Category Archives: Church History

A Patristic Christmas

Posted on by
Reply

Modified from original which was published on December 23, 2010. 

The letter to Diognetus, generally dated between 130 and 200, is by an unknown author to a recipient named Diognetus. Diogentus, who may or may not be a real person, has questions about Christianity that the author tackles in the letter. The questions are found in chapter 1 and can be summarized as:

  1. what God do Christians place their trust in?
  2. what practices do they observe?
  3. why do they reject worldly customs, Greek gods, and Jewish practices?
  4. why do Christians show such love/affection to others?
  5. why has the new religion Christianity entered the world now and not earlier?

In chapter 7 of the letter the author talks about the God we trust sending His Son:

For, as I said, this was no mere earthly invention which was delivered to them, nor is it a mere human system of opinion, which they judge it right to preserve so carefully, nor has a dispensation of mere human mysteries been committed to them, but truly God Himself, who is almighty, the Creator of all things, and invisible, has sent from heaven, and placed among men, [Him who is] the truth, and the holy and incomprehensible Word, and has firmly established Him in their hearts. He did not, as one might have imagined, send to men any servant, or angel, or ruler, or any one of those who bear sway over earthly things, or one of those to whom the government of things in the heavens has been entrusted, but the very Creator and Fashioner of all things—by whom He made the heavens … This [messenger] He sent to them. Was it then, as one might conceive, for the purpose of exercising tyranny, or of inspiring fear and terror? By no means, but under the influence of clemency and meekness.

At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of our Savior. That special time in history when God chose to send His Son (the Word) from heaven to become flesh and dwell among us (John 1:1-2,14). That baby that we see lying in the manager of our nativity is ‘the very Creator and Fashioner of all things’ who commands the sun, moon, and stars.The Word through whom all things are made (John 1:3; Heb 1:2) and who embodies grace and truth and holiness.

Continue reading →

Twas the dawn of Reformation (a poem/parody)

Posted on by
Reply

What happens when a history buff and theology geek can’t sleep around Christmas time?
How about a mash-up that goes something like this (updates in italics):

Reformers: Luther, Erasmus, and Zwingli

Reformers: Luther, Erasmus, and Zwingli

‘Twas the dawn of Reformation, all thro’ the land,
penance was sold for a Cathedral so grand.
The theses were hung on Wittenburg with great care,
In hopes that needed reform soon would be there.
Now, Martin Luther was torn with guilt you see,
the gospel of Romans was what set him free,
But the marketing plan used by one Tetzel,
tied up good news into a works based pretzel.

When all across Europe there arose such a clatter,
it was clear to see the gospel does matter.
Cajetan was sent to Ausburg in a flash,
to examine Luther who was acting quite rash.
Next up was Eck, the debate was quite a show,
to Papal authority Luther said no.
Then what in Martin’s inbox should now appear,
but a Bull from the Pope, you’re out now my dear.

Now, what next in history should happen , just wait
But the Diet of Worms to decide Luther’s fate.
More rapid than eagles his accusers came,
they questioned his writings and put him to shame.
Luther asked for more time and prayed thru the nite,
Before them he said – Here I Stand for what’s right.
Tho’ captive to God, he was hidden from view,
Tis’ dangerous to challenge the Pope’s purview.

Erasmus the scholar, who brought back the Greek,
A fight with Luther he did not want or seek.
For, the Catholic Church, both sought to restore,
But on this issue they created rancor.
Does anyone have the ability to choose,
or is it our God who determines you lose?
The Bondage of the Will or is it set free,
a doctrine on which we may never agree.

In Zurich, Zwingli joined Luther’s reform work,
After fighting in Marsburg, called him a jerk.
Despite much in common, one thing caus’d tension,
the presence of Christ, the point of dissention.
Now what do you believe and hold to be true?
These things Luther presents in Augsburg to you.
Translating the Bible so it can be read,
Luther helped many change to living from dead.

Now two more reformers entered the fray,
and sola scriptura was what they did say.
The faithful, Calvin said, only God can elect,
sorry if it was you He did not select.
But, Arminius did not see it as such,
instead he taught that coming to faith ‘went Dutch’.
Now, this doctrine they tried to settle in court,
and a TULIP was grown at the Council of Dort.

While in doctrine we don’t all see eye to eye,
In God and His Word, does authority lie.
Reformed and reforming by this we’re driven:
Telling all – by faith, salvation is given.
’cause Jesus exclaimed as He rose out of sight,
be My witness to all, thru My power and might.
And in all that we do may God get the glory,
as we live our lives based on this Christmas story.

Not Dead, Mostly Dead, and All Dead Illustrated

Posted on by
Reply

I recently taught a class on “original sin”. In order to clarify the differences between the views which were described as Not Dead, Mostly Dead, and All Dead, in a previous post, I used illustrations focusing on people from the sermon we had heard that morning (covering Acts 8-11). This post expands on those idea, focusing on the Ethiopian eunuch (instead of Cornelius).

