Nielsen’s Nook

Nielsen’s Nook
Nielsen’s Nook
Contemplative, reflective, and irenic we pray.
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Hail Mary Full of Grace

Will Nielsen
April 3rd, 2006
Tags: • • • • • • • •

I have been enjoying how marvelous some of the Reformed writers of the late 19th century have articulated thoughts on the Uberdisciple (my term), Mary the mother of Jesus:

Mary enjoyed a high honor, an honor greater than the prophets and apostles ever had. She is the blessed, the favored, among women, and the mother of the Lord.

Bavinck, Herman. Our Reasonable Faith. p 336.

The person born of the Virgin Mary was a divine person. He was the Son of God. It is, therefore, correct to say that Mary was the mother of God. For, as we have seen, the person of Christ is in Scripture often designated from the divine nature, when the predicate is true only of the human nature. On this particular form of expression,
which, from its abuse, is generally offensive to Protestant ears, Turrettin remarks:

“Maria potest dici vere θεοτόκος seu Mater Dei, Deipara, si vox Dei sumatur concrete pro toto personali Christi, quod constat ex persona Λόγου et natura humana, quo sensu vocatur Mater Domini Luc. i. 43, sed non precise et abstracte ratione Deitatis.”

Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology.
Vol 2, p 393.

2 Responses to “Hail Mary Full of Grace”

Can you translate the Turretin quote for me?

I think it is good to realize that the pendulum has swung too far for us Protestants. So concerned to avoid idolatry, we miss out on the benefits of sitting at the feet of our mothers and fathers in the faith, “the communion of saints” which we affirm in the Apostles’ Creed. Mary certainly was the Uberdisciple.

Left by Ruth Rachel Vendsel on April 4th, 2006

The ironic thing Rachel is that the very point you mention is where Protestants have left sola scriptura and taken on their own non-biblical tradition. May God’s people treasure what He has revealed to us in His Word.

Left by W.Nielsen on April 4th, 2006

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