Leon Morris Lecture Webinar: Jesus among the gods
Early Christology and the Ancient Theologies of Divinity

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This year’s Leon Morris Lecture will feature our very own Mike Bird on the topic of Jesus among the gods: Early Christology and the Ancient Theologies of Divinity.

We’re looking forward to hosting this lecture via Webinar on Tuesday the 15th of September. Join us as we unpack this thought-provoking topic. There will also be an opportunity to ask your questions with a Q&A session after the lecture.

The early church was unanimous that Jesus was “divine.” The question was and remains, in what sense? Many scholars argue that Jesus was considered divine in the sense imagined by ancient ruler cults, where there was a spectrum of divinity, and divine status was merely awarded based on displays of earthly power. In contrast, this lecture proposes that the ancient world had various categories for divinity, including that of an intrinsic divine nature, and the early church construed Jesus as divine based on his shared being with God. The sense in which Jesus is divine for the early church is explored in relation to Greco-Roman philosophy, Jewish monotheism, and a brief analysis of Phil 2:5-11.

Register below.

Event Details 

About the speaker – Mike Bird 
Michael grew up in Brisbane before joining the Army and serving as a paratrooper, intelligence operator, and then chaplains assistant. It was during his time in the military that he came to faith from a non-Christian background, and soon after felt a call to ministry. He graduated with a BMin from Malyon College (2001) and Honours and PhD from the University of Queensland (2002, 2005). Michael taught New Testament at the Highland Theological College in Scotland (2005-9) before joining Brisbane School of Theology as lecturer in Theology (2010-12). He joined the faculty at Ridley as lecturer in Theology in 2013. 

Michael describes himself as a “biblical theologian” who endeavours to bring together biblical studies and systematic theology. He believes that the purpose of the church is to “gospelize,” that is to preach, promote, and practise the Gospel-story of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remembered by students for his mix of outlandish humour and intellectual rigor, he makes theology both entertaining and challenging.

Michael grew up in Brisbane before joining the Army and serving as a paratrooper, intelligence operator, and then chaplains assistant. It was during his time in the military that he came to faith from a non-Christian background, and soon after felt a call to ministry. He graduated with a BMin from Malyon College (2001) and Honours and PhD from the University of Queensland (2002, 2005). Michael taught New Testament at the Highland Theological College in Scotland (2005-9) before joining Brisbane School of Theology as lecturer in Theology (2010-12). He joined the faculty at Ridley as lecturer in Theology in 2013.

Michael describes himself as a “biblical theologian” who endeavours to bring together biblical studies and systematic theology. He believes that the purpose of the church is to “gospelize,” that is to preach, promote, and practise the Gospel-story of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remembered by students for his mix of outlandish humour and intellectual rigor, he makes theology both entertaining and challenging.

Event Program

**Please note that registrations for the Leon Morris Lecture have been fully booked out. If you would like to receive a recording of the lecture following the event, please enter your details below.**

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