Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life
1. Introduction
Scripture presents God as the ultimate giver and sustainer of life. From the moment He breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7) to the promise of eternal life through Christ (John 3:16), God’s identity is tied to vitality and being. Yet, in a paradox of astonishing depth, the incarnate Christ—the very source of life—lay dead in a tomb for three days. This tension between divine life-giving power and the lifeless body of Jesus forces reflection on the incarnation, atonement, and resurrection.
2. God Is the Giver of Life
2.1 Scriptural Foundations
- “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” – John 1:4
- “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” – Genesis 2:7
- “He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” – Acts 17:25
- “I am the resurrection, and the life.” – John 11:25
2.2 Theological Meaning
- God is self-existent (aseity)—life exists in Him by nature.
- He is the originator and sustainer of all biological and spiritual life.
- In Christ, this divine life is made manifest and offered to the world.
3. Yet Christ Lay Dead
3.1 Crucifixion and Burial
- “And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” – Mark 15:37
- “They took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen… and laid him in a new sepulchre.” – John 19:40–42
- The Living Word entered into death—a condition opposite to His divine identity.
3.2 Nature of the Death
- Christ did not merely appear to die (a heresy known as Docetism), but truly experienced death in His human nature.
- The paradox is not that divinity died, but that the eternal Son assumed mortal flesh, and in that flesh, suffered death.
4. Theological Resolution: Life Conquered Death through Death
| Divine Attribute | Apparent Contradiction |
|---|---|
| God is the giver of life | Yet Christ, the Life, was placed in a tomb |
| Christ is the Resurrection | Yet He experienced burial and silence |
Resolution: Christ’s death was not a contradiction of His divine life-giving identity but the means by which life was secured for others. His death was voluntary, purposeful, and temporary—swallowed up in resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:54).
5. Historical Theological Perspectives
5.1 Early Church
- Athanasius (On the Incarnation): “He surrendered the body to death in place of all, and offered it to the Father.”
- Irenaeus: Christ reversed Adam’s death by undergoing it Himself.
5.2 Reformation
- Calvin: Christ’s death is the conquest of death by the Author of life.
- Luther: “Life itself tasted death that it might destroy death.”
5.3 Modern Theology
- Torrance: The grave of Jesus is the pivot between mortal time and eternal glory.
- Barth: God’s participation in death demonstrates the depth of divine solidarity with creation.
6. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
6.1 Assurance of Resurrection
- Because Life lay dead, death is not final for believers (Romans 6:9).
6.2 Christ’s Empathy in Death
- Jesus faced the full weight of mortality, offering deep comfort to all who grieve.
6.3 Victory through Substitution
- By dying, the Giver of life broke the curse of death (Hebrews 2:14).
7. Conclusion
The paradox that the Giver of Life lay dead is at the heart of the gospel. Rather than undermine God’s character, it magnifies it. In Christ’s willing submission to death, we see the depth of divine humility and the height of redemptive power. His resurrection confirms that death is not the end, but the doorway to eternal life for all who believe.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Athanasius. On the Incarnation
- Calvin, J. Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II
- Barth, K. Church Dogmatics, IV/1
- Torrance, T.F. The Mediation of Christ
Would you like to proceed with Entry 23 – God Is the Creator, Yet Christ Was Born of a Woman?