Medieval and Reformation Christologies

 

JOHN CALVIN’S CHRISTOLOGY(Reformation Period)

The Work of Christ: The Mediator and the threefold office of Christ

Calvin was Chalcedonian in his Christology and claimed that Jesus Christ was true God and true man. Although he unequivocally affirmed the divinity of Christ, he gave a special place to Christ's humanity in bringing about our salvation. Calvin explains Christ's work as mediator and in relation to the threefold office of Christ as king, priest and prophet.

1. Mediator: To fulfill the office of mediator, it was of the utmost importance that Christ be both true God and true man. Sinful human beings cannot be reconciled to God by themselves, nor can they approach him until God is reconciled to them. Therefore, only God could come down to become man, to mediate between God and sinful humanity and reunite the estranged parties. As the truly divine and truly human Mediator, Christ restored the good things we lost in Adam and removed the evil things we gained from Adam. The transfer of sonship to us reconciles us to God, then instead of Adam before God, He reconciles God to us. He offered as a sacrifice the body which he had received from us, that by his act of atonement he might blot out our guilt and appease the righteous wrath of the Father,” that is what Christ did to fulfill the office of Mediator.

 

2. The threefold office of Christ

2.1. King: According to Calvin, when Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the threefold office of 'Christ' (king, prophet and priest), Christ bestows the good things that we lack in his office as king. God promised David that his son would be enthroned as king of Israel forever, and this promise will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ ascends to the right hand of God in heaven. From there he abundantly bestows the Spirit on those who belong to him, so that they may receive from him all that they lack. So believers stand undefeated by the power of their king and his spiritual wealth overflows within them. Therefore they are rightly called Christians.' Calvin insists that Christ's kingdom is spiritual and therefore consists in eternal life, and not in this life, which must instead be lived under the suffering of the cross. The goal of Christ's reign is union with God in eternal life, and he enriches and protects those who belong to him until he brings them safely to that goal. Once this goal is achieved, Christ will no longer be our king, but God will be all in all.

2.2. Priest: Just as Christ as king is the source of the Spirit who enriches believers to eternal life in union with God, so Christ as priest is the one who brings the propitiatory sacrifice to God, appeases God's wrath and enables sinners to approach God in prayer. 'But God's righteous curse prevents us from approaching him, and God in his capacity as judge becomes angry to us. Therefore, atonement must intervene so that Christ as priest can obtain it God's favor to us and appease his wrath. Therefore, in order for Christ to perform this office, he had to come with a sacrifice. Thus, Christ as priest offers a sin offering that actually blots out our guilt and makes satisfaction for sin, thereby fulfilling the priesthood and sacrifices of Israel. Now that Christ has come, there can be no more priesthood and no more sacrifices, for the reality symbolized by priesthood and sacrifice has been fulfilled in his death. “The priesthood is Christ alone, because by his death he takes away our sins and provides atonement for our sins. This statement lays the foundation for Calvin's categorical rejection of both the Roman priesthood and the sacrifice of the Mass, seeing both as denying the fulfillment of the priestly sacrifice in Christ's death. "All the more disgusting is the invention of those who were not satisfied with the priesthood of Christ and dared to sacrifice it again! The Popes try to do this every day and consider the Mass as the sacrifice of Christ.

2.3. Prophet: Christ is anointed by the Spirit to be a prophet who fulfills prophecies to Israel. Since Christ is the one represented, pictured and symbolized by the Law given to Israel, His coming brings the Law of consummation. Now that Christ has come, the prophecy is over. "But it's still true: the wonderful lessons it brought to an end to all prophecy." Jesus is a prophet proclaiming himself the source of all the good that God has given us, and he gives us his Spirit to share in this preaching. 'He received the anointing not only for himself, that he might exercise the office of teaching, but for his whole body, that the power of the Spirit might be present in the constant preaching of the gospel.'

 

Conclusion:

The Medieval and Reformation Christologies reflect the dynamic nature of theological inquiry throughout Christian history. The mystery of Christ's nature and His redemptive work have sparked profound debates and diverse perspectives. From the Incarnation to the Reformation's emphasis on faith and Scripture, these developments have left a lasting impact on Christian thought and continue to shape the beliefs and practices of believers worldwide. As Christians continue to seek a deeper understanding of Christ, the legacy of these historical periods serves as a rich source of wisdom and inspiration.