Scripture communicates the truth of the eternal generation of the...
Mike Riccardi@MikeRiccardi_
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Jul 28, 2024
~3 min read
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Scripture communicates the truth of the eternal generation of the Son—
the concepts of consubstantiality and fromness—
not only by the use of the terms 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘰̄ and 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦̄𝘴,
but also by the use of different figures as well: radiance, image, and Word. (1/13)
the concepts of consubstantiality and fromness—
not only by the use of the terms 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘰̄ and 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦̄𝘴,
but also by the use of different figures as well: radiance, image, and Word. (1/13)
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The author of Hebrews begins his letter similar to how John begins his Gospel.
John says there was an eternal 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 who is only begotten 𝘚𝘰𝘯. Hebrews says in these last days God has spoken (i.e., His 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥) to us in His 𝘚𝘰𝘯. (2/)
John says there was an eternal 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 who is only begotten 𝘚𝘰𝘯. Hebrews says in these last days God has spoken (i.e., His 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥) to us in His 𝘚𝘰𝘯. (2/)
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John says without Him was not anything 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 that has been made. Hebrews says, through this Son God 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 the world.
And in that context, it says, “And He [the Son] is the 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 of [the Father’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Heb 1:3). (3/)
And in that context, it says, “And He [the Son] is the 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 of [the Father’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Heb 1:3). (3/)
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The Son is the 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 of the Father’s nature, the exact representation of His Father’s nature. That is, He is 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 with the Father.
But He is also the 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 of the Father’s glory, which implies 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. (4/)
But He is also the 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 of the Father’s glory, which implies 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. (4/)
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Both the Father and the Son shine in identical divine glory, but the Son’s shining somehow proceeds from the Father’s shining.
Scott Swain describes it this way: “Just as light naturally radiates its brightness, so too God naturally radiates his Son.” (5/)
Scott Swain describes it this way: “Just as light naturally radiates its brightness, so too God naturally radiates his Son.” (5/)
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In other words, both Sonship & “radiance” denote consubstantiality and fromness.
This is what the Creed (381) means when it confesses faith in “the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God 𝘰𝘧 God, Light 𝘰𝘧 Light, very God 𝘰𝘧 very God…” (6/)
This is what the Creed (381) means when it confesses faith in “the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God 𝘰𝘧 God, Light 𝘰𝘧 Light, very God 𝘰𝘧 very God…” (6/)
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Paul points to these same truths of consubstantiality and fromness when he calls Christ the 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 of the invisible God (Col 1:15). (7/)
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He is not the Father, but He is the perfect reproduction of Him: His image. All that the Father is, the Son is (consubstantiality)—just as the image reflected back to you in a mirror is not modified or altered in any way. (8/)
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But the Son is what He is by virtue of what He 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 from the Father (fromness)—just as an image is distinct and derivative from what it represents. (9/)
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And in fact, John means to communicate this same truth in John 1 by calling the Son the 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 of God.
God’s Word is as God Himself, which is why 1 Samuel 3:21 says that “Yahweh appeared…at Shiloh…by the word of Yahweh.” If the Word appears, Yahweh appears. (10/)
God’s Word is as God Himself, which is why 1 Samuel 3:21 says that “Yahweh appeared…at Shiloh…by the word of Yahweh.” If the Word appears, Yahweh appears. (10/)
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Similarly, Ps 138:2: “You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” Yahweh’s Word is as His own name—His own character, or nature. Consubstantiality.
And yet, God’s Word 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 from His mouth (Isa 55:11). His Word is uttered 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Him. Fromness. (11/)
And yet, God’s Word 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 from His mouth (Isa 55:11). His Word is uttered 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Him. Fromness. (11/)
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To sum up: From before the foundation of the world, the Father eternally communicated the fullness of the whole divine essence to the Son,
in this incomprehensible, inexpressible act, internal to the life of the Triune God Himself,
which we call: eternal generation. (12/)
in this incomprehensible, inexpressible act, internal to the life of the Triune God Himself,
which we call: eternal generation. (12/)
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This is what it means for the second person of the Trinity to be
radiance (Heb 1:3),
image (Col 1:15),
Word (John 1:1, 14),
𝘚𝘰𝘯 (John 1:14; 3:16). (13/13)
radiance (Heb 1:3),
image (Col 1:15),
Word (John 1:1, 14),
𝘚𝘰𝘯 (John 1:14; 3:16). (13/13)