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The Church and the Mediation of Grace: a Reformed Perspective on Ordained Ministry and the Threefold Office of Christ

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The Church and the Mediation of Grace: a Reformed Perspective on Ordained Ministry and the Threefold Office of Christ Marquette University e-Publications@Marquette Dissertations (2009 -) Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Projects The hC urch and the Mediation of Grace: A Reformed Perspective on Ordained Ministry and the Threefold Office ofhr C ist Michael Joe Matossian Marquette University Recommended Citation Matossian, Michael Joe, "The hC urch and the Mediation of Grace: A Reformed Perspective on Ordained Ministry and the Threefold Office of Christ" (2012). Dissertations (2009 -). Paper 236. http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/236 THE CHURCH AND THE MEDIATION OF GRACE: A REFORMED PERSPECTIVE ON ORDAINED MINISTRY AND THE THREEFOLD OFFICE OF CHRIST by Michael J. Matossian, B.A., M.Div., M.Th. A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Milwaukee, Wisconsin December 2012 ABSTRACT THE CHURCH AND THE MEDIATION OF GRACE: A REFORMED PERSPECTIVE ON ORDAINED MINISTRY AND THE THREEFOLD OFFICE OF CHRIST Michael J. Matossian, B.A., M.Div., M.Th. Marquette University, 2012 This dissertation explores the relationship between grace, the church, ordained church offices, and the threefold office of Christ ( munus triplex ). The goal is to discern, in what ways and in what senses, we can speak of the mediation of grace through the church while maintaining a Reformed theological commitment to the principle that Christ alone is Mediator. Chapter one seeks to establish that Reformed doctrine regards the church both as locus and instrument of grace including the fact that the ordained offices are instruments of grace. Chapter two offers a definition of the concept of mediator, introduces categories of mediation, defines the prophetic dimension of Christ’s mediatorial work, and seeks to show how the pastoral office mediates the prophetic grace of Christ without impinging on the uniqueness of Christ’s office and work. Chapter three addresses the priestly mediation of Christ as well as the relationship between pastoral office and Christ’s priestly work. Chapter four is concerned to provide a Reformed approach to Christ’s royal office and how it is made manifest in the church today through all three ordained offices in the Reformed tradition—pastors, elders, and deacons. The introduction and conclusion briefly introduce, and draw connections between, the body of the dissertation and the Presbyterian debate between the so-called two- office and three-office views of church office and also make some preliminary suggestions of the usefulness of the dissertation’s concern for ecumenical dialogue between the Reformed and Roman Catholic churches. The overarching concern is to recover a Reformed understanding of the centrality of the church in God’s plan of salvation. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Michael J. Matossian, B.A., M.Div., M.Th. The completion of this dissertation comes as a bittersweet experience. The morning after I completed my final chapter, I learned from my advisor, Dr. Ralph G. Del Colle, that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Hardly five weeks later, he was gone. Hebrews 4 speaks of the Sabbath rest that yet remains for the people of God. It was apropos that Dr. Del Colle’s last day on this earth was a Sunday, a day called by the church through the ages the Lord’s Day and, in the Puritan tradition, the Christian Sabbath. As his eyes closed with the close of the Christian Sabbath, Dr. Del Colle entered into the eternal rest that remains for the people of God. Although he did not see the final form of this project, I want to acknowledge my sincere gratitude for his guidance, advice, and especially his encouragement throughout the process. Dr. Del Colle, you are sorely missed. I would also like to express my indebtedness to and deep appreciation for Dr. Mickey L. Mattox who immediately stepped in and took up the role as my advisor. His feedback has been invaluable. Thank you, Dr. Mattox. I am grateful to the entire Theology Department at Marquette University for a wonderful graduate experience. A special thanks to Ms. Gale Prusinski—without her expertise in all the administrative dimensions of the Department and the University, I would have been lost. Many thanks to the Interlibrary Loan Department of Raynor-Memorial Library for all the articles and books they arranged ii to send me as circumstances necessitated that I complete my research and writing away from Milwaukee. To the Session and Congregation of Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware—thank you for your faithful prayers and your willingness to give your pastor all those extra weeks of study leave each year to complete this dissertation. I am truly grateful. To my good