Tag Archives: Communication of Attributes

Theology Summary Bible Class Pt. 18: The Human Nature is Enriched

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In this lesson, we see that the divine attributes of Christ were communicated to His human nature so that it was enriched.  This happened at the incarnation.  Jesus is not simply a man who was endowed with super abilities from time to time.  According to Colosssians 2:9, “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, VIII:  12] We believe, teach, and confess also that the assumed human nature in Christ not only has and retains its natural, essential properties, but that over and above these, through the personal union with the Deity, and afterwards through glorification, it has been exalted to the right hand of majesty, power, and might, over everything that can be named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come [Eph. 1, 21].

26] Hence also the human nature, after the resurrection from the dead, has its exaltation above all creatures in heaven and on earth; which is nothing else than that He entirely laid aside the form of a servant, and yet did not lay aside His human nature, but retains it to eternity, and is put in the full possession and use of the divine majesty according to His assumed human nature. However, this majesty He had immediately at His conception, even in His mother’s womb, but, as the apostle testifies [Phil. 2, 7], laid it aside; and, as Dr. Luther explains, He kept it concealed in the state of His humiliation, and did not employ it always, but only when He wished.

At the end of this lesson we looked at the distinction between Christ and believers.  At Christ’s incarnation, His human nature received the fullness of divine attributes.  Believers, prophets and apostles  and saints also receive gifts due to their union with Christ and according to His graciousness, but those gifts are limited and require reliance upon the Triune God.

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, VIII:  72] But we believe, teach, and confess that God the Father has so given His Spirit to Christ, His beloved Son, according to the assumed humanity (on account of which He is called also Messias, i.e., the Anointed), that He has not received His gifts by measure as other saints. For upon Christ the Lord, according to His assumed human nature (because, according to His divinity, He is of one essence with the Holy Ghost), rests the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge [and of the fear of the Lord, Col. 2, 3; Is. 11, 2; 61, 1], 73] not in such a way that on this account, as a man, He knew and could do only some things, as other saints know and can do by the Spirit of God, who works in them only created gifts, but since Christ, according to His divinity, is the second person in the Holy Trinity, and from Him, as also from the Father, the Holy Ghost proceeds, and thus is and remains His and the Father’s own Spirit to all eternity, not separated from the Son of God, therefore (as the Fathers say) the entire fullness of the Spirit has been communicated by the personal union to Christ according to the flesh, which is personally united with the Son of God. 74] This voluntarily manifests and shows itself, with all its power therein, therewith and thereby [in, with, and through the human nature of Christ], so that He [Christ, according to His human nature] not only knows some things and is ignorant of others, can do some things and is unable to do others, but [according to the assumed human nature] knows and can do all things. For upon Him the Father poured without measure the Spirit of wisdom and power, so that, as man, He has received through this personal union all knowledge and all power in deed and truth. And thus all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Him, thus all power is given to Him, and He is seated at the right hand of the majesty and power of God.

Handout 1:  Second-Genus-.pdf
Handout 2:  Comm-of-Attributes-Application-WITHOUT-ANSWERS-b.pdf
Handout 2A:  Communication-of-Attributes-PAGE-3-ANSWERS.pdf
Handout 3: Jesus-and-Believers-for-Sept-23-2018.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Class Pt. 17: The Mystery of Godliness

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In this lesson, we begin to fill in page 3 of the Communication of Attributes sheet.  The left column lists a Scripture passage which presents an attribute of the divine nature of Christ, while the right column gives an attribute of the human nature of Christ.  How do we speak about these attributes which both belong to the one person?  In this lesson, we see that the Scriptures ascribe each attribute to the whole person.

How do we speak about these divine and human attributes in the Christ when they contradict?  The Scriptures teach that the Christ, who is both true God and true Man, did not always and fully make use of his divine attributes.  Thus, we applied the teaching from last week concerning Christ’s state of humiliation and state of exaltation.

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, VIII:  20] On account of this personal union, which cannot be thought of nor exist without such a true communion of the natures, not the mere human nature, whose property it is to suffer and die, has suffered for the sins of the world, but the Son of God Himself truly suffered, however, according to the assumed human nature, and (in accordance with our simple Christian faith) [as our Apostles’ Creed testifies] truly died, although the divine nature can neither suffer nor die. …

26] Hence also the human nature, after the resurrection from the dead, has its exaltation above all creatures in heaven and on earth; which is nothing else than that He entirely laid aside the form of a servant, and yet did not lay aside His human nature, but retains it to eternity, and is put in the full possession and use of the divine majesty according to His assumed human nature. However, this majesty He had immediately at His conception, even in His mother’s womb, but, as the apostle testifies [Phil. 2, 7], laid it aside; and, as Dr. Luther explains, He kept it concealed in the state of His humiliation, and did not employ it always, but only when He wished.

Handout 1:  Comm-of-Attributes-Application-WITHOUT-ANSWERS-b.pdf
Handout 1A:  Communication-of-Attributes-PAGE-3-ANSWERS.pdf

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Theology Summary Bible Study, Part 15: Communication of Attributes

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The Christ, our promised Redeemer, has both a divine nature and a human nature united in one person.  This union of two natures in the one Christ is called the personal union.  We must speak in a way so that the difference between the natures is maintained, but we must not divide the personal union nor allow one nature to hinder the presence of the other nature.

The Idiomaticum Genus – Christ has two distinct natures, human and divine, each of which has its own essential attributes, functions, and activities.  The attributes, functions, and activities of either may be ascribed to the entire Person.

The Maiestaticum Genus – When the Son of God assumed the human nature, He imparted and communicated to it divine majesty, glory, and attributes.  However, the human nature does not impart its attributes to the Divine nature so as to limit or diminish it in any way.

The Apotelesmaticum Genus – Whatever the Savior did and still does to save sinful mankind may not be ascribed to either of His natures exclusively, but must be ascribed to both natures conjointly.

[Note: Due to technical difficulties, the audio of this Bible study was not recorded.]

Handout 1: Communication-of-Attributes-August-26-2018.pdf

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