Why is the Son so called? Answer. Because He was begotten of the Father by a perfect and eternal generation, not to be uttered of man or conceived. And we must be warned not to conceive it in any carnal or human manner. For an earthly father is in time before his son, and the son after. But God the Father and the Son are coeternal, and not one before or after the other for time. An earthly father is forth of [i.e., separate from] the son, and the son forth of the father. But God the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father. An earthly child is from his father by propagation, but the Son is from the heavenly Father not by propagation, but by communication of substance. Lastly, the heavenly Father begets the Son by communication of His whole substance, and so does no earthly father.
William Perkins | The Works of William Perkins, ed. Paul M. Smalley, Joel R. Beeke, and Derek W. H. Thomas, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015), 246.
RESOURCES
- Subscribe To The Heidelblog!
- The Heidelblog Resource Page
- Heidelmedia Resources
- The Ecumenical Creeds
- The Reformed Confessions
- The Heidelberg Catechism
- Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008)
- Why I Am A Christian
- What Must A Christian Believe?
- Heidelblog Contributors
- William Perkins On Justification
- Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to
Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Tony Phelps
Tony grew up in Rhode Island. He was educated at BA (University of Rhode Island) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He worked in the insurance industry for ten years. He planted a PCA church in Wakefield, RI where he served for eleven years. In 2015–18 he pastored Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Colorado Springs. He is currently pastor of Living Hope (OPC). Tony is married to Donna and together they have three children.
More by Tony Phelps ›
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
Jesus called himself Yahweh.
Yes he did. Should we?
Absolutely, we should. Jesus is the second person in the eternal trinity, which is one God, Yahweh.
Why do you suppose that psalm 110 differentiates the names? And Jesus himself references this verse in Matthew
I don’t understand what you mean. This psalm points to Jesus as the all in all. He is the One at the center of God’s eternal purpose, the Son who is coeternal with the Father, at His right hand, on whom the Father bestows the victory, our eternal priest, the center of all prophetic revelation, and the great I AM! The second person of the triune God who is one God, but in three distinct persons.
Yes, it does indeed deep point to Christ. But there is a differentiation in the names. It doesn’t say. LORD and LORD, but LORD and Lord.
The LORD says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
The different names point to the fact of distinction of the person’s of the trinity, who are nonetheless one God in essence, all are one Lord.
Angela,
This is a very important point. I can’t find it right now but somewhere on the HB (I hope) is an article or a chapel talk or something about Ps 110.
There are two personae dramatis (figures in the drama):
Yahweh and Adoni.
Ps 110 is a dialogue between them. Both are divine figures. The NT consistently identifies Adani as Jesus but there is a great mystery as to their relationship until we get to the NT. We learn that Adani is not David. It is Jesus but he consubstantial with Yahweh. In other places in the NT it seems clear that Jesus is Yahweh, because he is consubstantial with him.
Ps 110 is a chiasm, i.e., an intentional parallel like this:
A
B
C
B
A
The only vs without a parallel is v. 4 and it is vv 1 and 4 that the NT picks up especially. Jesus is the ascended prince, for the purposes of this dialogue, placed on the throne in his ascension. 1 is parallel to 5 etc.
I did a little with Ps 110 here:
https://heidelblog.net/2023/02/ruling-in-the-midst-of-his-enemies/
https://heidelblog.net/2023/07/the-glories-of-king-jesus-to-his-church-psalm-110-part-1/
https://heidelblog.net/2023/08/from-the-womb-of-the-sunrise-the-glories-of-king-jesus-psalm-110-part-2/
Thank you
Is it proper that some refer to the Son as Yahweh, since They are co eternal? Psalm 110 as well as other texts suggest not.