“Jesus | Christ” or “Jesus—Christ”? Robert Funk vis-à-vis Edward Schillebeeckx on the Link Between the Historical “Jesus” and Faith in Him as the “Christ”

Authors

• Julius-Kei Kato

Abstract

This article examines the validity of the most succinct Christian confession of faith expressed in the name “Jesus Christ” (Hesu-Kristo in Filipino), which affirms that “Jesus,” the teacher-healer from Nazareth, is recognized and trusted as “the Christ,” God’s chosen Messiah. It investigates whether there is a coherent and continuous connection between “Jesus” and “Christ” (rendered as “Jesus—Christ”) or whether significant points of tension and discontinuity remain (expressed as “Jesus | Christ”). The study engages the theology of Edward Schillebeeckx, who argues for a necessary and intrinsic unity between the historical Jesus and the proclaimed Christ of faith. It then compares this position with that of Robert Funk, founder of the Jesus Seminar, who presents a view that emphasizes a substantial divide between the two. Through this dialogue, the article assesses the coherence of the Christian confession and its implications for contemporary Christology.

Recommended Citation

Kato, Julius-Kei (2023) "“Jesus | Christ” or “Jesus—Christ”? Robert Funk vis-à-vis Edward Schillebeeckx on the Link Between the Historical “Jesus” and Faith in Him as the “Christ”," Landas: Vol. 35: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://archium.ateneo.edu/landas/vol35/iss1/2