTAMENT

Even in the New Testament, the usage of the title is not an exclusive one. Jesus himself calls
some of his followers as sons/children of God (“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God” – Mt. 5:9; “They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are children of
God because they are the ones who will rise” – Lk. 20:36). Paul also, especially in the letters to the
Romans and to the Galatians, designates all Christians by that title.

The title son of God, however, has found a special and unique resonance in Jesus Christ,
although it did not imply full divinity other than a special relationship with God at first. As Christians
mature in their understanding, the divine connotation becomes manifest. Even the historical Jesus
refers to God as Abba (“Father”), “He probably never called himself the Son of God in a divine
sense.” In the later part, the title is generally used as a short formula for expressing his divinity.

The use of this title in many passages in the New Testament sheds light on the meaning to be
attached to it.

PERSONS CLAIMING JESUS TO BE THE ‘SON OF GOD’

Person Biblical Text

Angel He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High…the child to be
born will be called holy, the Son of God.
(Lk. 1:32; 25)

Nathaniel Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
(Jn. 1:49)

Unclean/demonic spirits And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
(Mk. 3:11 cf. also Mk. 5:7)

Roman centurion Truly this man was the Son of God!

(Mk. 15:39)

Peter Simon Peter said I reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly
Father.
(Mt. 16:15-16; cf. also Mk. 8:29; Lk. 9:20

God the Father (1) After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the
(at Jesus’ Baptism heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove [and]coming upon him. And a voice came from
the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased.”
(Mt.3:16-17;cf. also Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22)

God the Father (2) While he was still speaking, behold, a white cloud cast a shadow over
(at Jesus’ Transfiguration) them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved
Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
(Mt 17:5; cf. also Mk. 9:7; Lk 9:35)
ACTIVITY
Affirmation or appreciation is very essential to boost one’s self-image. Recall your experience being
affirmed and do the following actions.

Name: ___________________________________Section:______________Date:______________
Parent’s Affirmation:

Taking the words of God the Father about His Son at the Baptism in the Jordan and at the
Transfiguration in Mt. Tabor, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17
& 17:5). Recall an instance in which you’re your parent was so proud of you as a
son/daughter. What was the occasion? When and where? How did your parent express it? How did
you feel about it? Be detailed as possible.

Teacher’s Affirmation:

Same Mechanics as above, recall an instance in which a teacher of yours (past or current) being your
second parent, become more proud of you as his/her student. What was the occasion? When and
where? How did your teacher express it? How did you feel about it? Be detailed as possible.

Friends Affirmation:

Recall an instance in which a friend of yours became more proud of you as his/her friend. What was
the occasion? When and where? How did your friend express it? Be detailed as possible.

Grade:

TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST


OUR FATHER
In Bisaya
Amahan namo
Nga anaa sa mga langit
Pagdaygon ang imong ngalan
Umabut kanamo
Ang imong gigharian
Matuman ang imong
Pagbuot dinhi sa yuta
Maingon sa langit.
Ang kalan-on namo
Sa matag adlaw
Ihatag kanamo
Karong adlawa
Ug pasayloa kami
Sa among mga sala
Ingon nga nagapasaylo kami
Sa mga naka sala kanamo
Ug dili mo kami itugyan
Sa mga panulay.
Hinunoa luwasa kami sa
Dautan. Amen.
We have seen an example of multiple attestations,
that is, different persons making the same claim about
Jesus. Now, it is important to know what Jesus himself
claimed about his own self. The key to the testimony of
Jesus Christ is contained in his own words he made after
the resurrection. “ I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God” (Jn. 20:20:17b). Always he spoke
of MY Father, never OUR Father. He told his disciples:
“This ios how YOU are to pray: Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name…” (Mt. 6:9). The OUR here is
understood in an exclusive sense (in Bisaya NAMO,
NAMONG), and not in an exclusive sense (ATO< ATONG).
You are therefore, to say, “Amahan namo nga anaa sa mga
langit…” In every instance he makes a clear distinction
between “the way in which God was His Father and in
which He was the Father of all creatures.” The way he
expresses himself proves that he claims to be of the same
nature with God; and His claims to Divine Sonship are
contained very clearly in the Gospels (Lk. 2:49; Mt.7:21-23;
10:32-33; 11:25-30; Lk. 10:21-22; Mk. 12:6; 14:61-62; Mt.
28:19-20). In the case of the Johannine Gispel
which stresses on the “High Christology” (Jn. 2:16; 5:17,
20-23,26; 6:40; 7:1,5), John has much more “Father/Son”
language and is the first to call Jesus the “only –Son” of
God (monogenes in Greek which means “the only begotten
one” (e.g. Jn. 3;16, 18; cf. 1;14, 18; 1Jn.4:9; also Hebrew
1:5; 5:5).,

