Could Jesus have sinned?

[RichardE]

From a blog I read

Early this morning, I read an article in the Forward magazine that tackled the most difficult of questions: Could Jesus sin? Two professors, having the same basic theological understandings, presented differing opinions on this question.

David Norris, a professor of biblical theology at Urshan Graduate School of Theology says, "To say that Jesus could not have sinned is really to suggest that Jesus was not truly tempted. Yet, when the book of Hebrews says that Jesus was 'tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin,' the underlying Greek suggests that this temptation was both real and sustained. Some suggest that since Jesus is God, and He who is God cannot sin, Jesus could not have sinned. But the Incarnation breaks through these kinds of categories. For instance, God cannot die, yet He who was God died. God cannot be tempted, yet He who was God was tempted. James 1:13 Hebrews 4:15."

Daniel Segraves, president of Christian Life College in Stockton, California and an adjunct professor at Urshan Graduate School of Theology takes the opposing view. "The answer to the question, 'Could Jesus have sinned,' is determined by His identify. If Jesus had been only human, He could have sinned. But He was not only human; He was also God, and God cannot sin. To say that Jesus could have sinned is to say that God could have sinned. Various words are used in Scripture to describe sin, but all of them involve some kind of unfaithfulness to God. Since Christ is God manifest in flesh, 'He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself' II Timothy 2:13b NKJV "

Quite the question, is it not? This much is sure: We who know Jesus, have been admitted into a supernatural realm, whose apperception and full understanding is impossible with these finite, though magnificent, minds we possess.

I conclude this writing with Daniel Segraves' final paragraph. "The Incarnation is a mystery, for it is the greatest miracle ever to occur. From the standpoint of our limited human understanding, for God to be manifest in the flesh involves certain tensions. We cannot explain miracles; we accept them, including the tensions inherent in them, by faith."

I know it is another example of the bible contradicting itself, I found this one to be a little more substantial. The main reasoning of why I though this to be more substantial, was this would fit into a theory that Jesus was a prophet (ordinary man who can sin and be tempted) rather than a re-incarnation of god within the holy trinity.

 

[Kenazo]

I suspect he would have had to been able to, in order to be fully human, however in keeping with the divinity of God he could not have sinned.

 

[daniel49]

yes, how else would he understand mans state (if he had not experienced what if was like to be tempted) , and why else would the bible show him as being tempted?

 

[CSMR]

Originally posted by: RichardEI know it is another example of the bible contradicting itself

Where is a contradiction? Nothing even mentions the bible in what you have quoted.

I found this one to be a little more substantial. The main reasoning of why I though this to be more substantial, was this would fit into a theory that Jesus was a prophet (ordinary man who can sin and be tempted) rather than a re-incarnation of god within the holy trinity.

The temptation of Jesus would fit that theory, and it also would fit the other theory that Jesus was in fact as trinitarian docrtrine describes him.

Now as for the debate, which is along completely different lines to your comments, the word "could" needs to be defined. Norris's argument while it brings up some interesting points falls at the word "could". It is possible that some other hypothetical possibility is being considered but I think he seems to be assuming that the notion of sin and virtue described by the "free will" school is correct. In any case the nature of the hypothetical would need to be made explicit before any such statement about what could have been the case can be accepted.

 

[maluckey]

I know it is another example of the bible contradicting itself, I found this one to be a little more substantial. The main reasoning of why I though this to be more substantial, was this would fit into a theory that Jesus was a prophet (ordinary man who can sin and be tempted) rather than a re-incarnation of god within the holy trinity.

In order to be a re-incarnation, there has to be a situation where the Christian/Hebrew god was incarnate. The Christian Messiah is supposed to be the first time that this has happened. It was designed to allow their god to see first hand, a mortal humans life through their own eyes. All emotions and physical conditions were permitted, to include suffering and death.

I can see a menu at a restaurant, feel hungry, yet do nothing about it and continue on my day and forget about it. Did I order?...no...did it ruin my day?...no. One can do the same for any emotion or action tempting oneself.