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That God May Be All in All: a Paterology Demonstrating That the Father Is the Initiator of All Divine Activity

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That God May Be All in All: a Paterology Demonstrating That the Father Is the Initiator of All Divine Activity Copyright © 2016 Ryan Lowell Rippee All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL: A PATEROLOGY DEMONSTRATING THAT THE FATHER IS THE INITIATOR OF ALL DIVINE ACTIVITY __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Ryan Lowell Rippee December 2016 APPROVAL SHEET THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL: A PATEROLOGY DEMONSTRATING THAT THE FATHER IS THE INITIATOR OF ALL DIVINE ACTIVITY Ryan Lowell Rippee Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Bruce A. Ware (Chair) __________________________________________ James M. Hamilton __________________________________________ Stephen J. Wellum Date______________________________ I dedicate this dissertation to my family: my parents, Chris and Joni Rippee; my in-laws John and Pam Fernandez; my siblings and in-laws; my nephews and nieces (all 21 of them!); and especially my wife, Jennafer, and our children, Gavin, Delaney, Liam, Caedmon, and Ainsley. I love you all very much and am most grateful for your support and patience during these four years. I also want to dedicate this dissertation to the memory of my brother-in-law, Yuri Trebotich, who went home to be with the Lord Jesus this year, and whose Spirit-empowered life and example still reflect and point to our Father in heaven. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE ........................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 Thesis ..................................................................................................................3 Background .........................................................................................................4 The Unbegotten God and the Father as the “Fountainhead of Divinity” ............................................................... 4 The Father’s Eternal Generation of the Son .............................................. 6 The Procession of the Spirit from the Father ............................................. 7 The Divine Monarchy ................................................................................ 7 Filioque and Inseparable Operations ......................................................... 8 “Relation” as the Principle of Difference ................................................ 10 The Advancement of Exegetical Studies Typified by Calvin and Owen ......................................................... 11 The General Neglect of the Father in the Modern Period ....................... 15 The Modern Subordination Controversy ................................................. 16 The Present Work .................................................................................... 20 Method ..............................................................................................................21 Chapter Summaries ...........................................................................................21 2. THE FATHER'S EXISTENCE FROM ETERNITY PAST .................................25 Introduction .......................................................................................................25 The Divine Name and the Father’s Position .....................................................26 Divine Names in the Old Testament ........................................................ 27 iv The New Testament Use of the Old Testament Divine Names ............... 32 Divine Names in the New Testament ...................................................... 42 Summary of the Divine Names and Their Taxis ..................................... 52 The Divine Nature and the Father’s Distinction ...............................................53 Incomprehensibility and the Knowledge of the Father ............................ 54 Glory and the Revelation of the Father .................................................... 56 The Son and Spirit’s Relation to the Father ............................................. 59 Divine Action and the Father’s Role .................................................................64 Conclusion ........................................................................................................66 3. THE FATHER’S WORK OF PLANNING ALL THINGS FROM ETERNITY PAST ................................................................................................68 Introduction .......................................................................................................68 The Definition of the Father’s Decree ..............................................................69 It Is Wise .................................................................................................. 71 It Is Eternal and Unchangeable ................................................................ 72 It Is All-Inclusive and Unconditional ...................................................... 73 It Is Sovereign .......................................................................................... 74 The Decree is Rooted in the Father’s Love and Good Pleasure .......................74 The Father’s Plan is Rooted in His Love ................................................. 76 The Father’s Plan Brings Him Pleasure ................................................... 79 Summary .................................................................................................. 81 Specific Determinations and Allowances in the Father's Decree .....................81 Creation and Providence .......................................................................... 82 Redemption .............................................................................................. 85 Judgment and Glory ................................................................................. 92 Conclusion ........................................................................................................95 4. THE FATHER’S WORK OF CREATING AND PRESERVING THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH ..................................................................96 v Introduction .......................................................................................................96 Through the Son and Spirit, the Father Created the Heavens and the Earth .............................................................................................99 Trinity and Creation in the Old Testament ............................................ 101 Trinity and Creation in the New Testament .......................................... 104 Summary ................................................................................................ 109 Through the Son and Spirit, the Father Providentially Governs the Universe .............................................................................110 Trinity and Providence in the Old Testament ........................................ 111 Trinity and Providence in the New Testament ...................................... 117 Conclusion ......................................................................................................122 5. THE FATHER’S WORK OF PROVIDING SALVATION IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY THROUGH THE SENDING OF THE SON .........124 Introduction .....................................................................................................124 Through the Prophets the Father Promised a Messiah ....................................125 The Father’s Promises from Adam to Abraham .................................... 127 The Father’s Giving of the Old Covenant through Moses .................... 128 The Father's Promise to David ............................................................... 129 The Father’s Promise of the New Covenant .......................................... 130 The Father Sends His Son to be the Messiah ..................................................132 In the Incarnation ................................................................................... 135 In the Life and Ministry of Jesus ........................................................... 137 In the Crucifixion ................................................................................... 142 In the Resurrection and Exaltation ........................................................ 145 Conclusion ......................................................................................................149 6. THE FATHER’S WORK OF PRODUCING SALVATION IN HIS ELECT AND CONVICTION IN THE WORLD THROUGH THE POURING OUT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ............................151 vi Introduction .....................................................................................................151 The Father Seeks Worshippers and through the Spirit, Draws Them to Himself ..........................................................................152 Through the Spirit, the Father Unites Believers to his Son ............................155 The Father Accepts Believers because They Have a New Identity in Christ ................................................................... 156 The Father Enlivens Believers, Giving Them a New Nature in Christ ....................................................................
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