Resurrection and Reality: In Dialogue with T.F. Torrance

This thesis argues that the resurrection of Jesus determines reality for humanity and all creation. His resurrection does so because he is the incarnate Son of God. As the creator become creature, his human life, death, resurrection and ascension affirms and redeems creation. The person of Jesus is the subject of the resurrection and ascension, and thus his nature determines their meaning. Accordingly, the central concept of this thesis is the hypostatic union. In the incarnation, the eternal Son of God united human nature to himself by the Holy Spirit. As Chalcedon states, his divine and human natures are united in the one person without confusion, conversion, division, or separation. As such, all the moments of Jesus’ incarnate life are to be understood as fully human and fully divine. This thesis shows forth the implications of this for his resurrection and ascension, his mediation of reconciliation, and our eschatological hope. In particular, Jesus’ ascension means that the new reality determined by his resurrection is both veiled until his return and being made actual here and now by the Holy Spirit. The Trinitarian relations of Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the key to understanding both this and how the two natures of Jesus are related. Thinking through these relations in the details of Jesus’ life elucidates the non-competitive relationship between divine and human agency in his incarnate life and in our participation in him