Wow! I have never heard this before and although I’ve read this passage many times never really thought about that particular part. This is very cool. I am always amazed at how the scripture is constantly revealing itself. No matter how many times I may have read any one passage I always seem to find something new. Thanks.from the Haydock Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. To reconcile all things unto himself,…through the blood of his cross, (i.e. which Christ shed on the cross) both as to the things on earth, and…in heaven: not that Christ died for the Angels, but, says St. Chrysostom, the Angels were in a manner at war with men, with sinners, as they stood for the cause and glory of God; but Christ put an end to this enmity, by restoring men to his favour. (Witham) — In heaven. Not by pardoning the wicked angels did Christ reconcile the things in heaven, but by reconciling good Angels to man, who were enemies to him before the birth of Christ. (St. Augustine)
On the four-fold purpose of the Incarnation, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraphs 457-460What could God possibly need to reconcile himself to in heaven? Aren’t God & heaven of their very natures reconciled? And does this passage apply to the Earth itself? If so, what does that mean? In what way has the Earth itself been reconciled to God through Christ?
I understand that Christ’s sacrifice was necessary in order for humanity to be reconciled to God. But Paul’s statement is not so limited. He says “to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven.” Moreover, the commentary in the Haydock Bible speaks of reconciling angels to men. But that’s not what Paul says. Paul says that Christ reconciled things in heaven to God, not to men. So, I ask again, what in heaven could God possibly need to be reconciled to? The fallen angels were not in heaven. Anything in heaven would have to already be reconciled to God by definition, else it wouldn’t be in heaven. And w/ respect to things on earth, that doesn’t appear to be limited to man. Do animals & plants need to be reconciled to God? Does the earth itself? Agruably it does b/c it’s fallen as a result of original sin. But I fail to see how Christ’s sacrifice changed that. The earth is obviousky still “fallen.” If one takes the view that “heaven and earth” is a euphamism for the entire cosmos, I’m not sure that’s an adequate explanation either. Did original sin ruin the entire cosmos? I’m not sure I’d agree w/ that. It seems unduly homocentric. Certainly it ruined man & the earth. But that still leaves heaven. Again, what in heaven could God possibly need to reconcile himself to? The only possible explanation I can come up with is that Paul was engaging in a little hyperbole to make a point, like when he says “all have sinned.” Clearly not all have sinned. Christ did not sin, and infants have not sinned.On the four-fold purpose of the Incarnation, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraphs 457-460
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1J.HTM
I certainly don’t have all the answers. Maybe your definition of heaven is to narrow. God’s children and God’s creation share the same plight. We are part of the universe (heaven). If our destiny is a life without corruption isn’t that the destiny of everything because we are part of the whole.I understand that Christ’s sacrifice was necessary in order for humanity to be reconciled to God. But Paul’s statement is not so limited. He says “to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven.” Moreover, the commentary in the Haydock Bible speaks of reconciling angels to men. But that’s not what Paul says. Paul says that Christ reconciled things in heaven to God, not to men. So, I ask again, what in heaven could God possibly need to be reconciled to? The fallen angels were not in heaven. Anything in heaven would have to already be reconciled to God by definition, else it wouldn’t be in heaven. And w/ respect to things on earth, that doesn’t appear to be limited to man. Do animals & plants need to be reconciled to God? Does the earth itself? Agruably it does b/c it’s fallen as a result of original sin. But I fail to see how Christ’s sacrifice changed that. The earth is obviousky still “fallen.” If one takes the view that “heaven and earth” is a euphamism for the entire cosmos, I’m not sure that’s an adequate explanation either. Did original sin ruin the entire cosmos? I’m not sure I’d agree w/ that. It seems unduly homocentric. Certainly it ruined man & the earth. But that still leaves heaven. Again, what in heaven could God possibly need to reconcile himself to? The only possible explanation I can come up with is that Paul was engaging in a little hyperbole to make a point, like when he says “all have sinned.” Clearly not all have sinned. Christ did not sin, and infants have not sinned.