The Forgotten Christ 02

Jonathan Stephen stood in as chairman for Stephen Clark in the second session, held in the early evening of the first day. Philip Eveson (LTS) spoke on The inner or psychological life of Christ. This fascinating subject really stimulated our thinking. The paper began with some ground work on the one person and two natures, more on the communicatio, the wills of Christ, kenosis, enhypostasia (!) and the matter of Christ’s self-consciousness. Most interestingly Mr E argued for taking Owen’s view that it was the Spirit who enabled Christ to do what he did rather than accepting any idea of communication between the Christ's natures. The second part of the paper looked at the fascinating subjects of Christ’s mental, moral, emotional and spiritual development.
Our group was asked how a clearer appreciation of Jesus’ human development and psychological life can help us. I reported on our 8 suggestions –
1. Assures of God’s sympathy 2. Gives an example of Scripture study and application 3. Of use to children and others 4. And people undergoing change 5. Urges us to take up our cross 6. Reminds us to pray and work 7. Reminds us that even a perfect man gets tired, hungry, disappointed, etc 8. Stirs to worship.
Other groups looked, among other things, at Grudem’s idea of interpenetration in Christ’s natures (many wanted to reject this); at God’s impassability; at Christ’s impeccability; at fear legitimate and illegitimate; at Christ’s vulnerability; at the difference between fallibility and finitude.

We were free after the evening meal and a very good first day.