The Son
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Wise Men (Magi)
1. Name / Role Wise Men (Magi) 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Wise Men appear in the New Testament, specifically in Matthew 2:1–12, shortly after Jesus’ birth. They are central to the infancy narrative, arriving in Bethlehem to worship the Christ…
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Roman Centurion of Great Faith
1. Name / Role Roman Centurion of Great Faith 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This centurion appears in Matthew 8:5–13 and Luke 7:1–10, during the early part of Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee. He is a Gentile military officer serving under Roman…
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Ethiopian Eunuch
1. Name / Role Ethiopian Eunuch 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Ethiopian Eunuch appears in Acts 8:26–40, during the early expansion of the Church following the persecution in Jerusalem. His story marks a major turning point in the spread of the…
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Cornelius the Centurion
1. Name / Role Cornelius the Centurion 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Cornelius appears in Acts 10–11, during the early growth of the Church. His story marks the first recorded Gentile conversion initiated by divine revelation and affirmed by the outpouring of…
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Lydia of Thyatira
1. Name / Role Lydia of Thyatira 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Lydia appears in Acts 16:11–15 and again in Acts 16:40, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Her conversion occurs in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia (northern Greece), making her the…
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Samaritan Woman at the Well
1. Name / Role Samaritan Woman at the Well 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Samaritan woman appears in John 4:1–42, during Jesus’ early Galilean ministry. This encounter occurs at Jacob’s well in Sychar, in Samaria, a region generally avoided by devout…
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Syrophoenician (Canaanite) Woman
1. Name / Role Syrophoenician (Canaanite) Woman 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This woman appears in two parallel Gospel accounts: Matthew 15:21–28 (where she is called a Canaanite) and Mark 7:24–30 (where she is identified as Syrophoenician by birth). Her interaction with…
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Gerizim Demoniac (Legion)
1. Name / Role Gerizim Demoniac (Legion) 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This man appears in Mark 5:1–20, Luke 8:26–39, and Matthew 8:28–34, during Jesus’ ministry across the Sea of Galilee. He lives in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes), part…
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Simon of Cyrene
1. Name / Role Simon of Cyrene 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Simon of Cyrene appears during the Passion narrative in the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, and Luke 23:26—at the time of Jesus’ journey to the cross. His story takes place…
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Greeks Seeking Jesus at the Festival
1. Name / Role Greeks Seeking Jesus at the Festival 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This event is recorded in John 12:20–26, taking place shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion during the Passover festival in Jerusalem. It occurs after Jesus’ triumphal entry and signals…
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Unnamed God-Fearers (in Acts)
1. Name / Role Unnamed God-Fearers (in Acts) 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context These individuals appear throughout the Book of Acts, particularly in Acts 10–18, during the apostolic missions of Paul, Barnabas, and others. They are Gentiles who regularly attended synagogue worship…
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Pilate’s Wife
1. Name / Role Pilate’s Wife 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Pilate’s wife appears only once in Scripture, in Matthew 27:19, during Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Her brief but significant intervention occurs as Pilate deliberates on…
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The Thief on the Cross
1. Name / Role The Thief on the Cross 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The thief appears during the crucifixion of Jesus, recorded in Luke 23:39–43. He is one of two criminals crucified beside Jesus, and his encounter with Christ takes place…
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The Roman Centurion at the Cross
1. Name / Role The Roman Centurion at the Cross 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This figure appears during the crucifixion of Jesus, specifically in Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, and Luke 23:47. He is the Roman officer overseeing the execution, positioned at…
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The Greeks Converted in Antioch
1. Name / Role The Greeks Converted in Antioch 2. Category God-Fearing Outsiders or Messianic Witnesses 3. Time Period / Biblical Context These converts appear in Acts 11:19–26, following the persecution of believers after Stephen’s martyrdom. Their conversion marks a major development in the expansion of the gospel—from preaching to…
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Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church (Contents)
1. Paul’s Proof of Jesus as the Christ: Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Foundations 2. The Divine and Human Messiah: Incarnation and Exaltation in Paul’s Thought 3. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: The Centrepiece of Pauline Christology 4. Ethics as Participation in Christ’s New Life: The Teaching of Romans 5. Freedom and…
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1. Paul’s Proof of Jesus as the Christ: Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Foundations
Introduction Understanding how the Apostle Paul proves that Jesus is the Christ—the promised Messiah—is foundational to grasping Pauline theology and the early Christian proclamation. This article explores Paul’s multi-faceted proof, drawing from his key letters, highlighting scriptural fulfilment, historical claims, and theological reasoning that underpin his gospel message. 1. Scriptural…
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2. The Divine and Human Messiah: Incarnation and Exaltation in Paul’s Thought
Introduction Paul’s Christology profoundly embraces both the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus as the Messiah. This article explores how Paul presents Jesus’ incarnation, humiliation, obedient death, and exaltation, drawing especially from Philippians and Romans, to portray a Messiah who is uniquely God and man—worthy of worship and imitation.…
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3. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: The Centrepiece of Pauline Christology
Introduction The death and resurrection of Jesus stand at the heart of Paul’s proclamation that Jesus is the Christ. This article examines how Paul understands these events theologically and their foundational role in his gospel, focusing on justification, atonement, and victory over death. 1. Jesus’ Death as Atonement for Sin…
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4. Ethics as Participation in Christ’s New Life: The Teaching of Romans
Introduction Paul’s letter to the Romans not only presents Jesus as the Messiah but also calls believers to live ethically as participants in Christ’s death and resurrection. This article explores how union with the risen Messiah shapes Christian ethics, emphasizing newness of life, love, and community. 1. Union with Christ:…
