Abstract
An undeniable merit of contemporary theology is the Christological appreciation of the significance of Jesus’ earthly history. Of particular importance appears the Christology of obedience in the thought of Hans Urs von Balthasar, one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century. H.U. von Balthasar attempts to portray Christ’s obedience by means of inextricably interconnected terms: claim – poverty – expropriation – obedience of the cross. The divine authority is manifest in Jesus’ claim. This, coupled with the Son of God’s fullness of power (p. 1) is revealed in the powerlessness of Jesus’ poverty (p. 2) including the abandonment (i.e. expropriation), synonymous with His whole existence as the one unconditionally entrusted to the Father. It is the Father who imparts to the aforementioned existence its ultimate form (p. 3), which is demonstrated by Christ’s obedience unto death on the cross (p. 4). Christ, who followed the path of obedience till the very end, is resurrected from the dead and elevated by the Father.