To summarize, the title Son of God is applied to Jesus in many instances to refer to his divine
nature. This declaration is made by many individuals – by God the Father as a voice coming from
heaven, by the disciples even by Jesus himself. This title obviously, makes a lasting impact in
Christian history as it has become part of the Profession of Faith by many Christians. It implies the full
divinity of Jesus who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 In the Old Testament, “son of God” is title given to the angels, the Chosen People, the children
of Israel, and their kings (cf. Dt. 14:1; [LXX] 32:8; Job 1:6; Ex. 4:22; Hos. 2:1; 11:1; Jer. 3:19;
Sir. 36:11; Wis. 18:13; 2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 82:6). It signifies an adoptive sonship that establishes
a relationship of particular intimacy between God and his creatures. When the promised
Messiah – King is called “son of God”, it does not necessarily imply that he was more than
human, according to the literal meaning of these texts. Those who called Jesus “son of God”
as the Messiah of Israel, perhaps meant nothing more than this (cf. IChr 17:13; Ps. 2:7; Mt.
27:54; Lk. 23:47;) (CCC441).

 Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the
Living God”, For Jesus responds solemnly: “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but
my Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 16:16-17). Similarly Paul will write, regarding his conversion
on the road to Damascus, “When he who had set me apart before I was born, and has called
me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him
among the gentiles…” (Gal.1:15-16) “and in the synagogues immediately [Paul] proclaimed
Jesus, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’” (Act 9:20). From the beginning this acknowledgement of
Christ’s divine sonship will be the center of the apostolic faith, first professed by Peter as the
Church’s foundation (cf. 1Thes. 1:10; Jn, 30:31; Mt. 16:18) (CCC442)

 Peter could recognize the transcendent character of the Messiah’s divine sonship because
Jesus had clearly allowed it to be so understood. To his accusers’ question before the
Sanhedrin, “Are you the Son of God”, then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am” (Lk 22:70;
cf. Mt. 26:64; Mk 14:61-62). Well before this, Jesus referred to himself as “the Son” who knows
the Father, as distinct from the “servants” God had earlier sent to his people; he is superior
even to the angels (cf. Mt. 11:27; 21:34-38; 24:36). He distinguished his sonship from that of
his disciples by never saying “our Father”, except to command them: “You then pray like this:
 ‘Our father”, and he emphasized his distinction, saying “my Father and your Father” (Mt. 5:48;
6:8-9; 7:21; Lk. 11:13; Jn. 20:17) (CCC 443).

 The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of
Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus his “beloved Son” (cf. Mt.3:17; cf.17:5). Jesus
calls himself the “only Son of God”, and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence (Jn. 3:16;
cf. 10:36). He asks for faith in “the name of the only Son of God” (Jn. 3:18). In the centurion’s
exclamation before the crucified Christ, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mk.15:39), that
Christian confession already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the believer give the title
“Son of God” it’s full meaning (CCC 444).

 After his Resurrection, Jesus’ divine sonship becomes manifest in the power of his glorified
humanity. He was “designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his
Resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:3 ; cf. Act. 13:33). The Apostles can confess: “We have
beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14)
(CCC 445).

