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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadR.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (About Jesus Christ): 02 The Subordination of the Son to the Father
TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (About Jesus Christ) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 02 The Subordination of the Son to the Father
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Ch 02 The Subordination of the Son to the Father
I. JOHN 14:28.
"Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."
Proposition: God the Father is greater than Jesus Christ the Son.
II. HEBREWS 1:5
"For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?"
Joh_3:16 — "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Proposition: God the Father begat Jesus Christ the Son.
QUESTION: Does this begetting refer to the origin of the Eternal Word or to the origin of the incarnate Jesus?
ANSWER:
Psa_2:7 — "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee" (See context verses 1-2, 6, 8).
Luk_1:35 — "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
3Jo_1:6:57 RV.
"As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me."
Proposition: Jesus Christ the Son lives because of the Father.
IV. JOHN 5:19.
"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."
Proposition: The Son can do nothing independently of the Father.
V. JOHN 6:29.
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (See also Joh_8:29; Joh_8:41 — "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him... Jesus said unto them: If God were your Father, ye would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.")
Proposition: Jesus Christ was sent by the Father.
VI. JOHN 10:18.
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Proposition: The Son received commandment from the Father, and was under his authority and direction.
VII. JOHN 13:3.
"Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God."
Proposition: The Son received His authority from the Father.
V3Jo_1:8:26, 40.
"I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham."
Proposition: The Son received His message from the Father.
IX. JOHN 5:36 RV.
"But the witness which I have is greater than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." (See also Joh_14:10 — "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.")
Proposition: The Father gave the Son His works to accomplish, and it was the indwelling Father who did the works.
X. LUKE 22:29.
"And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me."
Proposition: The Son's kingdom was appointed to Him by the Father.
XI. 1Co_15:24.
"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father."
Proposition: The Son shall ultimately deliver up the kingdom to the Father.
XII. 1Co_15:27-28 RV.
"For, he put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he excepted who did subject all things unto him. And when all things have been subjected to him, then shall the son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all."
Proposition: The Son is subject to the Father so that God may be all in all.
XIII. 1Co_11:3.
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
Proposition: God the Father is head of Christ as Christ is head of man and as the man is head of the woman.
XIV. HEBREWS 7:25 RV.
"Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Proposition: Men draw near unto the Father through the Son. God, not Christ, is the ultimate goal The Son is the way to the Father. (See Joh_14:6 — "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but: by me.")
XV. JOHN 20:17
"Jesus saith unto her, I ascend unto.., my God."
Proposition: God the Father is Jesus Christ's God.
Concluding Proposition: Jesus Christ the Son is, and eternally shall be, subordinate to God the Father.
In God the Father we have the source of deity, and in Jesus Christ the Son, deity in its outflow. But in the stream is all the perfection of the fountain (see Col_2:9). God the Father is the source of glory; Jesus Christ the Son is the effulgence (shining forth or off-flash) of His glory.
( Heb_1:3 RV — "Who being the effulgence of His glory.") All the passages quoted have reference to the incarnate Christ and not to the pre-existent Word.