Wednesdays are for Bits and Pieces - 6/1/16
Pieper, Francis. Christian Dogmatics: Volume 2. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1968.
“Summary Critique of Reformed Christology” (Loc. 6221).
Pieper asks if Reformed theology denies the incarnation and atonement. “In so far as Reformed theology is inconsistent and ignores its basic error that the human nature of Christ is not capable of divinity, and especially, inasmuch as it maintains, over against Socinianism, the incarnation of the Son of God and the vicarious satisfaction of Christ as possessing infinite value, it returns to the Christian faith” (Pieper 1968, Loc. 6231). Pieper does not consider the dispute “mere logomachy” (Ibid., Loc. 6231). The problem he sees is primarily rooted in a Reformed use of “rationalistic axioms” (Ibid., Loc. 6235). These pull Reformed thought away from traditional Christian doctrine. Their denial of the infinite dwelling in the finite ultimately denies the union of God and man in Christ. Attempts to be consistent in the doctrine finally fail. The Lutheran understanding of the Genera cannot be reconciled with the Reformed position. However, Reformed theology “teaches both the incarnation of the Son of God and the infinite value of Christ’s merit. This is indeed an inconsistency, but one that is gratifying to sincere Christians” (Ibid., Loc. 6259). Pieper defends the Reformed as holding a high view of Christ, though it is inconsistent with some of their logical stance.
Pieper, Francis. Christian Dogmatics: Volume 2. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1968.
“Summary Critique of Reformed Christology” (Loc. 6221).
Pieper asks if Reformed theology denies the incarnation and atonement. “In so far as Reformed theology is inconsistent and ignores its basic error that the human nature of Christ is not capable of divinity, and especially, inasmuch as it maintains, over against Socinianism, the incarnation of the Son of God and the vicarious satisfaction of Christ as possessing infinite value, it returns to the Christian faith” (Pieper 1968, Loc. 6231). Pieper does not consider the dispute “mere logomachy” (Ibid., Loc. 6231). The problem he sees is primarily rooted in a Reformed use of “rationalistic axioms” (Ibid., Loc. 6235). These pull Reformed thought away from traditional Christian doctrine. Their denial of the infinite dwelling in the finite ultimately denies the union of God and man in Christ. Attempts to be consistent in the doctrine finally fail. The Lutheran understanding of the Genera cannot be reconciled with the Reformed position. However, Reformed theology “teaches both the incarnation of the Son of God and the infinite value of Christ’s merit. This is indeed an inconsistency, but one that is gratifying to sincere Christians” (Ibid., Loc. 6259). Pieper defends the Reformed as holding a high view of Christ, though it is inconsistent with some of their logical stance.
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