Category Archives: Theology

Maundy Thursday

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A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

Think of ‘as I have love you’ this way: For my love has not been the payment of something owing to you but had its beginning on my side. And in a similar way you ought to do one another good, though you may not owe it. -John Chrysostom

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

Although [at the Lord’s Supper] my mind can think beyond what my tongue can utter, yet even my mind is conquered and overwhelmed by the greateness of the thing. Therefore nothing remains but to break forth in wonder at this mystery, which plainly neither the mind is able to conceive nor the tongue to express. -John Calvin

He fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

His words ‘if it be possible’ referred not only to God’s power but also to his justice. As to God’s power, whatever is just or unjust is possible. As to his justice, which is not only powerful but also just, not everything is possible — only that which is just. – Origen

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48)

Let us know that this evil, which Christ once sustained in his own person, is an evil to which the Church will always be exposed — that of cherishing traitors in her bosom… -John Calvin

Athanasius at Christ and Covenant

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A blogger I just discovered a couple of weeks ago has this about Athanasius’ on the Incarnation.  He mentions Athanasius’ continual arguments from Scripture.  That’s something I had noticed in my thinking through the place of tradition in Christian theology.  While I’m by no means a patristics scholar, in my casual readings through them I’ve noticed a primary appeal to scripture as the source of theology.

CHAP. V. The Parsons Accessary Knowledges.

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THe Countrey Parson hath read the Fathers also, and the Schoolmen, and the later Writers, or a good proition of all, out of all which he hath compiled a book, and body of Divinity, which is the storehouse of his Sermons, and which he preacheth all his Life; but diversly clothed, illustrated, and inlarged. For though the world is full of such composures, yet every mans own is fittest, readyest, and most savory to him. Besides, this being to be done in his younger and preparatory times, it is an honest joy ever after to looke upon his well spent houres. This Body he made by way of expounding the Church Catechisme, to which all divinity may easily be reduced. For it being indifferent in it selfe to choose any Method, that is best to be chosen, of which there is likelyest to be most use. Now Catechizing being a work of singular, and admirable benefit to the Church of God, and a thing required under Canonicall obedience, the expounding of our Catechisme must needs be the most use- full forme. Yet hath the Parson, besides this laborious work, a slighter forme of Catechizing, fitter for country people; according as his audience is, so he useth one, or other; or somtimes both, if his audience be intermixed. He greatly esteemes also of cases of conscience, wherein he is much versed. And indeed, herein is the greatest ability of a Parson to lead his people exactly in the wayes of Truth, so that they neither decline to the right hand, nor to the left. Neither let any think this a slight thing. For every one hath not digested, when it is a sin to take something for mony lent, or when not; when it is a fault to discover anothers fault, or when not; when the affections of the soul in desiring and procuring increase of means, or honour, be a sin of covetousnes or ambition, and when not, when the appetites of the body in eating, drinking, sleep, and the pleasure that comes with sleep, be sins of gluttony, drunkenness, sloath, lust, and when not, and so in many circumstances of actions. Now if a shepherd know not which grass will bane, or which not, how is he fit to be a shepherd? Wherefore the Parson hath throughly canvassed al the particulars of humane actions, at least all those which he observeth are most incident to his Parish.

Old BOoks by deepsan

Herbert continues with what knowledge a parson needs to lead his flock. I love this suggestion of compiling a personal book of excerpts from others to use in teaching and preaching. This itself is a wonderful example of the paradox of our calling to hand on the universal, timeless message of the Gospel…yet through a person with unique interests, skills and voice. Wouldn’t that be a powerful exercise – sorting through the wealth of Christian literature and compiling a ‘storehouse’ of what speaks most powerfully to you?

The second thing I notice is that the message stays the same, we don’t have to keep revising every few years, we simply present the same message that has been handed down through the ages, but in different forms and with different illustrations. I mentioned in an earlier post, how I’ve tried to focus on the most basic meaning in a text, it has been good for me to drive deeper into these foundational matters and work more on presenting them clearly.

 He closes with a reminder that teaching on the basics of the faith is not trivial matter as well as the sharp comment that ‘if a shepherd know not which grass will bane, or which not, how is he fit to be a shepherd?’ I think there is a wealth of wisdom in that line.

 So what would be some of the excerpts that would be part of your own ‘storehouse’?

 (Photo ‘Old Books’ by deepsan)

The delirious melons of Valentius

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I was reading Irenaeus’ ‘Against Heresies’ last night.  I’m in book one where Irenaeus lays out all the different gnostic beliefs, explaining in detail what they teach.  Not the most exciting reading, but it did have what has to be one of the funniest lines in the history of the Church’s writings, or at least during the Patristic period:

“But along with it there exists a power which I term a Gourd; and along with this Gourd there exists a power which again I term Utter-Emptiness. This Gourd and Emptiness, since they are one, produced (and yet did not simply produce, so as to be apart from themselves) a fruit, everywhere visible, eatable, and delicious, which fruit-language calls a Cucumber. Along with this Cucumber exists a power of the same essence, which again I call a Melon. These powers, the Gourd, Utter-Emptiness, the Cucumber, and the Melon, brought forth the remaining multitude of the delirious melons of Valentinus.” (Book I, ch XI)

 Anyway, in Book I Ch XXI, he mentions groups that initiates people through a ‘mystic rite’ of sexual acts followed by a baptism “Into the name of the unknown Father of the universe— into truth, the mother of all things—into Him who descended on Jesus—into union, and redemption, and communion with the powers.” What struck me in the passage was how the gnostic group’s dualistic view of body and soul was held with the worship of sex (as representing heavenly conjunctions) and the confusion of sexes as in the following passage where the son is to say :—“I am a vessel more precious than the female who formed you. If your mother is ignorant of her own descent, I know myself, and am aware whence I am, and I call upon the incorruptible Sophia, who is in the Father, and is the mother of your mother, who has no father, nor any male consort; but a female springing from a female formed you, while ignorant of her own mother, and imagining that she alone existed; but I call upon her mother.”

Looks like current challenges to orthodox views of the Holy Trinity, Baptism and our bodies aren’t so progressive after all.