God's Vindictive Righteousness

[dildaysc]

The doctrine of God's Vindictive Righteousness is difficult; it is important that we be patient in our thinking, and proceed Biblically.

Justice is good; I think that we all recognize that on some level. Indeed, in our culture, people march and demand "justice", when they believe that they are being treated unfairly.

However, when we are on the wrong side of justice...when we are the offenders, rather than the offended...our thinking becomes confused and strangely muddled. We become inconsistent, and begin to think, argue, and act as if justice were not good.

Justice is still good, even when we are on the uncomfortable side of it.

And Justice is an aspect of the Divine Perfection, an aspect of the Beauty of God's Holiness.

Take your time with this piece from De Moor; it is challenging, but edifying, I think...

https://www.fromreformationtoreform...-righteousness-natural-rather-than-volitional

 

[dildaysc]

Thus the Heidelburg Catechism has it, question XI, “Is not God then also merciful? Answer: God is indeed merciful, but in such a way that He is also just; therefore His justice requires, that sin which is committed against the most high Majesty of God, be also punished with extreme, that is, with everlasting, punishments of body and soul.” And question XL, “Why was it necessary for Christ to humble Himself even unto death? Answer: Because with respect to the Righteousness and Truth of God, satisfaction for our sins could be made no otherwise, than by the death of the Son of God.”

https://www.fromreformationtoreform...ve-righteousness-and-the-three-forms-of-unity

 

[iainduguid]

Steven, I wonder if "vindicatory righteousness" might be a better title than "vindictive righteousness" in a modern context. I grant you that "vindictive righteousness" has been used before, notably by John Owen, but in today's world "vindictive" often implies "spiteful" and places the focus on seeking revenge (see Merriam-Webster). In contrast, "vindicatory righteousness" (a term that Ridderbos uses) implies punitive or retributive action for the sake of vindication, which I think is closer to the mark of what de Moor means. The doctrine is difficult in itself without adding an extra hurdle in the terminology.

 

[dildaysc]

That's helpful; thank you. I will make the change for the printed edition.

 

[dildaysc]

For those interested in the "Calvin vs. the Calvinists/Scholastics" debate, De Moor's statement will certainly arrest attention: " Among these were Calvin himself and Twiss, above all the rest: who in this regard follow too closely the conceptions of the Scholastics concerning the Absolute Power of God ..."

https://www.fromreformationtoreform...d-over-god-s-vindicatory-righteousness-part-1

 

[dildaysc]

The debate among the Reformed concerning God's Vindicatory Righteousness (natural vs. merely volitional).

https://www.fromreformationtoreform...d-over-god-s-vindicatory-righteousness-part-2

 

[dildaysc]

We have at least two significant treatments from De Moor on the subject of God's Vindicatory Righteousness, whether it be Essential or not.

I have already finished what we might call his mature treatment in his Didactico-Elenctic Theology. (See the posts on IV:47 at https://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/…/de-moor-on-g….)

Today, I have begun the translation of his earlier, but much more lengthy, Theological Disputation on the subject (https://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/…/de-moor-on-v…).

Hope that you will join me...

 

[dildaysc]

De Moor explores the relationship between Aristotle's concepts of Universal and Particular Righteousness/Justice and God's Holiness and Judiciary Righteousness...

 

[dildaysc]

De Moor presents the Socinian view, and complains of the Remonstrants symbolizing with Socinus...

 

[dildaysc]

https://www.fromreformationtoreform...-righteousness-controversy-among-the-reformed

A couple of interesting things about this section:

1. De Moor dissents from Calvin's opinion, complaining that Calvin is overly attached to Scholastic Theology at this point. For those of you interested in the Calvin vs. the Calvinists controversy, this will probably bring a smile to your lips.

2. De Moor seems to think that the spread of Socinian doctrine (which challenged the necessity of Christ's Satisfaction) necessitated further refinement and greater circumspection in expression with respect to God's Vindicatory Righteousness.

 

[dildaysc]

Some Scripture proofs concerning God's essential Righteousness, and His office as Judge...

 

[dildaysc]

De Moor marshals a variety of texts dealing with God's Vindicatory Righteousness...

 

[dildaysc]

Here, De Moor argues that God's Vindicatory Acts in history are grounded in a Vindicatory Righteousness Essential to God.

 

[dildaysc]

The testimony of conscience...

 

[dildaysc]

Very interesting...

De Moor on God's Essential Vindicatory Righteousness: The Testimony of Conscience, Part 4...

 

[dildaysc]

Today, I completed an interesting section in which De Moor begins to explore the relationship between God's Vindicatory Righteousness and the Satisfaction of Christ.

 

[dildaysc]

In arguing that Vindicatory Righteousness is Essential to God, De Moor had promised to bring arguments "1. from the Testimonies of Scripture, whereby this very Punishing Righteousness is expressly claimed for God; 2. from the Foundation of this Vindicatory Righteousness in God’s Divine Righteousness, or Natural Sanctity; 3. from the Conscience of men and the Consent of all Nations to this opinion; 4. from the Effect of this Righteousness in punishing the Son of God." He has done so.

In this brief section, he summarizes these arguments, using a quote from Trigland.

 

[dildaysc]

De Moor now uses his arguments for God's Essential Vindicatory Righteousness to assail the Socinian position...

 

[dildaysc]

This morning I finished translating De Moor's Disputation on God's Vindicatory Righteousness as Essential.

This concludes the Disputation, and the entire volume on the Doctrine of God. It is available in its entirety online at https://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/blog/categories/de-moor-on-god (start at the bottom).