Abstract:
The basic challenge that readers of the New Testament face is not only about what Jesus
Christ teaches but who he is. Functional Christology has developed at the expense of
ontological Christology. This challenge centres on Jesus Christ’s relevance, in terms of his
identity, not only for Christians in particular but also for creation as a whole. The question
‘who is Jesus Christ in relation to creation?’ is thus of special interest to this study. Various
authors such as Gunton, Gregersen, Peacocke and others have approached this question
from different perspectives. The PhD study by Rabie-Boshoff was completed to shed light
into the context of dialogue between Christian theology and the science of linguistics in an
effort to understand the Genesis 1 creation story. This article refers to part of the study in an
effort to make sense of who Jesus Christ is in relation to creation. This provides consolation
in a time of worldwide lockdown because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
virus. The human struggle of making sense of the world is brought into sharp focus in times
like these, more so in terms of making sense of their creatureliness and mortality. Although
science as a valid knowledge base may provide some answers to this human dilemma,
Christians in particular appeal to the Bible and their belief in Jesus Christ. This turn to Jesus,
and who he is, provides human beings with enduring and satisfying answers to their
suffering and pain.
CONTRIBUTION: This article is an attempt to contribute to the ongoing discussion on creation in
terms of how human beings make sense of creation, considering who Jesus Christ is in relation
to creation. Human beings have always been engaged in a process of making sense of the
world they live in. Ancient cultures provide such a window, allowing a glimpse into how those
cultures perceived their world.
