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

This is Christ the Center episode 897 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc897)

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