This class will review the challenges to the divine identity of Jesus that have arisen over the past two centuries and are seen regularly in the media today, especially at Christmas and Easter. Ways of confronting these controversies, based upon careful historical study of New Testament texts being done by several scholars, will be discussed.
Course Outline

1. Introduction: Challenges to Jesus’ Divine Identity
2. Important Categories for Expressing Jesus’ Divine Identity
1. The Early Worship of Jesus
2. Jesus’ Death as Universal Atonement
3. The Son’s Pre-Incarnate Existence
4. Jesus’ Possession of the Divine Name
5. Jesus’ Self-Identification as the Son of Man
3. The Growing Popularity of the Gnostic Gospels: How Do We Respond?
4. Conclusion: Confessing Jesus’ Divine Identity Today

(CEU 1.5)