Jesus and the Second Person of the Trinity

[DL82]

God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, took flesh, being born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one person with two natures in hypostatic union, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man.

So is Jesus the same as the Second Person of the Trinity? Can all the propositional statements that are true of Jesus be said equally truly of the Second Person of the Trinity? If not, then how can the fullness of that divine Person dwell in Jesus?

For example, is it true to say:
The Second Person of the Trinity was circumcised on the eighth day.

The Second Person of the Trinity was obedient to Mary and Joseph.

The Second Person of the Trinity spat on the ground to make paste to heal a man’s eyes.

The Second Person of the Trinity needed Simon of Cyrene to help Him carry the weight of the Cross.

The Second Person of the Trinity died on the Cross.

The Second Person of the Trinity was buried.

The Second Person of the Trinity descended to the underworld.

All of these statements are true of Jesus in the gospels or the creed. If they cannot also be said of the Second Person, then in what way is Jesus different from the divinity that dwells in Him in His fullness?

This question has been on my mind for a while, I am hoping the answer will help me understand my faith, and my Saviour, better.

Blessings,

 

[DavidFilmer]

On earth, Jesus had a human body (like us). It would thus be more correct to say that “the human body of the Second Person of the Trinity did so-and-so” (except for the one about going to the underworld).

The Second Person was present in that human body, just as our soul is present in ours. But we don’t say that our soul went to the store (although we do say “how many souls are on board” a ship or airplane in distress).

 

[JimG]

“The Second Person of the Trinity died on the Cross.”

Let me just use the above statement as a starting point.
The statement is true. How can that be?
Actions are attributed to persons, not to natures, although it is the nature by which a person acts.

Jesus is one person, who acts using two natures. Jesus is God. How can a divine person die?

To answer that, we have to consider what is death? Humanly speaking, death is the separation of human body and soul as a result of illness or injury.

Jesus suffered death. His human body was separated from his human soul, in death. His human body was buried.

That doesn’t mean that the Second Person of the Trinity ceased to exist. The Second Person of the Trinity continued to act, in his divine nature, as God.

The Second Person of the Trinity could only die on the cross because he assumed a human nature.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Though a bit wordy, all your statements concerning the Second Person of the Trinity are quite orthodox.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 468:
Thus everything in Christ’s human nature is to be attributed to his divine person as its proper subject, not only his miracles but also his sufferings and even his death: “He who was crucified in the flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, is true God, Lord of glory, and one of the Holy Trinity.”

 

[JimG]

Though a bit wordy, all your statements concerning the Second Person of the Trinity are quite orthodox.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 468:
Thus everything in Christ’s human nature is to be attributed to his divine person as its proper subject, not only his miracles but also his sufferings and even his death: “He who was crucified in the flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, is true God, Lord of glory, and one of the Holy Trinity.”

The Catechism is more succinct!