Vos Group #95 — Jesus’s Teaching on Divine Fatherhood

Reformed Forum

In this episode we turn to Geerhardus Vos’s discussion on divine fatherhood as presented in Biblical Theology (pp. 365–369). Vos masterfully traces the theme of God’s fatherhood from the Old Testament to the New, demonstrating both its continuity and the profound transformation it undergoes in Jesus’ teaching.

We explore key theological distinctions, including:

• The development from a national to an individual application of fatherhood
• The redemptive, rather than universal, nature of divine sonship
• Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father and its implications for believers
• The eschatological significance of adoption into God’s family

Along the way, we challenge modern misconceptions about the fatherhood of God and discuss why Vos firmly rejects the notion of universal divine fatherhood. Join us as we uncover the richness of this biblical doctrine and consider its implications for the Christian life.

Watch on YouTube and Vimeo.

Chapters

• 00:07 Introduction
• 05:31 The Divine Fatherhood of God
• 10:37 Biblical References to God as Father
• 14:13 God as a Father to the Nation of Israel
• 17:26 The Scope of Divine Fatherhood
• 21:38 Divine Fatherhood Is Not a Macro-Attribute
• 24:26 The Redemptive and Eschatological Nature of Divine Fatherhood
• 29:45 God Relating to Believers as Father
• 34:23 Clarifications on Alleged Universal Fatherhood
• 38:37 Expansion of the Concept in the New Covenant
• 43:50 The Practical Import of Divine Fatherhood
• 46:59 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton