Medieval and Reformation Views on God the Father

Medieval Period

• Biblical foundations of the Creed were repeatedly affirmed in Christian Proclamation.
• Thomas Aquinas characterized Divine paternity with five truths:
  1. Love: God the Father has love for His eternal Son by nature and for creatures by grace.
  2. Mutual Knowledge: God and His Son share mutual knowledge.
  3. Inseparable Operations: Father and Son act in and with one another.
  4. Eternal Generation: The Son receives by nature the fullness of deity.
  5. Feminine Characteristics: Conception, childbirth, and caring for the child are ascribed to God the Father.

Reformation Period

• Orthodox Divine ontology was generally affirmed.
• Focus shifted to the doctrine of salvation.
• The 39 Articles of the Church of England described the Son as begotten of the Father, eternal, and of one substance.
• Heretics like Socinians challenged the Trinitarian consensus.

Modern Shifts in Understanding

Modern Consciousness

• Shift towards focusing on the work of God rather than ontology.
• Influences from modern philosophy, e.g., Immanuel Kant's teachings.

Recent Debates

• Translation of 'kephale' (head): Debates on whether it means authority, origin, or preeminence.
• Feminine Representations: Feminist theologians argued for God's feminine representation.
• Masculine Representations: Arguments on the authority of God the Father over the Son.

Theological Language and Analogy

• Theological language is often analogical.
• Scripture uses both masculine and feminine analogies for God, but names God with masculine terms.

Systematic Conclusions

Ineffability and Revelation

• God is beyond human comprehension.
• Revelation of God the Father is through the Son.

Deity of the Father

• Father is Lord and God, possesses all divine attributes.

Father and the Trinity

• Father is the Eternal source, begets the Son, and the Spirit proceeds from Him.

Equality

• Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God.
• They share the divine nature equally.

Practical Considerations

• Pastoral sensitivity required when addressing issues of divine fatherhood.

Conclusion

• Nicene Creed provides a valuable framework for understanding God the Father.