Monday, February 14, 2022

George Klein Nicolai in The Everlasting Gospel (1705): Colossians 1:16-20 Teaches that Fallen Angels, of Necessity, Be Reconciled Salvifically

Many LDS apologists have pointed out that, absolutizing Col 1:16-20, one would have to argue that fallen angels and even Satan would be “reconciled.” On this, see the discussion of Col 1:15-20 in Refuting Jeff Durbin on “Mormonism”. Note the following from the late-17th/early-18th century Universalist George Klein Nicolai in his 1705 The Everlasting Gospel:

 

“For by him (Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God) were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the Church; who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Col. 1:16-20)

 

This passage teaches us the extent of the reconciliation made by Christ, namely, that it extends itself over the whole creation. Therefore, the fallen angels must also necessarily have their share in it, for they do incontestably belong to the invisible things created by Christ, and consequently to all things, or the things in heaven reconciled by him. And though it is true that through sin are separated from God, nevertheless all the rest of the creatures partake of and are benefited by it. It affords for instance, matter of much joy to the holy angels, when by virtue of this reconciliation, the apostatized creatures are convened to God, and thereby anew received into the communion and friendship of these holy spirits (Luke 13:10; 1 Pet. 1:12; Heb. 12:22). It will also be by the energy of this reconciliation, that in time to come the curse which through sin was brought upon the creation, and has mixed itself with it (Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8:20-22), will be certainly removed from all the rest of the creatures. (George Klein Nicolai, The Everlasting Gospel [Apophasis, 2018], 124-25)