Scripture reveals that Jesus, from the time of his incarnation, is both fully God and fully man.
The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD produced the Chalcedonian Creed to counter the false explanations of the union of the two natures of Christ and the down-right heretical teachings concerning the incarnation of Christ. Four key statements can be drawn from this creed:
1. Christ is fully (perfectly) God.
2. Christ is fully (perfectly) human.
3. The divine nature and human nature are united in the person of Jesus Christ.
4. Jesus Christ is one person.
These four statements can be placed along each side of a box. This box is the Chalcedonian Box. As long as any teaching, anecdote, or analogy of the person and work of Christ maintains that Jesus is fully God, fully man, one person, with two natures, it lands within this box. When one of these doctrines is distorted, or worse, erased, the teaching lands outside of the box is appropriately labeled a heresy.
Alan Shlemon, a speaker, teacher, and writer, for Stand to Reason, created a slide for a presentation he gave on the incarnation of Christ. At the center of the slide is the Chalcedonian Box with a clipart image of Jesus in the middle of the box. Outside of the box lies DC’s Batman and Superman and Marvel’s the Hulk and Spider-Man.
Wes and Andy discuss this excellent image Shlemon created! Jon Pratt sits like a fly on the wall once again.
How are Batman, Superman, the Hulk, and Spider-Man not good analogies to use to explain how Jesus can be one person with natures? Why does it matter if we are missing the mark of Scripture with these comic book analogies? Also, more importantly, what Christological heresies align with these modern day comic book superhero analogies to let us know that people have actually taught Christ in these throughout history, and in some cases still do!