The issue I have with wisdom Christology is that it can be overly simplistic and reductionist. If, as Christians, we are called to embody Christ, and Christ is seen solely as the embodiment of wisdom, then embodying wisdom alone might seem to be sufficient for salvation. However, I don't believe that is the case. For example, King Solomon embodied God's wisdom, showing that humans can indeed reflect it, but there appears to be something beyond wisdom that even King David longed for. That "something greater", as John 1 points out is the Logos, which not only encompasses wisdom but also transcends it. Unlike wisdom, the "fullness" of the Logos is uniquely Christ's. The Logos is wisdom, but it also represents power and purpose. Since the world was created not for us, but for God's Son, we can share in Christ’s blessings, but we cannot embody the fullness of the Logos. Instead, we can only be transformed by it. In other words, wisdom Christology risks reducing salvation to the mere accumulation of wisdom, but wisdom alone is insufficient. This is why the New Covenant offers spiritual transformation through God's Logos. Wisdom requires righteousness, or the external alignment with the law, while Logos calls for faith and repentance-internal responses. In essence, wisdom Christology risks degenerating into a form of work-based salvation. Another concern I have with wisdom Christology is its reliance on Hellenistic philosophical ideas, which can blur the lines between Christian theology and these traditions (as what happened with Trinitarianism). This can lead to a syncretic view that diminishes the uniqueness of Christ, in the properly understood way, or rendering him too unique and distant to relate to. I'm also troubled by the use of extra-biblical texts to support this view, as it assumes these texts interpret wisdom in the same way the Bible does. To me, these texts reflect a Stoic or Hellenistic perspective that either reduces God to wisdom or elevates wisdom to divine status, depending on how you see it. For instance, Stoicism holds wisdom as the ultimate principle and highest virtue, whereas Christianity places the Logos as the supreme principle. My question is, where is God's Logos in these extra-biblical texts? I think part of the issue lies in our inherent self-centeredness-our desire to put ourselves in the place of Christ as the center of the universe and arbiters of our own salvation, which leads to a reduction of God into a more accessible form of wisdom.
There are many churches and ministries affiliated with the UCA that have exactly this kind of content. I’d suggest joining the UCA Facebook group and asking there.
I have been enjoying reading your book ... it is very insightful. I am however deeply saddened that the Unitarian Christian Alliance does not seem to have any room for those of us coming from a Messianic background. It seems our view of Scripture has no acceptance among the Unitarian Christian Alliance community
What makes you think the UCA is hostile to messianic or Torah observant Christians? Far from it, the affirmation of the UCA is designed to include unitarian Christians of all types. I saw your post in the Facebook group, and I’d point out that the mixed response (some members in support, others in disagreement) is exactly what we should expect to see from an alliance of unitarian Christians with many differences. I’d suggest scrolling down (or searching) within the group for posts from Matthew Janzen or Paul Herring who both are Torah observant.
Elohim is Being, and the source of being. Adonai and the Divine Ruach are Elohim expressing Being in creation. Wisdom is the human mind's reflection upon Being. At the appointed time, Adonai became flesh as the man Jesus to offer a new kind of being. And all who will open their hearts to him are born to that new being by the Divine Ruach.
The reference " you will seek me and not find me" was insightful...never really understood that
Makes total sense. Jesus is not God, He is the image of God. The attributes of God personified.
The issue I have with wisdom Christology is that it can be overly simplistic and reductionist. If, as Christians, we are called to embody Christ, and Christ is seen solely as the embodiment of wisdom, then embodying wisdom alone might seem to be sufficient for salvation. However, I don't believe that is the case. For example, King Solomon embodied God's wisdom, showing that humans can indeed reflect it, but there appears to be something beyond wisdom that even King David longed for.
That "something greater", as John 1 points out is the Logos, which not only encompasses wisdom but also transcends it. Unlike wisdom, the "fullness" of the Logos is uniquely Christ's. The Logos is wisdom, but it also represents power and purpose. Since the world was created not for us, but for God's Son, we can share in Christ’s blessings, but we cannot embody the fullness of the Logos. Instead, we can only be transformed by it.
In other words, wisdom Christology risks reducing salvation to the mere accumulation of wisdom, but wisdom alone is insufficient. This is why the New Covenant offers spiritual transformation through God's Logos. Wisdom requires righteousness, or the external alignment with the law, while Logos calls for faith and repentance-internal responses.
In essence, wisdom Christology risks degenerating into a form of work-based salvation.
Another concern I have with wisdom Christology is its reliance on Hellenistic philosophical ideas, which can blur the lines between Christian theology and these traditions (as what happened with Trinitarianism). This can lead to a syncretic view that diminishes the uniqueness of Christ, in the properly understood way, or rendering him too unique and distant to relate to.
I'm also troubled by the use of extra-biblical texts to support this view, as it assumes these texts interpret wisdom in the same way the Bible does. To me, these texts reflect a Stoic or Hellenistic perspective that either reduces God to wisdom or elevates wisdom to divine status, depending on how you see it. For instance, Stoicism holds wisdom as the ultimate principle and highest virtue, whereas Christianity places the Logos as the supreme principle. My question is, where is God's Logos in these extra-biblical texts? I think part of the issue lies in our inherent self-centeredness-our desire to put ourselves in the place of Christ as the center of the universe and arbiters of our own salvation, which leads to a reduction of God into a more accessible form of wisdom.
why "solely"
Could UCA make a video on how to start a church or bible group?
There are many churches and ministries affiliated with the UCA that have exactly this kind of content. I’d suggest joining the UCA Facebook group and asking there.
I have been enjoying reading your book ... it is very insightful. I am however deeply saddened that the Unitarian Christian Alliance does not seem to have any room for those of us coming from a Messianic background. It seems our view of Scripture has no acceptance among the Unitarian Christian Alliance community
What makes you think the UCA is hostile to messianic or Torah observant Christians? Far from it, the affirmation of the UCA is designed to include unitarian Christians of all types.
I saw your post in the Facebook group, and I’d point out that the mixed response (some members in support, others in disagreement) is exactly what we should expect to see from an alliance of unitarian Christians with many differences.
I’d suggest scrolling down (or searching) within the group for posts from Matthew Janzen or Paul Herring who both are Torah observant.
if you havent found out already, christians in general are gonna be hostile to ideas like this
Elohim is Being, and the source of being. Adonai and the Divine Ruach are Elohim expressing Being in creation. Wisdom is the human mind's reflection upon Being.
At the appointed time, Adonai became flesh as the man Jesus to offer a new kind of being. And all who will open their hearts to him are born to that new being by the Divine Ruach.