Tuesday, October 19, 2021

John of Damascus (675/76-749) on the Meaning of "The Right Hand of God the Father"

  

We hold moreover, that Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father, but we do not hold that the right hand of the Father is actual place. For how could He that is uncircumscribed have a right hand limited by place? Right hands and left hands belong to what is circumscribed. But we understand the right hand of the Father to be the glory and honour of the Godhead in which the Son of God who existed as God before the ages, and is of like essence to the Father, and in the end became flesh, has a seat in the body, His flesh sharing in the glory. For He along with His flesh is adored with one adoration by all creation. (An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book IV, Chapter II [NPNF2 9:74])

 

For a Latter-day Saint understanding (and I would say, biblical-exegetical reading, too) of "right hand of God" and Acts 7:55-56, see:


Lynn Wilder vs. Latter-day Saint (and Biblical) Theology on Divine Embodiment