Required reading
Systematic Theology Volume 1 by Charles Hodge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 7 (The divinity of Christ) by reading up to the heading '2. General characteristics of the New Testament teaching concerning Christ'.
My summary
Today Hodge begins to teach us about the divinity of Christ.
From the Old Testament Hodge discusses the divinity of Christ as demonstrated in:
(i) the protoevangelium;
(ii) the angel of Jehovah;
(iii) the Christ of the Psalms;
(iv) the Christ of the prophets.
What grabbed me
I'm still not convinced on Christophanies in the Old Testament and so I was interested to read Hodge's discussion on the subject.
Sadly I was disappointed as I don't think the data is as convincing as Hodge claims.
For example Hodge says: 'Besides this we have the express testimony of the inspired writers of the New Testament, that the angel of the Lord, the manifested Jehovah who led the Israelites through the wilderness, and who dwelt in the temple, was Christ ; that is, was the logos, or Eternal Son of God, who became flesh and fulfilled the work which it was predicted the Messiah should accomplish. The Apostles do not hesitate to apply to Christ the language of the Old Testament used to set forth the majesty, the works, or the kingdom of the Jehovah of the Hebrew Scriptures. (John xii. 41 ; Rom. xiv. 11 ; 1 Cor. x. 4 ; Heb. i. 10-13, and often elsewhere.) The New Testament, therefore, clearly identifies the Logos or Son of God with the Angel of Jehovah, or Messenger of the Covenant, of the Old Testament. '
If you look those New Testament passages up, do they really 'clearly identify' the angel of the Lord as the Christ???
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 7 (The divinity of Christ) by reading up to the heading '3. Particular passages which teach the divinity of Christ'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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