(Chapter 3 of 'The Existing Christ: towards an Existential Christology'.)

Epistemontological: Existential Christology

In itself existent is existing or having existence. To be existential is to be existing or to be having existence. An existential Christology is a Christology that considers Christ as existing. Existential Christology is not about the historical, temporal Christ of 2,000 years ago. Existential Christology is about Christ actually existing in the existence in which we exist.

Epistemology is about knowledge or understanding. Ontology is about being. Traditionally, epistemology and ontology have been separated, especially in studying as opposed to living. An existential approach calls for the synthesis of epistemology and ontology into epistemontology. Existential is a synthesis of being and knowing or understanding being in actually being. The knowledge is inherent in the being. Epistemontology allows the articulation of a more complete scope of existentialism that extends far back in history. Epistemontological can be expressed as: existential.

The existential Christ is not just the historically existent Christ caught up in temporal flesh during a short life: the existential Christ exists beyond time and space, or temporality. The existential Christ is infinite and eternal: the existential Christ is God existing within human terms but beyond merely temporal being. God is inherent in being or in existing. God is inherent in our being or existing. The creator or creation is inherent in our creation and in our being or existing. All of which is to say that God is within us as Light, as the Word, as the Spirit (of God) in our spiritual creation and being. God within us is Lighting, Wording and Spiriting our mind, spirits and hearts. The specifics of God within us working in us, are God-in-human-terms. It is Christ: infinite and eternal in human terms. Our communion of God is in the reality of Christ.

The following is a useful approach:

in perception, perceiving forms our perceptions

in conception, conceiving forms our conceptions

in utilising(using), using forms our utilization(usage)

in being, being forms our being, or

in existence, existing forms our existence.

The above synthesizes ontological and epistemological into existential. The above are ways and means of forming. In following Christ, we form in Christlikeness. We can follow specifically in perception, conception, usage and in being or existing. In following, our spirit forms from and of the reality of Christ. In forming spiritually, our existing from and of Christ intentionally grasps and possesses: our following coalesces into becoming and being. Christian formation is a spiritual formation that comes to be by God’s grace and by our following Christ. Those who follow other things form from and of other things.

The reality of the infinite and eternal Christ and our being through that reality, speaks to a Christology that is existent or existential. The scope of being Christ is all that is done within Christ by the Christian; that is, everyday things (small and large). In Christ there is no quantity, no great or small, only quality in which the smallest is as much as the greatest.