Gnostic and Jesus’ Humanity
Several times in her Sacred Power, Sacred Space (Oxford), Jeanne Halgren Kilde makes odd comments about the gnostic emphasis on Jesus’ humanity. Like this: “Although Gnostics had struggled mightily to emphasize Jesus’ humanity, the concept of the holy Trinity, and with it the divinity of Christ, became orthodox. Yet the Gnostics succeeded in the extent to which the awe-inspiring churches encouraged personal encounters with a spiritual being.”
This displays ignorance of the most basic elements of Christology. Of course, yes, “the divinity of Christ” became “orthodox,” but so too the humanity. You know, that “who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate” stuff.
There are eery similarities between Kilde’s claims and those of Dan Brown.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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