ABSTRACT
The issue of the divine nature of Jesus Christ had generated series of controversies over times from the apostolic age to this present age. Many people find it difficult to reconcile the issue of “God in the flesh” as in the case of Jesus Christ. This brought about the partly understanding and spiritual limitation in relationship with the eternal God. When the divine nature of Christ is not properly comprehended, the divine work of redemption cannot be properly understood and appropriated. This study is designed to enable Christians grows into maturity in Christian faith. It will also be of help to enabling believers appropriate their dominion over sin and satan through Christ who had canceled and defeated sin and satan. It also enables believers to understand that their level of the understanding of the nature of Jesus Christ determines their closeness to God. It will also save Christians from heresy about the divine nature of Christ being propagated by Jehovah’s Witnesses and Islam. Therefore, the study focus on the scriptural proofs of Christ divinity with particular reference to Colossians 1:15-17.
The researcher adopts qualitative approach which involves careful theoretical framework, theological, narratives, descriptive, comparative and apologetic approaches though not scientific. The researcher also made use of library materials such as Bible commentaries, Bible concordances, Bible Dictionaries, Book, journals, articles, unpublished materials and internet sources.
The researcher discovered that the attributes of God in both Old and New Testaments were used for Christ; such as “I Am, The Creator, God is Spirit, Life giver etc”. “…My glory I will not share with anyone”. This is the Scriptural truth which cannot be altered. Jesus being accorded the above qualities, God had really manifested Himself in the flesh and dwells among men and seen by angels, because there is only one God. Also, it is discovered that the phrase “..And the word was God” in John 1:1 had been altered in Jehovah’s witness Bible (New World Translation), to “…And the word was a god”, in their attempt to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ. By implication, it invariably proves Christ’s divinity as it implies that Christ is second God. Though this is heretical and a translation error on their part because there are no two Gods but one.
God’s condescendence of Himself in the flesh is born out of His love to save human race from eternal damnation awaiting satan and his cohorts. This should not be taken for granted or seen as a weakness of God’s divine nature and dominance over the universe. Jesus is the Head of the Second creation. That is, the Church by virtue of His resurrection as the first born to break the hold of death. The researcher therefore recommends that: Christians should accept Christ divine nature as our salvation is embedded in it. Christ should be worshiped as God for He is the same God of the Old Testament. Christians who are involved in the worship of angels should desist, for Christ is greater than the angels.
Key Words: Jesus Christ, Divinity, Dominion, Creation, Colossians
Word Counts: 499
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page……...…………..……………………………………………………………………….i
Certification…………...………..…………………………………………………………………ii
Dedication……………………………..……………………………………………………….…iii
Acknowledgments………………………….…………………………………………………….iv
Abstract………………………………………….……………………………………………….vii
Table of Contents…………………………………….…………………………………………..ix
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Significance of the Study
1.4 Scope of the Study
1.5 Research Methodology
1.6 Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Scriptural Proof of Christ Divinity
2.2. Christ in Relation with the Father (God)
2.3 Christ in Relation to the Holy Spirit
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS
3.1 The Exegesis of Colossians 1:15-17
3.2 The Authorship and Date of Writing
3.3 Purpose of Writing
3.4 The Universal Purchase
3.5 Christ’s Authority over Nature
3.5.1 His Authority Over Sea, Wind and Waves
3.5.2 Christ Authority over Angels
3.5.3 Christ’s Authority over Life and Death
3.5.4 Jesus’ Authority over the Law
3.5.5 Christ’s Authority over Himself
3.5.6 Christ’s Authority over Demons
3.6 Being the one to whom Glory and Power and belong
3.7 His Miracles
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 THE NATURE OF CHRIST’S DIVINITY
4.1 The Sonship of Christ
4.2 Christ being the Saviour and the Redeemer
4.3 Christ’s Existence beyond Time, the First and the Last
4.4 Christ as of the Same Qualities and essence with God
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary
5.2 Recommendations
5.3 Conclusion
BIBLIOGRAPHY