Theotokos

[Job8]

She is the mother of the God-Man not the Mother of God.

This may seem like a fine distinction, but it is not. Mary could never be the Mother of God, and by elevating her above her rightful place, we see all the heresies regarding Mary.

 

[hedrick]

This may seem like a fine distinction, but it is not. Mary could never be the Mother of God, and by elevating her above her rightful place, we see all the heresies regarding Mary.

Again, I think it depends upon context. If you were dealing with adoptionism, it might make sense to emphasize that God was in Christ even during Jesus' birth, and theotokos would be a possible way to do this. However I agree that the widespread use of the term most likely has mariological motivations.

Since this is a Reformed forum, it's worth noting that Calvin objected to the term: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davear...vins-objection-to-the-term-mother-of-god.html.

 

[JM]

Mary is the Mother of God. Christ took His human flesh from her. This doesn't make her divine or even worthly but it does mean Christ's flesh was of Mary.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[JM]

Calvin wrote, "I cannot think such language either right, or becoming, or suitable. ... To call the Virgin Mary the mother of God can only serve to confirm the ignorant in their superstitions."

I call Mary the Mother of God for the reason I have already stated, it is not ignorant or superstitious, but biblical.

 

[JM]

I know it's not a scriptural term but "Mother of God" does make sense.

 

[gord44]

I know it's not a scriptural term but "Mother of God" does make sense.

Seems fine as long as you don't put much emphasis on it beyond that.

 

[JM]

This title does not allow for devotion or offering prayers to Mary. It's just a description.

 

[gord44]

This title does not allow for devotion or offering prayers to Mary. It's just a description.

Hasn't stopped people from trying. We are dealing with the depraved heart's of men good sir.

 

[JM]

Hasn't stopped people from trying. We are dealing with the depraved heart's of men good sir.

Natty V must be pretty good. You're sounding like a Puritan!

 

[gord44]

Natty V must be pretty good. You're sounding like a Puritan!

Natty V is a total G in regards to sound doctrine.

 

[JM]

Sometimes it takes a while before God gives you an Elder that speaks directly to your heart. Maybe all these years God was drawing you and now, finally, has given you that Minister.

It was the same with Augustine.

 

[gord44]

Sometimes it takes a while before God gives you an Elder that speaks directly to your heart. Maybe all these years God was drawing you and now, finally, has given you that Minister.

It was the same with Augustine.

Sweet Nate?

 

[JM]

Yup. He has a book on personal reflection that has my eye.

 

[gord44]

Sometimes it takes a while before God gives you an Elder that speaks directly to your heart. Maybe all these years God was drawing you and now, finally, has given you that Minister.

It was the same with Augustine.

Heck maybe you're right! Found a really good preacher on SermonAudio that has really caught me attention as well. His church isn't far from me so I might check it out.

 

[JM]

One old Baptist said God's elect were like powder kegs and the preacher is the man walking around tossing matches into them. Some of those powder kegsnare fill with gun powder and go off! Maybe the current material is causing you to spark?

 

[gord44]

One old Baptist said God's elect were like powder kegs and the preacher is the man walking around tossing matches into them. Some of those powder kegsnare fill with gun powder and go off! Maybe the current material is causing you to spark?

Maybe. It all started a few weeks back. After dancing with Mary Jane I found drawn to reading the written Word of God. It started with Thessalonians and then rolled on through to Revelation. But I stopped there and jumped back to Romans....

But now that I ponder it, the spark was actually something you posted on here about Calvin and idols on Sermon Audio. It really hit me.

 

[JM]

God be praised Gord.