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    Question 47

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    Section 1: Introduction

    Are not by this means the two natures in Christ pulled assunder, if his Humanity be not wheresoever his Divinity is?

    No; for seeing his Divinity is incomprehensible, anda every where present, it followeth necessarily that the same is without the bounds of his humane Nature which he took unto him, and yet is nevertheless in it,b and abideth personally united to it.

    Are not by this means the two natures in Christ pulled asunder, if his Humanity be not wheresoever his Divinity is?

    No; for seeing his Divinity is incomprehensible, anda every where present, it follows necessarily that the same is without the bounds of his human Nature which he took unto him, and yet is nevertheless in it,b and abides personally united to it.

    1. a. Acts 7:48,44; Acts 17:27; Jeremiah 23:23–24

      Acts 7:48; Acts 7:44

      7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

      7:48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.

      Acts 17:27

      17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

      17:27 God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

      Jeremiah 23:23–24

      23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

      23:23 "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?" 23:24 "Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:6

      Colossians 2:9

      2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

      2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.

      Matthew 28:6

      28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

      28:6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes from Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 48

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 48

    But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, Are not then these by this means the two natures in Christ separated from one another?pulled assunder, if his Humanity be not wheresoever his Divinity is?

    Not at all; No; for since the Godhead seeing his Divinity is incomprehensible, and omnipresent, every where present, it must followeth necessarily follow that the same is not limited with without the bounds of his humane Nature which he assumed, took unto him, and yet remains is nevertheless in it, and abideth personally united to it.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 48

    But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?

    Not at all; for since the Godhead is incomprehensible and omnipresent, it must necessarily follow that the same is not limited with the human nature he assumed, and yet remains personally united to it.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 47

    Are not by this means the two natures in Christ pulled assunder, if his Humanity be not wheresoever his Divinity is?

    No; for seeing his Divinity is incomprehensible, and every where present, it followeth necessarily that the same is without the bounds of his humane Nature which he took unto him, and yet is nevertheless in it, and abideth personally united to it.

    Related (1)

    Apostles’ Creed, which this question expounds

    Clause 6

    He ascended into Heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

    Commentaries (5)