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5. Freedom and Spirit-Led Living: Ethical Living in Galatians
Introduction Paul’s letter to the Galatians strongly emphasizes Christian freedom rooted in faith in Christ the Messiah, contrasting it with legalistic bondage. This article explores how Paul connects this freedom to Spirit-led ethical living and community equality. 1. Freedom from the Law’s Curse 2. Walking by the Spirit 3. Equality…
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6. Imitating Christ’s Humility and Exaltation: Ethical Exhortations in Philippians
Introduction In Philippians, Paul presents Jesus as the humble yet exalted Messiah and calls believers to imitate this model. This article explores how Christ’s incarnation, obedience, and exaltation form the ethical foundation for Christian community life and witness. 1. The Christ Hymn: Humility in Incarnation 2. Obedience to Death and…
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7. The Church as the Body of Christ: Identity and Unity in Romans and 1 Corinthians
Introduction Paul’s ecclesiology is deeply rooted in his Christology. In Romans and 1 Corinthians, he describes the church as the body of Christ, a spiritual organism unified by the Spirit and called to live in ethical harmony. This article explores how Paul’s understanding of Jesus as the Messiah shapes the…
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8. The New Covenant People: Equality and Freedom in the Church (Galatians)
Introduction In Galatians, Paul presents the church as the new covenant community established through faith in Christ, the Messiah. This article explores how Paul’s Christology shapes an ecclesiology centred on freedom, equality, and the breaking down of ethnic and social barriers. 1. The Church as the People of the Promise…
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9. The Church Called to Imitate Christ: Humility and Mission in Philippians
Introduction Paul’s letter to the Philippians emphasizes the church’s calling to imitate the Messiah’s humility and exaltation. This article examines how Paul connects Christ’s self-emptying and lordship with the ethical and missional life of the Christian community. 1. The Model of Christ’s Humility 2. Exaltation and Lordship as Motivation 3.…
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10. Interconnection of Christology, Ethics, and Ecclesiology in Pauline Theology
Introduction Paul’s theology is a unified whole where Christology, ethics, and ecclesiology are deeply interconnected. This article explores how Paul’s understanding of Jesus as the Messiah shapes the ethical life of believers and the nature of the church community. 1. Christ as the Foundation of Christian Identity and Ethics 2.…
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11. Applying Pauline Theology in Today’s Church and Christian Life
Introduction Paul’s integrated theology of Christology, ethics, and ecclesiology offers timeless guidance for contemporary Christian communities and individual believers. This article explores how his teachings can shape modern faith practice, church life, and ethical living. 1. Affirming Jesus as the Messiah Today 2. Living Ethically in the Spirit of Pauline…
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1 – God is Omnipotent, Yet Jesus Slept in the Boat: Infinite Power and Human Weakness
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction One of the most vivid portrayals of Christ’s humanity appears in the Gospels when Jesus, during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, is found asleep in the boat (Mark 4:38). This is…
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2 – God is Immortal, Yet Jesus Died: The Deathless One and the Cross
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction The paradox of Christ’s death stands at the heart of the Christian gospel. Scripture affirms that God is immortal—He cannot die (1 Timothy 6:16), is the source of all life (John 5:26), and…
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3 – God is Omniscient, Yet Jesus Didn’t Know the Hour: The Mystery of Limited Knowledge in the Incarnate Christ
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction One of the most striking paradoxes in the Gospels is Jesus’ statement in Mark 13:32: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven,…
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4 – Christ is Fully God and Fully Man: The Unity of Two Natures in One Person
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction The Christian faith upholds the truth that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man, a doctrinal cornerstone rooted in Scripture and upheld by historic creeds. This paradox—one person with two complete…
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5 – The Word Became Flesh: Infinite Divinity in Finite Humanity
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction Few paradoxes in Christian theology are as foundational and awe-inspiring as the declaration that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). This statement asserts that the eternal, divine Logos—through whom all things were created—took…
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6 – Christ is the Judge, Yet Was Judged: The Righteous One in the Dock
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction One of the most striking paradoxes in Christian theology is that Christ, the eternal Judge of all, was Himself put on trial, condemned, and crucified by human authorities. Scripture clearly presents Christ as…
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7 – Christ is Eternal, Yet Was Born of a Woman: Eternity Entering Time
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction Christian orthodoxy holds that Jesus Christ is eternal, uncreated, and one with the Father (John 1:1–2). Yet paradoxically, He entered time through human birth, being born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). This mystery—the…
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8 – Christ is Omnipresent, Yet Walked Locally: The Tension Between Divine Presence and Human Limitation
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction Christian theology affirms that Christ is fully God, and as such shares in all divine attributes—including omnipresence, the capacity to be everywhere at once. Yet, during His earthly ministry, Jesus walked from town…
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9 – The King of Kings Was Born in a Manger: Majesty in Humiliation
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction The paradox of the incarnation reaches a powerful crescendo in the birth narrative: the King of Kings, the one through whom all things were made (Colossians 1:16), entered the world not in splendour,…
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10 – God Is All-Powerful, Yet Christ Slept from Exhaustion: Omnipotence in Human Weakness
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction The doctrine of divine omnipotence affirms that God is all-powerful, lacking no strength or ability (Jeremiah 32:17; Revelation 19:6). Yet, in the Gospels, we encounter Jesus—God incarnate—sleeping from sheer physical exhaustion during a…
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11 – God Is Invisible, Yet Christ Was Seen: The Unseen Revealed in Flesh
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life 1. Introduction Scripture declares that God is invisible—not accessible to human sight or perception. “No man hath seen God at any time” (John 1:18). Yet in the person of Jesus Christ, God was visibly present,…