“Christ-Sophia Lives Today”
The question often raised when I’m leading discussions on expanding divine names and images is “You do believe Jesus is male, don’t you?” At first I tried to give detailed theological explanations, but later simply replied, “I believe Jesus was male, but Jesus is not male, because I believe in the resurrection.”
The image of “Christ-Sophia” awakens us to continual possibilities of resurrection. The resurrection makes “all things new” (Rev. 21:5), including our language. The name “Christ-Sophia” expresses the all-inclusiveness of the Risen One.
“Christ-Sophia” is a divine symbol that makes equal connection between genders and races, providing a model for a community in which all are included as equal partners. Sophia, the Greek word for “Wisdom” in the Christian Scriptures, is a resurrected biblical female divine name. Writers of Christian Scriptures link “Christ,” traditionally a male name, to “Wisdom,” a female divine name in the Hebrew Scriptures. Wisdom (Hokmah in Hebrew) symbolizes creative, redemptive, and healing power. In their efforts to describe this same power in Christ, the apostle Paul and other writers of Christian Scriptures draw from the picture of Wisdom. Paul refers to Christ as “the power of God and the Wisdom (Sophia) of God” (1 Cor. 1:24), and states that Christ “became for us Sophia from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). The book of Proverbs describes Wisdom as the way, the life, and the path (Prv. 4). The writer of the gospel of John refers to Christ as “the way, and the truth, and the life”(John 14:6). An early Christian writer declared Sophia to be the most ancient and appropriate title for Jesus. For a fuller discussion, see my book In Search of the Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive Christology for Liberating Christians.
The name “Christ-Sophia” symbolizes equal connection and shared power. Bringing Christ and Sophia back together in our worship will inspire powerful partnerships that contribute to equity, peace, and justice in our world.
Julie Gerrish and Ayslin Rice sing and accompany “Christ-Sophia Lives Today” at Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran in San Francisco.
Christ-Sophia lives today, Alleluia,
showing us the Truth, the Way, Alleluia!
Free at last, we all can be, Alleluia!
Make the vision plain to see, Alleluia!
Sing we now this blessed morn, Alleluia!
Christ-Sophia’s work is born, Alleluia,
wisdom, justice, liberty, Alleluia!
Come create the jubilee, Alleluia!
Celebrate a bright new life, Alleluia!
Christ-Sophia ends the strife, Alleluia!
Sound the news to every land, Alleluia!
Join together hand in hand, Alleluia!
Christ-Sophia rises glorious, Alleluia!
All creation sings victorious, Alleluia!
Hope springs forth, surprise abounds, Alleluia!
Earth transformed with joy resounds, Alleluia!
Words © Jann Aldredge-Clanton EASTER HYMN
From Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians