Overview
of The Three Estates
Prayer: Dear
heavenly Father, we thank You through Your Son, Jesus Christ, that we
have been called out of the darkness of sin into the light of grace
and forgiveness by the power of Your Holy Spirit through Word and
Sacrament. We confess that we cannot do any good of our own power or
will and beg that You would grant us Your grace to live this life in
the places where You have placed us. You have put us here in these
outposts in life. You have given us the mission to love our neighbor
as Christ has loved us. Grant us Your grace and work in us and
through us what we cannot. We ask this in the name of our Brother,
Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
Introduction:
This
series of Bible studies introduces God's teachings about Vocation,
the Three Estates, and Christian Service. These teachings from God's
Word are all interrelated with the basic article of the Christian
teaching: that we are Justified by God through faith in Jesus Christ
alone, none of our works have any saving merit before God. In this
world, as sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ we have been called
by God to faith in Christ through Word and Sacrament, placed in our
outposts, our communities, congregations, and families by the
providential grace of God, all so that the Light of Christ may shine
before men. This, then, is the foundation upon which we seek to
understand where God has placed us in our various outposts in this
world and what our mission is through His Gospel and by His strength.
Some Definitions:
Out·post ['autˌpəust]: a base
camp in a distant and possibly hostile territory.
Mis·sion ['mi∫n]: a special and
sometimes dangerous task given to a person or group to carry out.
God has a mission – a vocation – for the
Christian to fulfill at each outpost (also known as the estates of
family, church, and nation).
Vo·ca·tion noun [vō-ˈkā-shən]
The stations in life where God has called us to live by faith serving
neighbor, whether as a member of a Christian congregation, a family
member, or in civil society. The word also is used to refer to a
person's employment or main occupation.
Es·tate noun [i-ˈstāt] The realm,
domain, or sphere of a particular kind of authority
This first study is a general introduction to
understanding our outposts and mission by looking at Vocation and the
basic outline of what the Bible teaches about the Three Estates.
What is the Doctrine of Vocation?
The Doctrine of
Vocation in God's Word teaches us how we live by faith rather than by
works within the places where God has called us through His Gospel.
The word Vocation means “Calling.” And it is God who has called
us and placed us at our outposts. In these outposts where God has
called us we live by faith in His grace for the benefit of our
neighbor. His Grace shapes the way in which we love our neighbor
through life and actions.
How were we called?
I
Corinthians 1:9
How does our calling
to faith in Christ affect our relationships with our neighbors?
Ephesians
4:1-5
I
Corinthians 7:17-24
What is an Estate?
In the Scripture's
doctrine of Vocation we use the word Estate as a name for outposts
where we live and where God has called us as his servants. Our
outposts in these Estates have their own kinds of responsibility,
duty, and authority in living our lives for the benefit of our
neighbors and in service to them. The Scriptures set boundaries on
our service and the kinds of relationships we have with our neighbor.
- Romans 13: 7-10
How are We Motivated by the Gospel of
Forgiveness in these Vocations?
In the outposts where
God has called us our love for our neighbor is not based on what we
get out of the relationship with our neighbor. Our mission, our
calling is to love one another even as Christ has loved us. To serve
each other as He has served us.
- The last two sentences were references to Bible passages. Do you know what they are and where they are?
In the outpost of
earthly employment and even slavery there is a difference between
Christian love to our neighbor and selfish motivations for work:
Read 1 Peter 2:
18-25.
- Where does the motivation for serving harsh masters come from?
- What is the concern that the Christian servant should have for not only the good but the harsh master?
- How is this duty fulfilled for us where we fail?
In the outpost of
living among non-Christians there is a difference between showing
Christian love seeking the good of our neighbor and the idea of
getting what we can from a relationship:
Read 1 Peter 2:
11-12
- For whose benefit is our service?
- When does God say the real benefits of this selfless service will be revealed?
- What is the goal of serving our neighbor?
