By: Dr. John Frame
DOCTRINE OF THE WORD OF GOD
Lecture
Outline (3)
These are Dr.
Frame's systematic theology lecture outlines for the doctrine of the Word of
God. Though only in outline format,
they are highly detailed and hopefully useful to all.
II. The Functions of the Word in and for Creation
In I, above, we have been
talking about God's speech as such, whether uttered purely in reference to
himself (ad intra, necessary speech) or having some reference to the creation
(ad extra, free speech). Now we focus particularly on the latter category and
ask about the various works which God's word performs in creation ant for
creation. The three creation-functions will correspond roughly to the triad
"meaning, power, self-expression" which we
considered under I.
Since the word is the powerful, meaningful self-expression of God, and since
God is related to creation as Lord (cf. Introductory lectures), the word
functions in and for creation as the self-expression of God's lordship. The
threefold function outlined below, therefore, parallels the "lordship attributes."
A. The Word as God’s DecreeAs Lord, God controls all things, and controls them by his speech. As we have seen (I, C, 2, c ), all of God s actions are performed by his word, his speech. His "decretive will," therefore, by which he controls the whole course of nature and history , is a function of his word. Everything happens because God has ordered it to happen by his word (Eph. 1: 11 ).
