THE ROLE OF CHRIST IN JON SOBRINO'S LIBERATION THEOLOGY: ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR BLACK THEOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA By: Dr. Moeahabo P. Moila [This article is available on the Internet at https://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archivefiles/BtMay89.1015.2296.003.001.May1989.5.pdf.]
Christology is a historical problem. The problem is as old as the Christian faith itself. Both New Testament and church history present to us a variety of interpretations of Jesus as saviour. Thus the history of christological controversies is long and complex. In other words there is no one normative christology but various christologies.
The source of this problem is twofold: Whereas all these christologies want to defend the truth of Christ, they differ radically in their interpretations of Jesus as savior and in their perception of the human predicament or lostness. For instance the notion of Jesus as savior means the word of judgement and forgiveness for Barth, Thielicke and Frei; the end of history for Pannenberg; a New Being who overcomes estrangement for Tillich and Gilkey; a new creation in whom all creatures are restored for Cobb, Knitter, Wingren; liberator of the oppressed for Sobrino, SchOssler, Fiorenza, Ruether, and Metz; and God's way of ruling in the world: king for Schillebeeckx
Further, theologians differ in their interpretation of the human predicament. It means unbelief, separation from transcendence for Barth, Thielicke and Frei; hopelessness, loss of historical