The Way of Jesus Christ Essay -- Religion, Messianic Jewish Faith, Chr

The German scholar and theologian JÃ ¼rgen Moltmann wrote a powerful work called The Way of Jesus Christ. In his book, Moltmann, blends Judaism and Christianity together to form what is called messianic Jewish faith. Messianic Judaism is a religious movement that adds to Evangelical Christian theology with elements of Jewish terminology and ritual. He connects the Old Testament with the New Testament and believes there must be a connection between the messianic and the Christian perspective of Christology. Moltmann's statement in chapter one supports his idea that there are historical presuppositions that we must understand from the Old Testament before we can understand New Testament Christology. Moltmann states, " there is no such thing as Christology without presuppositions; and its historical presupposition is the messianic promise of the Old Testament, and the Jewish hope which is found on the Hebrew Bible". He believes that to have an understanding of Jesus we must have a historical understanding of the Old Testament promises and the historic Israel together. He furthered states that we must look at the name Christ as an adjective or descriptive word and not as a noun. He does as a way to translate Christ back into its proper term "Messiah" (1). Even the term "Christian" in Moltmann's understanding of Christology lacks the proper terminology to make it significant in meaning. He states, "Christian means, being human in the messianic sense. The name of Christian is not a detonation of a party. It is a promise. It is what is messianic" (1). However, as good as this might sound Moltmann's perspective "amalgamates liberation and feminist theologies with that of the Roman Catholic Eastern orthodox thought into his mess... ...views of Christology by stating if you reject any of the three dimensions, the results will be fatal (150). When you consider Moltmann's understanding of his three-dimensional Christ, he has a valid argument for Christology. Moltmann's conclusions of God's humanity and divinity have valid arguments and biblical support. One would have a hard time disagreeing with Moltmann's three dimensions of the person of Jesus Christ. However, you cannot overlook mainstream traditionalism in our society and say that if you deny one or the other there is a fatal theological flaw. Our society is evidence to the fact that most Christians perceive Christ only in his divine state or, as Moltmann would say, as a theological person of Christ. Even in this state of being, Christ is still the Savior who reaches to the sick, the brother of the poor, and the comrade of the people.