Friday, June 18, 2010

Calvin on Psalm 110.1

“Might not God have raised up someone of human race as Redeemer to be David’s Lord and Son at the same time? For it is not God’s most essential name that is used, but only Adonai (Lord), which in fact is often applied to men. I reply that Christ takes it for granted that He who is taken out of the number of men and elevated to the extent of headship over all in the Church is no more man, but endowed as well with the Majesty of God.

The eternal God who takes an oath to Himself and affirms that in His presence every knee shall bow swears also that He will not give His glory to another (Isa. 45.23 and 42.8). On Paul’s testimony, when Christ ascended into His Kingdom there was given Him a name which is above every name, that before Him every knew should bow (Rom 14.11; Phil 2.9). And although Paul never said it, the fact is that Christ took rank above David and all other kings, for he also excels the angels: and this could hardly be for a mortal man unless in His flesh God were also manifest. I admit that His divine essence is not expressed exactly and in so many words, but we can readily infer that He is God, who is placed above all creation.” Calvin’s NT Commentaries: A Harmony of the Gospels Matthew, Mark & Luke and James & Jude, v. 3, p 43, John Calvin, David W. Torrance, A. W. Morrison.