Jesus’ Concept of God and Later Christian Theology

A Historical Reading from the Universal Fatherhood of God to the Doctrine of Adoption

What was at the heart of Jesus’ message? In what kind of relationship does a human being stand before God? The answer to this question shapes the very foundation of Christian theology.

In my reading, Jesus’ primary emphasis is the universal fatherhood of God and His unconditional love for all human beings. However, in certain New Testament writings and in the subsequent theological tradition of the Church, this message was later interpreted within new conceptual frameworks. As a result, a theological vocabulary emerged that differs in emphasis from the original proclamation of Jesus.

The God of Jesus is the Father of All

Jesus begins the prayer he taught his disciples with the words “Our Father.” God is presented not merely as a sovereign ruler or a judicial authority, but as a Father.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus says:

“Your Father causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Here, God’s love transcends all religious and moral boundaries. Divine mercy is extended equally to all.

What Does the Parable of the Prodigal Son Teach?

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is one of the most significant passages on this theme.

The son departed, sinned, and distanced himself from his father. Yet the father never ceased to regard him as his son.

When the son returned, the father did not declare, “From now on you are my son.”

Instead, he welcomed him with the recognition that he had always been his son.

From this perspective, repentance does not create a new status as a child of God; rather, it represents the rediscovery and restoration of a relationship that has always existed.

The Message of Jesus and the Language of Paul

In the letters of Paul, the concept of “adoption” becomes prominent.

Paul’s historical mission was distinct. He sought to explain how Jews and Gentiles could be incorporated into a single people of God.

Within that framework, he employed the Roman legal metaphor of “adoption.”

This terminology is not the language of Jesus’ parables; rather, it reflects a theological framework developed in the early Church to articulate its experience.

The New Emphasis in the Gospel of John

John states:

“To all who received him, he gave the power to become children of God.”

This verse is often interpreted as indicating that a person becomes a child of God through faith.

However, it may also be understood differently.

In this reading, “becoming children of God” does not signify a change into a new biological or ontological condition; rather, it refers to the conscious recognition and acceptance of an existing relationship with God.

From the Message of Jesus to the Theology of the Church

From a historical perspective, the message of Jesus was primarily an experiential reality.

Later, the Church employed the language of Jewish covenant theology and Roman legal concepts to interpret and systematize that experience.

In this process, the experiential language of the “fatherhood of God” gradually gave way to the more formal theological language of “adoption.”

Some regard this as a natural and necessary development in the history of Christian doctrine.

Others, however, raise the question:

Did this development obscure the original emphasis of Jesus?

The Need for Re-reading

At the center of Jesus’ message is not the incorporation of individuals into a new religious system, but their return to their true Father.

God is not a Father who loves only some; He is a Father who loves all equally.

The goal of the human spiritual journey is not to become a child of God, but to recognize and live in the reality that one is already a child of God.

Not everyone will accept this interpretation. However, I present it as an invitation to distinguish between the historical message of Jesus and the later theological development within Christianity.

I believe that continued dialogue on this subject will contribute to a deeper understanding of Jesus.

Christianity Back to Jesus

A call to rediscover the true message of Jesus beyond the layers of history

Introduction

When we trace the history of Christianity backward, we arrive at its beginning in the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus strongly taught about the Kingdom of God, love, forgiveness, compassion, and the inner transformation of human beings. In the religious and social context of his time, his message was experienced by many as a new light. He emphasized service over authority, love over law, and purity of heart over external rituals.

From Jesus to the Christian Movement

When people saw the life and work of Jesus, many believed he was the promised Messiah. However, his crucifixion shattered that expectation. Later, the experience and belief that Jesus had risen again gave his disciples new courage. That belief became the foundation for the formation of the Christian community.

Separation from Judaism and the Formation of a New Identity

In the beginning, the followers of Jesus still saw themselves as part of Judaism. However, over time, the divide between the Jewish community and the followers of Jesus grew. Eventually, they separated from the Jewish community.

This separation raised new questions about their identity. In response, early Christian leaders presented various theological interpretations. They explained that the Church is the new people of God, that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross fulfills the temple sacrifices, and that the New Testament completes the Old Testament. In that historical context, these ideas played a major role in establishing the identity of the Church.

Christianity as an Imperial Religion

Later, Christianity gained recognition from the Roman Empire and spread throughout the world. As it entered different cultures and languages, the theology of the Church developed further and became more complex. Various creeds and doctrines gradually became central to the life of the Church.

The Fundamental Question Today

Today we must ask a fundamental question:

Is the center of our faith the life and teachings of Jesus, or the later theological interpretations about him?

The heart of Jesus’ teachings is love of God, love of neighbor, love of enemies, forgiveness, humility, justice, compassion, and peace. These values remain relevant for all people in every age. At the same time, it can also be considered that some theological formulations of the first century were shaped within a specific historical context. Therefore, understanding them in their historical background while bringing the core message of Jesus back to the center may be beneficial for the Church today.

The Path to Unity

Today Christianity is divided into hundreds of denominations. Many of these divisions are not about the ethical teachings of Jesus, but about later doctrinal developments and their interpretations.

If churches can be more willing to accept the life and teachings of Jesus as a common foundation, there is greater potential for unity among them.

Dialogue with Other Religions

Many disagreements between Christianity and Judaism or Islam are not about the teachings of love and compassion of Jesus, but mainly about theological claims concerning his identity and mission.

Therefore, if Christianity can give greater importance to the universal moral message of Jesus, it can create a stronger foundation for dialogue and mutual respect with other religions.

Conclusion: Back to Jesus Again

The goal of this reflection is not to deny history or reject the tradition of the Church. Rather, it is to listen again to the authentic voice of Jesus beneath the layers of history, and to restore his life and teachings to the center of Christian faith.

Perhaps the future of Christianity does not lie in making its past more complex, but in returning again to its source—Jesus, the life of Jesus, and the teachings of Jesus.