By Schubert Ogden
The Notebooks of Schubert Ogden
God, according to Paul's doxology in Romans 11:36, is the One from Whom and through whom and for whom are all things. On my view, according to which God is said to be the Creator-Emancipator and also the Consummator-Redeemer, it may be clear enough that God is the One from and for whom are all things, but what about God's being the One through whom are all things?
My answer is that, whatever is, is what it really is solely through God, in that God's objectification of things is the only objectification of all things, every other objectification being of some things only. Therefore, my reality, and the reality of everyone and everything else (including God Godself!) is the reality we each have through God alone. So, while we all come to be from God and exist for God, God's all-embracing love, including God's all-righteous judgment, is also the very meaning of our coming to be whatever we really are.
It is only appropriate, then, to speak of God not only as the sole primal source and the sole final end of all things, but also as their sole adequate medium, but for which they would not be what they really are.
20 January 2010
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