“Jesus is Narrated by the Bible; Savior or Mediator”

Author:
Mohammadreza Mohammadi
Level:
Master
Subject(s):
Abrahamic Religions
Language:
Farsi
Faculty:
Faculty of Religions
Year:
2019
Publisher:
URD Press
Supervisor(s):
Eliyas Arefzadeh
Advisor(s):
Aliakbar Momeni

When we take a look at the main holy text of Christianity, the New Testament, we do not face homogeneous teachings, but we face dual teachings that can be distinguished from two distinct theological systems. On the one hand, some of the books in the Bible, Jesus are introduced as the Messiah, the King of Judah and the Savior of the Old Testament, which was proclaimed by God for the salvation of mankind and their guidance to prosperity; on the other hand, some of the books in the Bible identifies him as the only Son of God, the Almighty, the mediator of the world, and with God, who, in order to save mankind, took on humanity and abandoned human beings by sacrifice and transgression from the original sins, and free grace of salvation in all power reserved. The first attitude can be seen in Synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles. In these texts, Jesus is referred to as the Prophet, the healer, the preacher, the Son of Man, the King of the Jews, the Savior, and the Messiah of the Old Testament. This kind of look at Jesus Christ is inspired by the attitude towards the Messiah in the Old Testament, and these traits are the traits that the Prophets of the Jews had raised to their Savior. Therefore, the apostles and early Christians who were alike with Jesus believed that he was the chosen believer of God and the Messiah. It is worth noting, however, that this kind of attitude toward the nature of Jesus Christ continued in the next centuries. The second attitude can be seen in the letters of Paul and the Gospel of John. The roots of the second attitude can be examined in the texts and cultures of before Christ and also in his period. The influence of some of the Jewish doctrines, mythology and philosophical terms of ancient Greece and Gnosticism are evident throughout the letters of Paul and John.