ACTIVITY
TO BECOME SON/DAUGHTER OF GOD DAY BY DAY
Name: ___________________________________Section:______________Date:______________

Purpose: For you to understand that you dignity as an adopted son/daughter of God is also a task, a
responsibility.
Instruction: By virtue of Baptism, you become an adopted son [or daughter] of God (cf. CCC1265).
But such title is dynamic, not static. Every day you strive to live out that dignity resolutely. Plan out
your next week activities and choose one special task that you want to perform in each of the three
areas in order to make manifest in a concrete way your being ‘an adopted son/daughter of God’. You
can exclude recurrent tasks.

In thoughts & Prayers In words & conversation In deeds & actions

Day
example *I will pray the Rosary for *I will offer words of sympathy *I will assist my nephew
my grandma to my bereaved cousin in his homework.

Mon * * *

Tue * * *

Wed * * *

Thu * * *

Fri * * *

Sat * * *

Sun * * *

A week after, find out how many tasks you have accomplished as planned (by checking them).
Note: Task performed not on a specific day should only be considered ½ point. Indicate the number of
points below:
Number of _______________/7 _______________/7 _______________/7
points
The teacher may collate the data of the whole class and indicate which area the class is best in, and
the area that needs more resolve. Will the class prove the adage, “it is easier said than done,” to be
true to them?

WORD

Another title of Jesus that points to his preexistence in eternity is Word (or Divine Word,
Eternal Word, Word of God). In Christianity its meaning ranges from “the word of the Lord” or
Scripture that is read every Mass to the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity made Incarnate, i.e.
Jesus Christ. The assertion that Jesus is the Word of God is not even a unique claim by Christianity.
Islam recognizes “Isa” (Jesus) as “Kalimatim-minallaah” (Word from God). This title is then significant
in that it can be taken as a point of convergence in a Muslim-Christian interreligious dialogue.

Etymology/Derivation

The Hebrew word for “word” is dabar; and the Greek is logos. It can refer not only to a single
“word”, but also to a “phrase”, a “sentence”, a “speech” or even the “power of speech and reasoning.”
For the ancient, primitive Near East people, the word is not only the expression of one’s thoughts or
will, but also something that is concrete and active; it has objective reality and is endowed , as it
were, with the power of the speaker. It also means a “thing,” the object under discussion.

OLD TESTAMENT
The notion of “thinking” and “speaking” in the Old Testament is expressed by the same verb; “to
think” is to “speak in one’s heart.” Let us consider the following examples:

Abraham fell face down and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who
is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at ninety? (Gen. 17:17);

I had scarcely finished saying this to myself when Rebekah came out with a jug on her
shoulder. After she went down to the spring and drew water, I said to her, “Please let me have
a drink.” (Gen. 24:45)

For Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.
Eli, thinking she was drunk (1 Sam. 1:13)

Now hear this, voluptuous one, enthroned securely, saying in your heart, I, and no one else! I
shall never be a widow, bereft of my children” (Is. 47:8).

For, to the Semitic people, to speak is to express or to bring out what is in one’s heart. The
spoken words is not only a sound that comes out of the mouth, or emission of sound, but a real thing,
though invisible like a breath (ruach in Hebrew, pneuma in Greek). Dabar is often parallel with ruach.
To substantiate this claim, we have the following examples:

o By the Lord’s word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their
hosts (Ps. 33:6).
o Yet when again he issues his command, it melts them; he raises his winds and the
waters flow (Ps. 147:18);
o Search through the book of the Lord and read: not one of these shall be lacking,
For the mouth off the Lord has ordered it, and his spirit gathers them there (Is.
34:16)
o How long will you turn away from my reproof? [The arrogant delight in their
arrogance and fools hate knowledge.] Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will
acquaint you with my words (Prov. 1:23);
o Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made, you sent
forth your spirit, and it created them; no one can resist your voice (Jdt 16:14).

