Quote:
Originally Posted by awareness
I'd like to see Bibles verses that support Edwards' theory, of God loving himself, and the Son and Spirit playing a central role to accomplish it???
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I think the real question is what part of the theory is incompatible with what the Bible teaches. How is it incompatible with one God being three persons?
God is not physical. So his image of himself starts with an idea, a thought. About what? Himself, of course. The Son is the perfect image of God. That means he looks just like God. How was the Son "begotten?" He was begotten, to start with, by God thinking about himself. The Son is God's perfect thought about himself made real. Are you uncomfortable with the idea of God loving the Son being a manifestation of God loving himself? How could it not be so if the Son is exactly like the Father in every way?!
Likewise, the Spirit is there. What's his purpose? Why does the Bible reveal this loving relationship between the Father and the Son, but never shows a relationship between either and the Spirit? Why is the Spirit always a little hidden? Why is the Spirit always tied to fellowship, exchange, experience and action? Could it be that the Spirit is the relationship of active love between the Father and the Son?
Now think about yourself. You are in the image of God. But did you ever wonder how you are in the image of the
Triune God? This theory gives an answer. With any self-conscious person, there are always two. There is the self, and the self image. There is what you are, and what you think you are. These two have a relationship. The relationship is the third thing. Each of these--the self, the self image, and the relationship between the two--are you, yet each is distinct. Three-one.
Now in our case our self-image is imperfect and incomplete, and because of that our relationship with our self is iffy, cloudy and rocky. But with God his self-knowledge is perfect and complete. He has no problem with himself. His self-image is as perfect and complete as it can be. So much so that it is another Person, the Son. These two have a perfect relationship of sharing love, life and light. That relationship is a third Person, the Spirit. Each is God, yet each is distinct. Further, none can be said to just be part of God. They are each the whole God. And they co-exist from eternity to eternity. The Father begets the Son, the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
God lets us in on this relationship. How? By letting us in on the fellowship of the Spirit.
This analogy fits so well and answers so many questions that I have to think there is something to it.
Read Edward's essay. It's a tough read, but worth it.