Spirit Christology : an Indian Christian perspective

The theologians of the early church sought to interpret the Christian gospel in the \ncategories of `Mediterranean antiquity. ' The classical two-nature model of Christology \nhas a Greek philosophical underpinning that shapes the ontological construction of the \ndeity and humanity of Jesus Christ. Logos Christology is primarily a reflection on the \nhypostatic union of the Logos with the human reality of Jesus that leaves little place for a \nconsideration of Jesus' relation to the Holy Spirit. In the light of such a limitation in \nclassical Christology, a study of the relationship between Christology and pneumatology \nbecomes very significant. In this regard, the recent resurgence of Spirit Christology in the \nWest adds a new dimension to contemporary Christological reflection. The theologians \nwho are engaged in this pursuit are of the view that Christological reflection is incomplete \nwithout reflecting upon pneumatology and vice versa. \nThis study identifies in particular at least three approaches in the contemporary European \nSpirit Christologies, namely, reconstruction, replacement and complementary approaches. \nNorman Hook attempts to reconstruct Christ, Spirit and the Trinity from the perspective of \nthe Hebrew understanding of the Spirit. G. W. H. Lampe, by using the symbol God as \nSpirit replaces Logos Christology with a Spirit Christology. Jürgen Moltmann, John D. \nZizioulas and David Coffey seek ways to complement Logos Christology with Spirit \nChristology. \nWhile not denying the contributions of reconstruction and replacement approaches, this \nstudy adopts the complementary approach and shows that Spirit Christology not only \nenriches systematic theology but also is relevant to an Indian context. This is done by \nbringing the insights of two Indian theologians Pandipeddi Chenchiah and Swami \nAbhishiktänanda, who emphasise the centrality of the Spirit, in interaction with the \nstrengths of Spirit Christology. \nThe study ends in offering a chapter on `understanding Jesus Christ in India' using the \nHindu concepts of Spirit that are expressed in the terms such as atman, antaryämin, Sakti \nand änanda. Drawing on some of the resources of Spirit Christology, it is argued that \nthese concepts can explicate, illuminate and evoke some latent aspects of Christology.