The Word is Powerful and Efficacious

Once it is spoken, the word remains to
exist. And continues its activity
indefinitely.
*The blessing given by Isaac to Jacob by
deceit could not be revoked (Gen. 27:35-38)
*The curse which Joshua uttered against
Jericho was still effective two centuries later on
the man who tried to rebuild this city (Jos. 6:26; 1
King16:34).
 *Once a curse is uttered, the effects can
only be undone by a contrary blessing (Jdg 17:2;
2Sam 21:3).
The power of the word is either ascribed to the *The shoot from the stump of Jesse is
formula itself or is dependent on the power of the endowed with the spirit of the Lord (Is. 11:2;
speaker. Magic is an example of the former. But it 4).
is not that easy to determine whether the word is *God chose Samuel whose word would be
efficacious by its own power or by the power of efficacious. (1Sam 3:19)
the deity. Although magical practices were *God’s efficacious words is carried out
rampant in ancient Near East, true worshippers of through his messengers. (Is. 44:26).
Yahweh would attribute the power of the word to *Because the word of a prophet is the word
Yahweh himself. The irresistible force of the word of Yahweh, it is more deadly. (Hos. 6:5).
uttered by an individual would be due to *The word is deadlier than a sword (Is.
Yahweh’s spirit with which the individual is 49:2).
endowed. *The word is like a consuming fire (Jer.
5:14; 23:29).

By way of summary, the word of the Old Testament was completely dependent on
Yahweh for its efficacy. It never developed into a personal being, a demon, or a subordinate
deity. As may be the case in other religions of the ancient Near East.

ACTIVITIES
Name: ___________________________________Section:______________Date:______________
Purpose: To show that the word is powerful and efficacious.
Activity 1: Upon the teacher’s instruction, form yourselves into one big circle
(if done in the classroom, you may just stand along the corners so
Message as not to rearrange the chairs). The teacher will designate among
Relay and you an executor of the message (usually the one across the first
Execute relayer). The teacher will then prompt an action message to the
first relayer , who in turn will transmit to the next relayer until it
reaches the executor . For example, the message Is “Ask your
best friend in the classroom to recite a poem.” Once it reaches the
executor , s/he needs to perform the task, that is to approach
his/her friend in the classroom to ask him/her to render a poem.
This may be repeated until saturation, but a new but a new
executor and a new first relayer are designated in every new
round.

Activity 2: Note: This activity is a little bit physical and rowdy. It is best
performed outdoor or in a place not disruptive of other classes.
Your Word
Is My Command Upon the teacher’s instruction, you congregate yourselves into a
group of 10 or more. The teacher then expresses his/her word,
e.g., “Form yourselves into a church.” At the count of 20, each
respective group forms into a church. After the countdown, you
freeze yourselves while the teacher decides which group executes
best and declares it. This is repeated several times and the
teacher keeps record of the score. The teacher’s executory word
may also be abstract (e.g., “Form yourselves into peace.”) in order
to generate more fun and creative thinking. At the end of this
activity, the teacher declares the best performing group.

NEW TESTAMENT
The characteristic of the word as power and efficacious finds its paramount expression in
Jesus Christ in his person, teachings and actions. He did not only acts as someone having
power (Mt 7:29; Mk. 1:22; Lk. 4:32), but his word was also efficacious. He healed the sick by a
word (Mt 8:8; Lk.7:7; Mk. 2:10), cast out devils (Mt. 8:16; Mk.1:25 ff), calm the forces of nature
(Mk. 4:39).His disciples after his resurrection performed miracles in his name (Mk. 16:20; Heb.
2:4; 14:3).
 Characteristics of the Word of Jesus Biblical Proofs
*Word of Jesus was spoken with authority unlike that of the Mt. 7:29; Mk. 1:22; Lk.
scribes 4:32
*Word of Jesus did not invoke the authority of the Scriptures Mt. 5:2; Mk. 7:3
or tradition
*Jesus taught on his own authority or on his authority as the Mt. 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39
Son of God
*His words are words of everlasting life Jn.6:68
*His words are “spirit and life” Jn. 6:63
*His words must be listened to and acted upon Lk. 8:21
*His word is for salvation Mt. 7:24-27
*His words must be listened to and believed for everlasting Jn. 5:24
life
*His words must be kept in order to avoid eternal death Jn. 8:51

