The New Testament in the Modern Church Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

The New Testament in the Modern Church - Essay Example t times and contexts have approached the subject from many different angles but they all have the same aim of reflecting on the subject systematically. Christology aims to â€Å"clarify the essential truths about him, it investigates his person and being and work† . (O’Collins, 1994, p. 1), It is accepted by all that humans can never fully comprehend the mystery of God, but equally it has always been a key mission of the Church to study, and to teach key elements of the faith in a way which is at least partially evident to believers, and as far as possible relevant to each successive historical period and social context. Johnson’s work is a good example of a contemporary theologian’s earnest attempts to get to grips with major issues like oppression of the poor and gender inequality, showing how and where the Church could and should evolve its mission to deal with these difficult challenges in the modern world. She identifies Christology as a starting poin t for discussion of these themes, arguing that hidden aspects of his being should be brought forward and that this process will prove especially relevant to the modern world. This paper will explore the strategies of interpretation that Johnson uses to present Jesus as â€Å"Sophia’s child, who communicates her gracious goodness by befriending the outcast, who communicates her prophetic message, and who proves her right or justifies her though he is severely criticized by others.† (Fox, 2001, p. 127) It will look first at Johnson’s starting point for this line of study, and then her use of Jewish traditions and Hellenistic influences, followed by her use of Patristic authorities through the ages. Finally Johnson’s use of modern social sciences will be outlined, including historical and and socio-political techniques so that a full picture of her methods of interpretation can be gained, as well as an appreciation of how effective she is in sustaining these claims about Jesus. Elizabeth A. Johnson is