Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: Godthe second title in The Good Portion series.

The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works. 

                     

« Round the Sphere Again: Church History | Main | Historia Salutis »
Tuesday
Feb052013

Theological Term of the Week


historia salutis
The unfolding in history of God’s plan for the salvation of the world; the events in space and time by which God brings salvation.  

  • From scripture:
  • But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

    a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:10 ESV)

    But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13 ESV)

  • From Pactum SalutisHistoria Salutis, Ordo Salutis and the Ministry:
  • Creation, the fall, the flood, the call of Abraham, the exodus, the captivity, the life and death of Christ, Pentecost, all of these are events of the historia salutis. On the one hand, they are true events of cosmic history.They actually happened in space and time.  But in another sense, they bear theological significance, because they come in order to fulfill—accomplish—the eternal decrees of God. We do not simply speak of abstract decrees of God, but of genuine historical events bearing a great theological significance. We believe that the Scriptures record the actual historical events of redemption, occurring over several millennia, from creation to consummation. The events recorded in Scripture, while real events in human history, bring into human history the decrees of God. They give substance and historical reality to these decrees. 

Learn more:
  1. The Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies: Pactum SalutisHistoria Salutis, Ordo Salutis and the Ministry
  2. From me: Historia Salutis
  3. Dr. Lane Tipton: The Meaning of Historia Salutis and Ordo Salutis (video)
  4. Bruce Waltke: Summaries of the Stages of Redemptive History (pdf) 

Related terms:

Filed under God’s Nature and His Work

Do you have a term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.

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Reader Comments (1)

That pdf by Waltke is really helpful!

February 6, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterKim Shay

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