Jesus Is the Word

For Saint Paul, the word of God, which he calls the mystery hidden in past ages, but now
revealed to saints, “is the salvation wrought by God through Christ himself” (Col. 1:25ff). God
has spoken to human beings through his Son (Heb. 1:2): In Christ the divine ‘yes’ is realized
(2Cor. 1:19ff), whereby God’s promises are made good and his old word, the Mosaic law, is
completed (Mt. 5:17). Jesus Christ is God’s Amen, the true and faithful witness, the beginning of
God’s creation. (Rev. 1:5; 3:14; Col. 1:15, 18)

Johannine view of Jesus as Word: Identifying Jesus Christ as the Word/Logos which
became Incarnate is only found in the Gospel of John (Jn. 1:1-18); and such term is used only in
two other passages by the same author (1Jn. 1:1 and Rev. 19:13). It cannot be found anywhere
else in the New Testament. For John, Jesus Christ does not only have the power and
efficaciousness of the word, but he himself is: *The Word/Logos (Jn. 1:1ff, 14); *The Word of
God (Rev. 19:13); and *The word of life (1Jn. 1:1).

Exegetes opine that John’s Prologue (Jn. 1:1-18) is a fundamental biblical text in the
belief that Jesus Christ is God, connected with the idea that the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit are equals. Accordingly John adapted Philo’s concept of the Logos and applied to Jesus
as an incarnation of the divine Logos that formed the universe. It tries to argue against the
following: *The Jews, especially the rabbis who spoke of the Law (Torah) as preexistent, as
God’s instrument in creation and as the source of light and life; John replied that these claims
apply rather to the Logos; *The Gnostics, who denied a real incarnation; John answered
emphatically: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn. 1:14); and *The
followers of John the Baptist, who could not wean off but cling to the precursor; John the
Evangelist made it clear that John the Baptist was not the Light but only witness to it (Jn. 1:6ff)

Philo of Alexandria, also called Philo Judaeus (c. 25 BC – c. 50 AD), was a Hellenistic Jewish
Philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt. He used philosophical allegory
to attempt to fuse and harmonize Greek philosophy with Jewish philosophy. His method followed the
practices of both Jewish exegesis and Stoic philosophy. His allegorical exegesis was important for
several Christian Church Fathers, but he has barely any reception history within Rabbinic Judaism.
He believed that literal interpretations of the Hebrew Bible would stifle humanity’s view and perception
of a God too complex and marvelous to be understood in literal human terms. Some scholars hold
that his concept of the Logos as God’s creative principle influenced early Christology> Other scholars
however, deny direct influence but say both Philo and Early Christianity borrow from a common
source.

Philo represents the apex of Jewish-Hellenistic syncretism. His work attempts to combine Plato and
Moses into one philosophical system. His ethics were strongly influenced by Aristotelianism and
Stoicism, preferring a morality of virtues without passions, such as lust/desire and anger, but with a
“common human sympathy.

Philo evolved an original teaching of Logos. The polysemic profusion of this word provided for its use
in different connotation. Complying with the anthropomorphic description fo God in Tanakh, Philo
used logos in the meaning of an utterance in Philo’s philosophy, God is absolutely transcendent: his
notion is even more abstract than that of the Monad of Pythagoras or the Good of Plato. Only God’s
existence is certain, no appropriate predicates can be conceived following Plato, Philo equates matter
to nothingness and sees its effect in fallace, discord, damage, and decay of things. This view enables
Philo to combine the Jewish belief in creation with the Greek conviction about the formation of all
things from the permanent matter.
Philo thought that God created and governed the world through mediators. Logos is the chief among
them, the next to God, demiurge of the world. Logos is immaterial, an adequate image of God, his
shadow, his firstborn son. Being the mind of the Eternal, Logos is imperishable. He is neither
uncreated as God is, nor created as men are, but occupies a middle position. He has no autonomous
power, only an entrusted one.

