The catechism speaks of three offices and two estates of Christ. Estate (as we've seen over the last couple weeks) has to do with “condition.” So we speak of Christ's “estate” of humiliation during his life and death, and his “estate” of exaltation in his resurrection and ascension (which he inherited as the second Adam).
On the other hand, office has to do with function. And the catechism speaks of three functions – three “offices.” Prophet, priest, and king. Why these three?
Why not warrior? Why not judge? Why not shepherd? Scripture uses lots of images and pictures of Christ. Why use only these three?
The reason is because warrior, judge, wise man, shepherd, etc., are subordinate officers. - A warrior is simply one of the functions of a king. - Likewise, a judge (in the OT) has either a kingly or a priestly function. - A shepherd is one of the leading images of the kingly line of David.
If you think about the Old Testament offices, there are lots of “subordinate” officers – but the three overarching roles (the three positions that answer to no one except God) are the prophet (like Moses or Elijah), the high priest (like Aaron), and the king (like David).
Judges ruled only because there was no king. Levites and scribes served the priests. Wise men gave counsel to the king.
But the only three offices that answer directly to God are prophet, priest and king. This week we look at how Christ executes the office of a prophet....
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