The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch is described in Acts 8:26-40 (NET translation used below). It should be noted that the circumstances surrounding this event and the way that God sent Philip were extraordinary and occurred during a time when the followers of Christ were becoming aware of God’s plan for the “good news” to be taken to the Gentiles. Even though we are not supernaturally transported to evangelical encounters like Philip, we all share a responsibility to respond to (Acts 4:12; 8:12; Rom 10:9-13) and share the good news (Acts 1:8; Rom 10:14-15).

This narrative is used to illustrate the differences in the views regarding the nature of man after the Fall. The numbered bullets are correlated across the illustrations so that it is easier to see the similarities and differences.

…There [Philip] met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace,queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home, sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. … [Philip] asked him,“Do you understand what you’re reading?” The man replied, “How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. … So Philip started speaking,and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?” He said to him, ‘If you believe with your whole heart, you may.’ He replied, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’. So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

The Not Dead (Pelagian) view

This view (positively stated based on canon 1 and 7 of the Council of Orange), believes that the freedom of the soul remains unimpaired after the offense of Adam’s sin. People can form right opinions and make right choices which relate to the salvation of eternal life. This includes assenting to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the illumination and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Here is how a person holding to the Not Dead view might break down this passage.

  1. The eunuch, of his own volition, desired to worship God.
  2. The eunuch’s desire caused him to take the initiative of traveling to Jerusalem to worship and to read the Scriptures.
  3. God graciously sent Philip to explain the Scriptures and proclaim the good news (prevenient grace).
  4. The eunuch understood the gracious gift of eternal life through saving faith, and had the ability to accept or reject it.
  5. The eunuch accepted the gracious gift through faith and was regenerated (made a new creation).

The Mostly Dead (Semi Pelagian) view

This view (positively stated based on canon 3, 4, 5, and 8 of the Council of Orange), affirms that the free will of man has been weakened through Adam but still has the ability to seek salvation. The beginning and the very desire for faith, by which we believe in Jesus and are saved comes from our own will and choice, however the increase and completion of this act requires the Holy Spirit.

Here is how a person holding to the Mostly Dead view might break down this passage.

  1. The eunuch, of his own volition (despite a corrupted nature), desired to worship God.
  2. The eunuch’s desire caused him to take the initiative of traveling to Jerusalem to worship and to read the Scriptures.
  3. God saw the desire and initiative of this person and sent Philip to explain the Scriptures and proclaim the good news (prevenient grace).
  4. God helped the eunuch overcome his corrupt nature so that he could understand and accept/reject the good news that Philip shared (prevenient grace).
  5. The eunuch accepted the gracious gift through faith and was regenerated (made a new creation).

The All Dead (Arminian) view

This view, (summarized from articles 3 and 4 of the Remonstrance) asserts that man is in a state of apostasy and sin and can not think, will, nor do anything that is truly good (such as having saving faith). He must be renewed through prevenient, assisting, and co-operative grace so that he is able to rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is truly good. However this grace is given in such a way as to be resistible by man.

Here is how a person holding to the All Dead/Arminian view might break down this passage.

  1. The eunuch, because of his corrupted nature could not desire to worship God until this desire was graciously given to Him (prevenient grace).
  2. Once the desire was stirred in the eunuch it allowed him to choose to act on it. He chose to take the initiative of traveling to Jerusalem to worship and to read the Scriptures.
  3. God graciously sent Philip to explain the Scriptures and proclaim the good news (prevenient grace).
  4. God helped the eunuch overcome his corrupt nature so that he could understand and accept/reject the good news that Philip shared (prevenient grace).
  5. The eunuch accepted the gracious gift through faith and was regenerated (made a new creation).

The All Dead (Reformed/Calvinist) view

This view, (summarized from articles 1, 2, 3, and 14 released by the Synod of Dort under the section that addressed the third and fourth articles of the Remonstrance) sees man as having a corrupt nature that resulted in (among other things) blindness, distortion of judgment, and hardness of both heart and will. Without the grace of the regenerating Holy Spirit people are neither willing nor able to turn to God, to reform their distorted nature, or even to desire these things. God produces in man both the will to believe and the belief itself. Faith is not offered by God for man to choose but bestowed on man, breathed and infused into him.

Here is how a person holding to the All Dead/Reformed view might break down this passage.

  1. The eunuch, because of his corrupted nature could not desire to worship God until this desire was graciously given to Him (prevenient grace).
  2. Once the desire was stirred in the eunuch it caused him to act upon it, thus he traveled to Jerusalem to worship and also read the Scriptures.
  3. God graciously sent Philip to explain the Scriptures and proclaim the good news (prevenient grace).
  4. God helped the eunuch overcome his corrupt nature by regeneration him (making him a new creation) so that he could understand and accept the good news that Philip shared (prevenient grace). This grace was not able to be resisted or rejected by the eunuch since he now had a new nature.
  5. The eunuch, with his new nature and the desire for a relationship with God stirred in him, acted by accepting the gracious gift through faith.

The question for those holding to the All Dead/Reformed view is how did the eunuch desire to worship God and learn about Him in the Scriptures (#1 and #2) prior to his being regenerated in step #4?

Do you think these illustrations properly represent each view?

Which view do you think best represents Scripture?