Philo was probably the first philosopher who identified Plato’s ideas with Creator’s thoughts. These
thoughts make the contents of Logos; they were the seals for making sensual things during world
creation. Logos resembles a book with creature paradigms. Architect’s design before the construction
of a city serves to Philo as another simile of Logos. Since creation, Logos binds things together. As
the receptacle and holder of ideas, Logos is distinct from the material world. At the same time Logos
pervades the world, supporting it.

Logos has the function of an advocate on behalf of humanity and also that of a God’s envoy to the
world. He puts human minds in order. The right reason an infallible law, the source of any other laws.
The angel closing Balaam’s way ( Num.22:31) is interpreted by Philo as manifestation of Logos,
which acts as man’s conscience.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in
human words: “Indeed the words of God expressed in the words of men, are in every way like
human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of
human weakness, became like men” (DV 13) (CCC101)

 Through all the words of the Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his one
Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely (cf. Heb.1:1-3): You recall that one and
the same Word of God extends throughout Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance
that resounds in the mouths of all the sacred writers, since he who was in the God with God
has no need of separate syllables; for he is not subject to time (St. Augustine, Enarrationes in
Psalmos 103, 4,1: PL 37, 1378;cf. Ps.104; Jn.1:1) (CCC 102)

 “All Sacred Scripture is but one book and that one book is Christ, because all divine Scripture
is fulfilled in Christ” (Hugh of St. Victor, De arca Noe 2, 8: PL176, 542) (CCC134)
Reflection Session:
Purpose: to internalize the sublime truth that each human being is also a “word of God.”
Needed: a bible, lighted altar candle, meditative music.
The Bible is enshrined on the table with lighted altar candle. All stand.

Antiphon (sung): Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path…
Leader: (Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father…
Lector: A Reading is taken from the letter to the Hebrews (1:1-4)
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these
last days, He spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he
created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who
sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his
seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has
inherited is more excellent than theirs. The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

All spend a few moments of reflection while a meditative song is played.

Leader (reading slow ly and meditatively): Let us ask ourselves these questions: How often have I
read the Scripture, the Written Word of God? How often have I heard it being read at Mass or
Kasaaulogan sa Pulong? Have I receptively pondered on it when I listened to it? Have I always
translated it to concrete action? How do I feel about being ‘a word of God’ myself? Have I always
executed the promises made? Has the biblical passage, “and the Word was made flesh,” found
resonance in me?
Pause for a few more minutes.
Leader: Let us close our reflection by praying the Our Father and the Glory Be. Together… (then Sign
of the Cross
Optional Closing Song: (any)

III. INTEGRATION

It is our Christian responsibility as sons/ daughters of God to listen to his words and act on them. The next
activity will lead to a more wonderful experience with God.

Name: ___________________________________Section:______________Date:______________
Purposive Assignment:
Attend Sunday Mass or GKK KSP [or its equivalent for non-Catholics], and accomplish the following:
Date of Attendance
Name of Church/GKK chapel
Address of Church/GKK chapel
Celebrant/Minister
Gospel Text

Synopsis of the Gospel:

Salient Features of the Homily/ Sermon/Paambit:

The message that struck you most:

Actions you have taken as a concrete response to hearing the Word of God:

Attested by:
(priest/kaabag/catechist/GKK president or ___________________________________
Other officers/adult usher, etc. (signature over printed name)

For teacher: in grading, consider the following Grade:

factors: presentation, quality, creativity, medium,
clarity, etc.