Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 29:2 (Summer 2025)
Article: Editorial: Christological Reflections: Biblical And Historical
Author: Stephen J. Wellum

Editorial: Christological Reflections: Biblical And Historical

Stephen J. Wellum

Stephen J. Wellum is Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and editor of Southern Baptist Journal of Theology. He received his PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and he is the author of numerous essays and articles and the co-author with Peter Gentry of Kingdom through Covenant, 2nd edition (Crossway, 2018) and God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology (Crossway, 2015); the co-editor of Progressive Covenantalism (B&H Academic, 2016); the author of God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of the Person of Christ (Crossway, 2016) and Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior (Zondervan, 2017); the co-author of Christ from Beginning to End: How the Full Story of Scripture Reveals the Full Glory of Christ (Zondervan, 2018); and the author of The Person of Christ: An Introduction (Crossway, 2021), Systematic Theology: From Canon to Concept, vol. 1 (B&H Academic, 2024), and It is Finished (Union, 2025).

At a crucial turning point in Jesus’ ministry, he asked his disciples the famous question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matt 16:13). Indeed, the answer to this question is the most important answer that can be given to any question. Why? For this simple yet profound reason: Our Lord Jesus Christ is nothing less than the eternal Son, the second person of the Godhead, who has assumed our human nature and as such, utterly unique in his person and work. In fact, apart from Christ’s work for us, there is no salvation, life, and eternal joy since he alone is Lord and Savior. As such, apart from a proper articulation, confession, and faith in him alone we stand under his judgment, and there is no hope for us in this life and the life to come.

In light of Scripture’s teaching and the confessional orthodoxy of the church regarding who Jesus is and what he has done for us, there is no greater need for the church today than to think rightly and deeply about Jesus biblically,

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theologically, and in light of church history. The life and health of the church are directly dependent on a sound and faithful Christology, rooted and grounded in an accurate theology proper. Yet, it must also be stressed, the church does not merely need an accurate Christology confessed, but also one that leads us to faith, trust, and confidence in our Lord Jesus, and an entire life lived in adoration, praise, and obedience to him.

Again, why this is so should be obvious to us if we have understood what Scripture teaches regarding our triune God in the face of the incarna...