Wednesday, March 10, 2010
9:50PM - Church Fathers Day 19: St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I): Secs. 10-18
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 10-18. I'm caught up again.
He seems to concentrate on heresies at the beginning, move into martyrdom for a little bit, then shit to some straight-ahead teaching based on both the Gospels and Paul's letters. Again, I think I'm going to have to read this again some other time to really get a grip on it.
9:41PM - Church Fathers Day 18: St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church (Treatise I): 1-9
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Yesterday was St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 1-9. I'm catching up.
This style of writing is different than what I've been reading lately, so it took a little bit to get into it. Seems to be some pretty straightforward writing about the history of the church and how everything should generally work together. I'll probably have to read this again later to get a better understanding.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
11:30PM - Church Fathers Day 17: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 60-68
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Yesterday was St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 60-68. I'm catching up.
Now St. Justin Martyr is talking about Plato, briefly. He also talks about how God appeared to Moses. What I am finding most interesting, however, is how he describes Christian theology as it relates to the theology he is seeing all around him. E.g.:
CHAPTER LXIV -- FURTHER MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUTH.
From what has been already said, you can understand how the devils, in imitation of what was said by Moses, asserted that Proserpine was the daughter of Jupiter, and instigated the people to set up an image of her under the name of Kore [Cora, i.e., the maiden or daughter] at the spring-heads. For, as we wrote above, Moses said, "In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and unfurnished: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." In imitation, therefore, of what is here said of the Spirit of God moving on the waters, they said that Proserpine [or Coral was the daughter of Jupiter. And in like manner also they craftily feigned that Minerva was the daughter of Jupiter, not by sexual union, but, knowing that God conceived and made the world by the Word, they say that Minerva is the first conception [ennoia]; which we consider to be very absurd, bringing forward the form of the conception in a female shape. And in like manner the actions of those others who are called sons of Jupiter sufficiently condemn them.
11:20PM - Church Fathers Day 16: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 48-59
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Last Saturday was St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 48-59. I'm catching up.
After the last reading concentrated on prophecy, today's reading was a natural progression. It continued with the discussion on prophecy in general, but quickly grounded it in the historical context of Christ. After discussing that for a bit, St. Justin Martyr moves to discussing contemporary (for him) theology, like Jupiter.
Monday, March 8, 2010
11:35PM - Church Fathers Day 15: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 36-47
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Last Friday was St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 36-47. I'm catching up.
Starting right of the bat with this reading is pretty interesting, talking about different modes of prophecy:
But when you hear the utterances of the prophets spoken as it were personally, you must not suppose that they are spoken by the inspired themselves, but by the Divine Word who moves them. For sometimes He declares things that are to come to pass, in the manner of one who foretells the future; sometimes He speaks as from the person of God the Lord and Father of all; sometimes as from the person of Christ; sometimes as from the person of the people answering the Lord or His Father, just as you can see even in your own writers, one man being the writer of the whole, but introducing the persons who converse.
Then he goes on to give examples from Scripture where prophecy came as spoken by the Father, by the Son, and by the Spirit. That's pretty cool, and I wish someone had explained that to me in this manner when I was first introduced to prophetic writing. A little later, he also treats the question that always tripped me up, an always trips up my students whenever I teach from the prophetic writings: why are descriptions of future events written in the past tense?
CHAPTER XLII -- PROPHECY USING THE PAST TENSE.
But when the Spirit of prophecy speaks of things that are about to come to pass as if they had already taken place,--as may be observed even in the passages already cited by me,--that this circumstance may afford no excuse to readers [for misinterpreting them], we will make even this also quite plain. The things which He absolutely knows will take place, He predicts as if already they had taken place. And that the utterances must be thus received, you will perceive, if you give your attention to them. The words cited above, David uttered 1500 years before Christ became a man and was crucified; and no one of those who lived before Him, nor yet of His contemporaries, afforded joy to the Gentiles by being crucified. But our Jesus Christ, being crucified and dead, rose again, and having ascended to heaven, reigned; and by those things which were published in His name among all nations by the apostles, there is joy afforded to those who expect the immortality promised by Him.
Friday, March 5, 2010
12:38AM - Church Fathers Day 14: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 24-35
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 24-35.
I saw two themes in today's reading. The first dealt with describing other religions of the time. It was an interesting peek into the ideas that competed with early Christianity. The second theme dealt with the history of Christ. It is focused on the Scriptures that prophesied his coming.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
12:10AM - Church Fathers Day 13: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 12-23
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 12-23.
I like how he used a large part of this portion to review Christ's teaching. Much of it was a direct quote from the gospels. I also like how he compares Christian theology with Roman theology -- i.e., the virgin birth of Christ is similar to the sons of Jupiter.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
11:08PM - Church Fathers Day 12: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 1-11
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 1-11.
The style is very different from what I've been reading to this point. I like the change of pace, and I really like the style of laying out a logical, well-reasoned argument.
Monday, March 1, 2010
10:48PM - Church Fathers Day 11: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to Polycarp: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Polycarp. It's the last reading from St. Ignatius in the lenten readings.
I love it, more calls for unity: Have a regard to preserve unity, than which nothing is better. I also see more instruction that is similar to what is found in Scripture: care for widows, love for all, etc. All in all, a rather short letter, too.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
12:40AM - Church Fathers Day 10: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Smyrneans: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Smyrnaeans.
It looks like St. Ignatius is dealing with a few heresies in this letter: the heresy that Christ did not suffer on the cross and the heresy that there was no bodily resurrection.
And He suffered truly, even as also He truly raised up Himself, not, as certain unbelievers maintain, that He only seemed to suffer, as they themselves only seem to be [Christians]....
For I know that after His resurrection also He was still possessed of flesh, and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, "Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit." And immediately they touched Him, and believed, being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this cause also they despised death, and were found its conquerors. And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.
He has several instructions for dealing with the heretics, but this section seems to be the most direct:
CHAPTER VII.--LET US STAND ALOOF FROM SUCH HERETICS.
They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, incur death in the midst of their disputes. But it were better for them to treat it with respect, that they also might rise again. It is fitting, therefore, that ye should keep aloof from such persons, and not to speak of them either in private or in public, but to give heed to the prophets, and above all, to the Gospel, in which the passion [of Christ] has been revealed to us, and the resurrection has been fully proved. But avoid all divisions, as the beginning of evils.
After discussing the heresies, he goes back to one of the themes I sense as common to most of his letters: the need for unity and governance.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
12:43AM - Church Fathers Day 9: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Philadelphians: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Philadelphians.
After yesterday's reading concentrating so much on St. Ignatius' preparations for martyrdom, today's readings that focused on unity within the church were welcome. I like how he continues to harp on the need for unity, and for clearly defined organization and governance.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
10:25PM - Church Fathers Day 8: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Romans: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Romans.
Wow. The whole letter is about St. Ignatius preparing for his martyrdom.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
10:23PM - Church Fathers Day 7: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Trallians: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Trallians.
Here's a part that I liked:
CHAPTER VI.--ABSTAIN FROM THE POISON OF HERETICS.It appears that dealing with heresy is one of the main things St. Ignatius is working with in this letter. The history of Christ he provides a little later reads as though it is designed to refute claims that are being made:
I therefore, yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, entreat you that ye use Christian nourishment only, and abstain from herbage of a different kind; I mean heresy. For those [that are given to this] mix up Jesus Christ with their own poison, speaking things which are unworthy of credit, like those who administer a deadly drug in sweet wine, which he who is ignorant of does greedily take, with a fatal pleasure leading to his own death.
CHAPTER IX,--REFERENCE TO THE HISTORY OF CHRIST.I was also struck by the personal touches at the end of the letter. Like in the epistles that are part of the canon, reading the personal well-wishes always serve to remind me that the author of the letter is a real person, a person who struggles with day-to-day issues, as well as the weighty issues of theology that most of the letters deal with.
Stop your ears, therefore, when any one speaks to you at variance with Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born, and did eat and drink. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; He was truly crucified, and [truly] died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. He was also truly raised from the dead, His Father quickening Him, even as after the same manner His Father will so raise up us who believe in Him by Christ Jesus, apart from whom we do not possess the true life.
1:51AM - Church Fathers Day 6: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Magnesians: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Magnesians.
Two themes stood out to me in today's reading: unity and order. I'm a fan of both of those, so maybe I was looking for them as I read. Regardless, I like how St. Ignatius speaks directly in this letter, with practical instruction.
Monday, February 22, 2010
11:00PM - Church Fathers Day 5: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Ephesians: complete
I'm using a plan that has me reading through 10 of the Church Fathers during Lent this year. Today was St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Ephesians.
I liked this part:
CHAPTER XIII.--EXHORTATION TO MEET TOGETHER FREQUENTLY FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD.
Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, is brought to an end.
This was another choice part:
It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one.
So far, this has been my favorite reading this Lenten season. I kinda felt like I was reading a Pauline letter. I'll be reading St. Ignatius for 6 more days and hope all of the readings are as interesting as today's was.
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