Heavenly Session and Intercession
Seated at the right hand, yet always pleading — the risen Christ as our priest in heaven
This is the belief that the ascended Christ reigns at the Father's right hand and continually intercedes for believers as their high priest. The Letter to the Hebrews (chapters 7-9) presents him as a priest who lives forever to make intercession, and Romans 8:34 names the risen Christ as the one who pleads for us. His "session," or being seated, signifies both his royal reign and his ongoing priestly care.
How it traveled
- 1 PeterRome · c. 64 CEexplains
- HebrewsRome · c. 67 CEexplains
- EphesiansRome · c. 67 CEexplains
- RomansCorinth · c. 67 CEexplains
- MarkRome · c. 68 CEexplains
- ActsRome · c. 84 CEexplains
- LukeRome · c. 84 CEexplains
- JohnEphesus · c. 100 CEexplains
- RevelationPatmos · c. 100 CEexplains
- The First ApologyRome · c. 165 CEexplains
- Melito, the Philosopher.— · c. 220 CEexplains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · c. 386 CEexplains
- Exposition of the Christian FaithMilan · c. 397 CEexplains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · c. 407 CEexplains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · c. 407 CEexplains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · c. 407 CEexplains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · c. 407 CEexplains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- City of GodHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- A Treatise on Faith and the CreedHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · c. 458 CEexplains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · c. 604 CEexplains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · c. 1274 CEexplains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · c. 1564 CEexplains
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · c. 1564 CEexplains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · c. 1564 CEexplains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
- HeavenNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
- Five Sermons. On Different OccasionsNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
- Confirmation of the AngelsNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
- XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
- The Wisdom of God Displayed in the Way of SalvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
Key passages(20)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Thirdly, in order to direct the fervor of our charity to heavenly things. Hence the Apostle says (Col. 3:1,2): "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind t
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Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
14. The resurrection is naturally followed by the ascension into heaven. For although Christ, by rising again, began fully to display his glory and virtue, having laid aside the abject and ignoble con
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A Treatise on Faith and the Creed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 7.—Of Christ’s Session at the Father’s Right Hand. 14. We believe also that He Sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father. This, however, is digna dignis tribuendo); although at the last judgmen
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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
20. Moreover, the Sophists are guilty of the merest trifling when they allege that Christ is the Mediator of redemption, but that believers are mediators of intercession; as if Christ had only perform
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Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
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Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
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From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
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Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
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Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
1st, Here is great ground of assurance that Christ stands ready to accept of sinners, and bestow salvation upon them; for those strong cries of his that he offered up in the capacity of our high pries
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
27. But remember also what I have often saidand ascended into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father.” Let us not curiously pry into what is properly meant by the throne; for it is incom
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans · John Chrysostom
For though seen now in His own dignity, He hath not left caring for us, but even “maketh intercession for us,” and still keepeth up the same love. For He was not contented with being put to death alon
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews · John Chrysostom
[6.] ( Ver. 25 ) “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Thou seest that he says this in respect of t
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
WE have now to consider Christ's sitting at the right hand of the Father, concerning which there are four points of inquiry: (1) Whether Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father? (2) Whether
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 1: The Son of God is called the Father's "right hand" by appropriation, just as He is called the "Power" of the Father (1 Cor. 1:24). But "right hand of the Father," in its three me
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not proper to Christ to sit at the right hand of the Father, because the Apostle says (Eph. 2:4, 6): "God . . . hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit t
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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
18. And we must carefully attend to the circumstance of time. Christ enjoins his disciples to have recourse to his intercession after he shall have ascended to heaven: “At that day ye shall ask in my
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Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
11. And unto what art Thou born? “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec” (ver. 4). For unto this wast Thou born from the womb before the m
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Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
Psalm XX. Lat. XIX. To the end, a psalm of David. 1. This is a well-known title; and it is not Christ who speaks; but the prophet speaks to Christ, under the form of wishing, foretelling things to
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Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
And as Christ does not alter his covenant, so he unchangeably fulfils it: he never departs in the least jot or tittle. Though he has given exceedingly great and precious promises to those that believe
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The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
That man, therefore, ought by all means to be drawn with cords to be an example of good living who already lives spiritually, dying to all passions of the flesh; who disregards worldly prosperity; who
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