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F2 reasoning: Deity of Christ

Reasoning steps: Deity of Christ

Verdicts: F2 · Deity of Christ. Method: conventions, scoring and proximity eras. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by era (Era I to c. 150 = 1.0, II = 0.8, III = 0.6, IV = 0.4).

F02.1: Is the Son true God, of one substance with the Father?

Step F02.1.1: Scripture

John 1:1 (θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος); John 20:28 (‘My Lord and my God’); Rom 9:5; Titus 2:13 (‘our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ’); Heb 1:8 (‘Your throne, O God’); Col 2:9 (’the whole fullness of deity bodily’). The Son receives worship (Heb 1:6; Phil 2:10–11).

Step F02.1.2: Patristic evidence

Ignatius (Era I): ‘our God, Jesus Christ’. Irenaeus (Era II): Christ is ‘God, and Lord, and King Eternal’. Nicaea: ‘very God of very God … of one substance (ὁμοούσιον) with the Father’. Sources: ignatius-f02-s1 · irenaeus-f02-s1 · nicaea-i-f02-s1.

Step F02.1.3: Weighing decision

No orthodox father from Era I onward denies the Son’s deity; Arius’s created Son was rejected at Nicaea. Verdict: consensus.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F02.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): The NT calls the Son θεός (John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:8) and gives him divine worship. (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Supported by Scripture and every era from Era I. All nine traditions confess it in their classic texts.

Post-750 development by tradition

Catholic

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Nicene Creed and Lateran IV (1215) confess the Son consubstantial with the Father.

Orthodox

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Nicene Creed; Dositheus, decree 1 (to verify wording).

Oriental Orthodox

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Nerses Shnorhali: the three persons share ‘one essence, one sovereignty, one power and one glory’ (verified).

Lutheran

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC III: ’true God and true man’.

Anglican

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. II: ‘very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father’.

Presbyterian

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF VIII.2: ‘very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father’.

Reformed Baptist

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 8.2 (same wording as WCF).

General Baptist

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed receives the Nicene and Athanasian creeds (art. 38, OCR-verified heading).

Anabaptist

Confesses the Nicene faith.

  • F02.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dordrecht I: one God, ’the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost’ (verified).