friend, now the Reverend Dr. Chris Ganski—thank you for the weekly “dissertation chats.” Every one of those telephone and video conversations was beneficial for clarifying developing thoughts and ideas. Thank you for your friendship and support. Many thanks to my parents, the Reverend Joseph and Mrs. Suzie Matossian. Without the foundation in the Christian faith as well as in the use of the mind that they provided me in childhood, I could never have come close to reaching this point. Mom, all those nights of homework you supervised at the dining room table paid off! And, Dad, thank you for allowing me access to your library and inspiring me to read and reflect on the marvels of our Triune God. Finally, I thank my wife, Judy. More than anyone else, she has stood with me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and prodded me especially on those days I thought I would never finish. Thank you, Sweetheart! You deserve a doctorate in surviving stress. Matthew, our dear son, you too deserve thanks for doing without Dad too often since he had so much work to do. By God’s grace, we’ll have more time together now. iii I could never end acknowledgments without remembering above all my God and Savior, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever good is in these pages is only because of his goodness in allowing it to be there. If I did not think my work was in some small way a service to him who loved us more than we will ever understand in spite of our wretchedness, I would never have undertaken it. And, if it were not for God’s grace, I could never have completed it. Soli Deo Gloria ! For my wife, Judy: By God’s grace, the dissertation is done, Sweetheart! iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………………………………… i INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 CHAPTER 1 – THE CHURCH AND THE MEDIATION OF GRACE……………………… 18 Grace in Reformed Thought: An Abbreviated Introduction………………… 18 Grace and the Ordo Salutis …………………………………………………….. 19 A Working Definition of Grace……………………………………………….. 24 The Church and the Mediation of Grace…………………………………………….. 25 The Tension in Reformed Thought…………………………………………………... 25 Resolving the Tension: The Church as Locus of Grace……………………….. 37 The Church as the People of God…………………………………………..... 45 The Church as the Body of Christ………………………………………….... 49 The Church as Temple of the Holy Spirit………………………………… 56 The Church as Instrument of Grace…………………………………………………… 58 The Marks are the Mission……………………………………………………... 59 The Mother Metaphor, or Calvin’s Doctrine of Homeschooling… 68 The Head is Still the Head………………………………………………………. 72 The Form of Christ’s Ministry: Prophet, Priest, and King……………………. 77 CHAPTER 2 – CHRIST THE PROPHET: MEDIATION THROUGH THE WORD AND THE TEACHING OFFICE OF THE CHURCH……………………………………………. 80 The Concept of Office……………………………………………………………………….. 81 The Office of Mediator: The Threefold Office of Christ……………………….. 85 Mediator in Reformed Thought………………………………………………………… 90 v Mediator of the Covenant of Grace…………………………………………………….. 93 Categories of Mediation……………………………………………………………………. 97 Prophetic Mediation…………………………………………………………………………. 101 Prophet as Annunciator or Proclaimer……………………………………. 103 Prophet as Instructor or Teacher……………………………………………. 108 Prophet as Apocalyptic Revelation…………………………………………. 112 Christ’s Continuing Prophetic Work in the Ministry of Pastors…………… 116 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….. 122 CHAPTER 3 – CHRIST THE PRIEST: MEDIATION THROUGH WORD, SACRAMENT, AND INTERCESSION……………………………………………………………… 124 Opposition in Reformed Thought to Priests Other than Christ……………. 125 Resolving the Tension, Part 1……………………………………………………………. 136 Resolving the Tension, Part 2……………………………………………………………. 147 Priestly Ministration of the Word……………………………………………………… 152 The Work of Intercession…………………………………………………………………. 156 Sacraments: A Priestly Ministration………………………………………………….. 162 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….. 169 CHAPTER 4 – CHRIST THE KING: MEDIATION THROUGH CHURCH DISCIPLINE AND THE MINISTRY OF MERCY………………………………………………... 170 Christus Victor : The Divine Warrior-King and Judge…………………………… 174 The Subjugation of Satan and the Powers………………………………………….. 176 Christus Victor : The Demise of Sin……………………………………………………... 182 Christus Victor : Death is Dead…………………………………………………………… 185 Christus Victor est Christos Kyrios ……………………………………………………… 189 vi Royal Mediation Applied…………………………………………………………………... 191 Christ’s Kingship as Headship…………………………………………………………… 192 Christ’s Ongoing Kingship and Church Office…………………………………….. 200 The Warrior-Shepherds: The Offices of Pastor and Elder…………………… 206 The Shepherd-Providers: The Office of Deacon………………………………….. 216 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….. 220 CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………………… 221 Addressing the Two-Office / Three-Office Issue………………………………… 224 Ecumenical Reflections…………………………………………………………………….
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