Abstract:
In this study an argument is made for reopening the debate on one of the
most central and crucial confessions of Christianity, namely 'Jesus is
God'. In current Christological research there is an apparent discepancy
concerning the divinity of Jesus if the results of recent historical Jesus
research is compared with the Constantine Confessions (Nicea and Chalcedon).
Moreover, prominent scholars today point out that there are
traces of a process of development within the writings of the New Testament
that can boil down to a possible 'process of divinization' of Jesus in
early Christianity. No conclusions concerning these matters are drawn
in this study. The research problem is identified and it is shown that the
theme is highly relevant. Examples are given of multiple and discordant
conclusions of scholars who dealt with this problem in the past. Against
this background, it is argued that sound methodology and criteria are
necessary in trying to reach a justifiable conclusion.