Even in the outpost of
marriage itself, with all the family issues, there is a basic
foundation of selfless love husband and wife have for each other
based on Christ's selflessness. Consider the example God gives for
the husband:
Read Ephesians
5:25-27
- What is the responsibility of a husband toward his wife?
- How does the example of Christ in this passage show us the difference between real love and human desire?
What is the teaching of the 3 Estates?
The teaching of the three Estates is the doctrine
of God revealed in Scripture which shows us the different realms of
life in this world. The teaching shows us
- who holds authority in these different estates,
- who may hold office in these different estates,
- what the responsibilities and duties of those offices are,
- what the limits of those offices are,
- how God appoints the officers to administer the duties in each estate,
- and what the responsibilities and duties are of those under authority according to each estate. Living for the benefit of our neighbor.
What are the 3 Estates (with some of the other
names used for each)?
These estates are the outposts where we live in
this world. They are:
- Family (Marriage, The Household/Domestic Estate or Office, Nurture, Fatherhood);
- Church (The Office of the Keys, The Office or Estate of the Ministry, Teaching); and
- Civil Government (State, The Sword, The Civic Estate, The Office of National Government, Defense).
Where is this teaching found?
Scripture teaches us through the 4th Commandment
regarding the honor due to those above us in each estate. Scripture
also teaches specifically in numerous passages regarding the
particular duties and authority of the officers and laity toward God
and Man in each estate.
The Table of Duties "Consisting of
Certain Passages of Scripture for Various Holy Orders and Stations,
Whereby These are to be Admonished, as by a Special Lesson, Regarding
Their Office and Service" (SC Appx 2:1) lays out the basic
passages regarding these estates. The Scripture passages quoted in
Table of Duties describe what the life of faith looks like and how
love is fulfilled in Christ in what He has done for us.
The Large Catechism on the 4th
Commandment discusses each of the 3 Estates in some detail,
distinguishing how authority is derived and executed according to
each.
What is the source of authority for each
estate?
The Lord Jesus Christ has all authority (Mt.
28:18), and, through His written Word, He establishes the distinction
between the officers, the laity, the authority, and the obedience
differently in each estate.
What are the spheres of authority and obedience
for each estate?
The Household Estate is the family and includes
all family members and those employed by the family
Ephesians 5-6
The Governmental Estate includes all levels,
regions, and forms of civil government and their subjects.
Romans 13
The Estate of the Church includes the Church of
Christ as individuals, congregations, and as a whole.
I Timothy 3:3-6
Hebrews 11:13
The Fourth Commandment and Authority in the
Three Estates.
The Three Estates in Luther's explanation of the
4th Commandment in the Large Catechism.
Luther's explanation is organized
in this way:
1)
The Estate of Household, Approached from the duties owed by a child
or servant. Sections 105 to 140.
2)
The Authority of the Various Estates in Relation to the Estate of the
Household. 141-149.
3)
The Civil Estate. 150-157.
4)
The Church Estate. 158-165.
5)
The Household Estate, Approached from the duties of the parents,
Fathers in particular. 167-177.
God has established each estate with their
separate sphere of authority. These estates overlap in some ways. And
every Christian is involved somehow either living in or also in the
governance of each.
The Table of Duties as an
Explanation of the Three Estates
Luther includes the Table of Duties in his
Small Catechism. It is not difficult to see that Luther's
organizing theme is the Three Estates. Observe the following
divisions according to the Three Estates. I have left the sections
of the Table of Duties in their original order and inserted the names
of the Three Estates in Italics as headings.
The Church
To
Bishops, Pastors and Preachers
What
the Hearers Owe to Their Pastors
Civil Government
The
Civil Government
Citizens
The Family or Household
Husbands
Wives
Parents
Children
Employees
Employers
The
Young
All
Christians
Prayer:
O Lord, our heavenly Father, we thank You, that out of Your boundless
grace for the sake of Your Son, You have given us the Holy Gospel,
and have instituted the holy Sacraments, that through them we may
have comfort and forgiveness of sin; we beseech You, grant us your
Holy Spirit, that we may believe Your Word; and through the holy
Sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain
salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
your and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.
