For the next four weeks I will be reflecting on Christ through the writings of Gordon Fee. In this passage Fee is reflecting on “God’s Son as Savior”
Here especially Christ as the messianic and the eternal Son of God merge in Paul’s thinking. The Son who was sent into the world to redeem does so in the context of the basic biblical story (born under the law). But the story works precisely because the redeemer is the eternal Son of God, thus a fully divine Savior. It was the One who was eternally in the form of God, and thus equal with God and fully divine, whose humble obedience to his Father in his incarnation led to his death on a cross (Phil 2:6-8) – Gordon Fee, Christology p547
Christmas is a great opportunity to dwell on the birth of Jesus the eternal Son of God, who came into this world for the purpose of redeeming humanity. As we celebrate his birth let us remember that this child was in fact the eternal Son of God who humbled himself for us. I am forever grateful for his obedience to God the Father, for becoming human and living his life as humanity was intended. For through his life and death he showed us what God is like.
I’ve a load of great quotes from Fee’s Christology (perhaps he pushes the data a bit further at times than I’m comfortable with, but a magnificent book). His synthesis makes for a great read, especially at this time of year 😉
Amen! I too am grateful.
Robert,
Thanks for this.
Just yesterday I read a portion from Fee’s Pauline Christology.
Ohhh… how’d you make it snow?
WordPress allows it as a function from early December to early January.
Robert, Nice statement.. indeed the eternal Sonship of Christ is very profound! Both the Father & Son “together” (note the typology in Gen.22: 6…”and the two of them went together.” Also verse eight..”So the two of them went together.” ‘The Father and the Son’
I think Fee is one of the best!
@Brian, thanks for that 🙂
You’re welcome. I thought it was a nice, temporary touch and since the blog is mostly white in color it isn’t too overwhelming. More like light snow flurries.
@Brian how can we not be 🙂
@TC, this is one of Fee’s book that I have not spent significant time with, so Christmas has been a nice motivation.
@Fr. Robert, very nice indeed!
@Craig, Fee is my favorite.