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F11 reasoning: Ascension and session

Reasoning steps: Ascension and session

Verdicts: F11 · Ascension and session. Method: conventions, scoring and proximity eras. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by era (Era I to c. 150 = 1.0, II = 0.8, III = 0.6, IV = 0.4).

F11.1: Ascension and session

Step F11.1.1: Scripture

Acts 1:9–11 (taken up; ‘will come in the same way’); Acts 2:33–36; Eph 1:20–22 (seated at the right hand, far above all rule); Heb 1:3; Ps 110:1.

Step F11.1.2: Patristic evidence

Polycarp (Era I): God gave Christ ‘glory, and a throne at His right hand’. Irenaeus’s rule of faith: ’the ascension into heaven in the flesh’. Justin: he ‘ascended into heaven’. Sources: polycarp-f11-s1 · irenaeus-f11-s1 · justin-martyr-f11-s1.

Step F11.1.3: Weighing decision

Unanimous from Era I. Verdict: consensus. The Lutheran–Reformed dispute over the ubiquity of Christ’s humanity is later and does not deny the ascension.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F11.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Acts 1 and Eph 1 describe a bodily ascension and present reign. (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era I agree; all nine confess it.

F11.2: Does the ascended Christ intercede as high priest?

Step F11.2.1: Scripture

Heb 7:25 (‘he always lives to make intercession for them’); Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1 (‘an advocate with the Father’); Heb 9:24.

Step F11.2.2: Patristic evidence

Clement (Era I): Jesus Christ is ’the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our infirmity’. Polycarp (Era I) prays to the Father and ’the eternal High Priest’ Jesus Christ. Sources: clement-of-rome-f11-s1 · polycarp-f11-s2.

Step F11.2.3: Weighing decision

Unanimous from Era I. Verdict: consensus.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F11.2.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Christ ‘always lives to make intercession’ (Heb 7:25; Rom 8:34). (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era I agree; all nine confess it (the saints’ intercession is S18).

Post-750 development by tradition

Catholic

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Creeds.
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Trent XXII ch. 1 (eternal priesthood).

Orthodox

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Creeds.
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dositheus 8: ‘advocate and propitiation’ (verified).

Oriental Orthodox

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Armenian creed: ‘ascended into heaven with the same body and sat at the right hand of the Father’ (verified).
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Armenian Badarak.

Lutheran

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC III: ‘ascended into heaven that He might sit on the right hand of the Father’; FC VIII adds the ubiquity of Christ’s humanity.
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC XXI: Christ ’the Mediator, Propitiation, High Priest, and Intercessor’ (verified).

Anglican

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. IV: ‘ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth’.
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. IV.

Presbyterian

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF VIII.4.
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF VIII.4: ‘sitteth at the right hand of his Father, making intercession’ (verified).

Reformed Baptist

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 8.4.
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 8.4.

General Baptist

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Apostles’ Creed received (Orthodox Creed 38).
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed (Christ’s offices; to verify).

Anabaptist

Confesses the ascension and session.

  • F11.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dordrecht IV: ‘ascended to heaven … sits on the right hand of God’ (verified).
  • F11.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dordrecht IV (verified: sits at the right hand).