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| Neuschwanstein Castle-trekearth |
Omnipotence
Otto Weber suggests God has unlimited capacity[1]
and unrestricted will.[2] God is unrestricted in what he determines
within self and outside of self.[3] Presbyterian theologian John M. Frame admits
the term omnipotence is not in Scripture,[4]
but reasons the concept is Biblical.[5] He deduces that based on the Bible, it is
impossible for anything to occur outside of what God has willed to happen.[6]
(2024 note: Philosophically and theologically, I reason that God's eternal, infinite nature and attributes are never contradictory and/or illogical. By this I mean God cannot cease to exist, or create another infinite God, as examples. Omnipotence would be an aspect of divine, infinite nature)
Sola Scriptura
Weber
reasons the Reformation standard of sola
scriptura firmly upheld Reformed
views against counter propositions.[7] The Scripture is authoritative because it is
the vehicle by which the Holy Spirit speaks, and therefore has divine
authority.[8] The Bible is the product of the
Christian community that produced it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.[9] As Anglican Rowan Williams states,
‘Revelation is the statement of God’s autonomy.’[10] God explains who he is and becomes his own
‘alter ego’ as Christ.[11] Roman
Catholic theologian Alan Schreck states his Church agrees that the Bible is the
inspired word of God,[12]
but does not believe that the Bible is the only source of Revelation and
spiritual guidance for Christians.[13] A dividing point between Protestants and
Catholics comes with Schreck’s idea that God within Catholic thought continues
to select certain individuals that teach with God’s authority through the Holy
Spirit.[14] Protestant and those within the Reformed camp
have, at times throughout history disagreed, with the Biblical and theological
interpretations of certain Roman Catholic leaders, in particular the Pope,[15]
believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.[16]
Christology
Weber
explains that only God could bring peace to God and humanity, and this takes
place through Christ.[17] Christ stood completely with human beings and
yet was God.[18] Thiessen suggests that ‘no exact
psychological analysis of the unique personality of Christ is possible.’[19] Jürgen Moltmann (1993) admits there is a
mystery in regard to Christ and his incarnation.[20] here is a mysterious incarnation of God into
a reality that is ‘temporal, decaying, transitory existence in which men live
and die.’[21] The eternal presence of God somehow in the
incarnation exists among persons as God takes on ‘transitory, mortal being’ in order
to become and cause humanity to become ‘intransitory’[22]
and immortal, never facing death once again.[23] The New Testament depicts Christ as full
deity with full divine power, and at the same time presents him as having the
results of human finitude and mortality.[24] His deity should not be asserted in a
way that negates his humanity and vice-versa.[25] Christ is equal to the Father in essence and
nature as God,[26]
and yet as human being he submitted to the Father in order to accomplish his
earthly mission. Jesus Christ has a
determination to be God, our God, and to be the reconciler of the world.[27]
[1] Weber (1955)(1981:
440).
[2] Weber (1955)(1981:
440).
[3] Weber (1955)(1981:
440).
[4] Frame (2002: 515).
[5] Frame (2002: 515).
[6] Frame (2002: 518).
Weber (1955)(1981: 440).
[7] Weber (1955)(1981:
113-114).
[8] Franke (2005: 150). Lindsell (1976:
28-40).
[9] Franke (2005: 151). Lindsell (1976:
28-40).
[10] Williams (2007:
116).
[11] Williams (2007:
116).
[12] Schreck (1984:
41).
[13] Schreck (1984: 42). Strictly speaking as noted, those in
Reformed theology do trust in non-Biblical truths for spiritual guidance. Calvin admitted this in the context of
Scripture and tradition. Calvin
(1543)(1996: 64). I should also add that any reliance on
philosophy and philosophy of religion is not strictly Biblical and I and
many Reformed scholars look to
philosophy for truth.
[14] Schreck (1984: 42).
[15] Calvin explains,
within The Bondage and Liberation of the
Will, his opinion that at that point in history the Papacy was beyond
Reform. Calvin (1543)(1996: 17).
[16] Schreck (1984: 42).
[17] Weber (1955)(1981:
383).
[18] Weber (1955)(1981:
383).
[19] Thiessen (1956:
305). J.S. Whale explains that Christ is
unique and to explain him leaves one in paradoxes. Whale (1958: 106).
[20] Moltmann (1993:
88). Christ has two natures in one
person and there is an attempt to correlate the human and divine in Christ, but
it remains a mystery. Whale (1958: 105).
[21] Moltmann (1993:
88).
[22] Moltmann (1993:
88). Lasting forever.
[23] Moltmann (1993:
88).
[24] Franke (2005: 72).
[25] Franke (2005: 72).
[26] Bavinck
(1918)(2006 : 276 Volume 2). Barth
(1932-1968: 371).
[27] Williams (2007:
130).
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BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 2: God and Creation, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.
