Session 10: WCF Chapter II Of God, and of the Holy Trinity, Section 3

CHAPTER II - Of God, and of the Holy Trinity 3. In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, not proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Ontological Trinity vs. the Economic Trinity “Ontology” – The study of existence and being. The “ontological Trinity” refers to the Trinity itself, without reference to God’s works of creation and redemption. The ontological structure of the Trinity is a unity. “Economy” – The study of interaction and exchange. The “economic Trinity” refers to the persons in the Trinity, particularly regarding their different roles (their “personal properties” as WLC 9 states) in God’s works of creation and redemption. The economic structure of the Trinity is three equal persons. The net result: “triunity.” The “Triune” God.

“Dynamic Monarchianism” – A heretical view that Jesus was not in His nature God. God existed in Jesus (as He does in all believers), but particularly powerfully so. “Modalistic Monarchism,” a/k/a “Modalism” or “Sabellianism” – A heretical view that God has variously revealed Himself as the Father (primarily in the Old Testament), other times as the Son (primarily from Jesus’ conception to His ascension), and other times as the Holy Spirit (primarily after Jesus’ ascension into heaven). “Patripassianism” – A heretical view that God the Father became incarnate, suffered, died, and was resurrected. The Father became the Son. https://gotquestions.org/Sabellianism-Modalism-Monarchianism.html

Controversy of the Week!

Why Three Persons? Why does God manifest as three persons, and not one, two, four or more?

Personal Personal Focus Focus

What’s your best analogy for the Trinity?

A Christmas Gift for You...

Zelophehad Escaped Egypt with Moses Did not participate in Korah’s rebellion against Moses Died in the wilderness Left only five daughters: Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah Name would be lost in the tribe of Manassah because he had no son http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters_of_Zelophehad

The Daughters of Zelophehad Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brothers.” Jeremiah 27:1-4

The Daughters of Zelophehad Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the Lord commanded Moses.’” Numbers 27:5-8, 11b

The Daughters of Zelophehad And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying, “The tribe of the people of Joseph is right. This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: ‘Let them marry whom they think best, only they shall marry within the clan of the tribe of their father. The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the people of Israel shall be wife to one of the clan of the tribe of her father, so that every one of the people of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers. Numbers 36:5-8

Israel and Judah Israel split into two kingdoms over King Rehoboam: - the northern kingdom, Israel (ten tribes), and - the southern kingdom, Judah (two tribes) The Assyrians took Israel captive in about 740 BC The Babylonians conquered Judah in about 605 BC Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar killed King Jehoiakim for refusing to pay him tribute Jehoiakim’s son, Jechoniah, succeeded him Only 18 years old Exiled in Babylon after only three months on the throne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeconiah

Jechoniah (a/k/a Jehoiachin or Coniah) Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Ah, my brother!’ or ‘Ah, sister!’ They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Ah, lord!’ or ‘Ah, his majesty!’ With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” Jeremiah 22:18-19

Jechoniah (a/k/a Jehoiachin or Coniah) “As I live, declares the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off and give you into the hand of those who seek your life, into the hand of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. “I will hurl you and the mother who bore you into another country, where you were not born, and there you shall die. But to the land to which they will long to return, there they shall not return.” Jeremiah 22:24-27

Jechoniah (a/k/a Jehoiachin or Coniah) “Is this man Coniah a despised, broken pot, a vessel no one cares for? Why are he and his children hurled and cast into a land that they do not know? O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord: “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.” Jeremiah 22:28-30

Two Amazing Facts 1. Normally, only a son inherits from his father. However, a daughter who has married within her own tribe may inherit from her father if he had no son. The daughter’s husband is considered a son of the father. Jeremiah 27:1-4 Numbers 27:5-11 Numbers 36:5-8 2. God cursed King Jechoniah’s whole bloodline. Jeremiah 22:18-19 Jeremiah 22:24-30

Two Genealogies of Jesus Christ Matthew, a Levite, focuses his gospel on the Messiahship of Jesus Christ, presenting Him as the legal heir of Abraham and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Luke, a physician, focuses his gospel on the humanity of Jesus Christ and presents Him as the Son of Man - Adam.

Matthew’s Genealogy: Matthew 1:2-17 Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah & Tamar Perez Hezron Ram Amminadab Nahshon Salmon & Rahab Boaz & Ruth Obed Jesse David & Bathsheba Solomon Rehoboam Abijah Asaph Jehoshaphat Joram Uzziah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh Amos Josiah Jechoniah (Babylon) Shealtiel Zerubbabel Abiud Eliakim Azor Zadok Achim Eliud Eleazar Matthan Joseph Jesus

Luke’s Genealogy: Luke 3:23-38 God Adam Seth Enos Cainan Mahalaleel Jared Enoch Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem Arphaxad Sala Heber Phalec Ragau Saruch Nachor Thara Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Perez Hezron Arni Admin Amminadab Nahshon Boaz Obed Jesse David Nathan Mattatha Menna Melea Eliakim Jonam Joseph Simeon Levi Matthat Jorim Eliezer Joshua Er Elmadam Cosam Addi Melchi Neri Shealtiel Zerubbabel Rhesa Joanan Joda Josech Semein Mattathias Maath Naggai Esli Nahum Amos Jannai Heli Mary (and Joseph, as was supposed) Jesus 1 Chronicles 3:5

Why a Virgin Conception? Jesus Christ had to comply with the laws of succession but avoid curses and therefore: inherited His membership in the tribe of Judah and the line of David from His mother, Mary, succeeded to the kingly line of David from His legal father, Joseph, but avoided God’s curse on the sons of King Jechoniah by not being Joseph’s offspring (“seed”), also avoided the curse of original sin by not being Adam’s offspring, and further inherited his legal right to be King of Israel from His mother, Mary, by virtue of the Daughters of Zelophehad inheritance exception.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15 (What are the genealogies of Mark and John?)