Identification

• The meaning of Christology originates from Christian doctrine as laid out within the Bible, according to Religious Facts, a Christian-based resource site. Christology focuses on the historical aspects of Jesus Christ in terms of his role as a human being, his role as the Messiah, his role as God's son and his role as the human manifestation of God. Through the work of Christian theologians, materials from the Bible and accounts from scholars who lived around the time of Jesus, Christology examines him personally, his ascribed purpose and his place is history.
  
  

Human Aspect

• The study of Jesus Christ as a person who actually existed is a topic of study within Christology. Biblical and historical accounts record his birth in Bethlehem somewhere between 7 and 4 B.C. The Gregorian Calendar uses the time of Jesus Christ as a central point that differentiates B.C. (before Christ) from A.D. (after Christ). Another issue regarding him as a person concerns his role as the "Son of Man." This reference is made by Jesus in the New Testament a total of 81 times, according to Religious Facts. Within the scriptures, issues surrounding salvation and judgment are associated with his role as Son of Man.
  
  

Messiah Aspect

• Jesus Christ's role as the Messiah is an aspect of Christology emphasized within the New Testament, the book Acts, and the Pauline epistles, according to Bible.org. In the Greek language, the word "Christ" actually means Messiah, or "anointed one." This points to Jesus' role as a savior to the world, which is made in reference to salvation, which grants freedom from sin, guilt and shame. As the Messiah, Christ brought the message of salvation through his teachings, and the means for salvation through his death and resurrection. Within the Old Testament, the spilling of animal blood was required for pardon from sin. Christ's death represented the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all people.
  
  

Descendant Aspect

• Christology studies also address the ancestral lineage of Jesus Christ in terms of his human and divine origins, according to Religious Facts. Prophetic references contained in the Old and New Testament accounts make note of his descending from King David, a prominent figure within the Old Testament. In terms of his divine origins, Christ takes on the title "Son of God" as a descendant of the deity. Within these roles, Christ is portrayed as the successor to King David as well as the ruler of a new age of peace within God's kingdom on Earth.
  
  

Divine Aspect

• Christ's role as a deity is another meaning used to define him within Christological studies. According to Religious Facts, reference to this role is explicit in the New Testament at the start of the Gospel of John--"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In Jewish theology, the title of "Lord" is synonymous with God, and is carried over into the New Testament's portrayal of Christ. And though Jewish theology does not view Jesus Christ in this light, its use within the New Testament carries the same connotations.