The Church Fathers, pt (iv). From ‘The Story of Christian Theology’, Olsen, IVP.
Prolific writer, influential theologian, great beard.
Prayed for by Monica, learned in rhetoric and neo-platonism, converted under Ambrose, became Bishop of Hippo.
3 major debates:
(i) apologetics against Manichaeism, regarding the nature of good and evil
(ii) tackling Donatism, regarding the church and the sacraments
(iii) tackling Pelagius, regarding original sin, free will, and grace.
Ch 6: The need of Scripture, as a guide and teacher, of God as Creator.
(follows from previous post)
We need more than the heavens and earth to guide us properly to God. So, to this God added the light of his Word, to make himself known unto salvation.
He bestowed this privilege on the elect. “For, seeing how the minds of men were carried to and fro and found no resting place, he chose the Jews for a peculiar people, and then hedged them in that they might not, like others, go astray.” In the same way he retains us in his knowledge – if he didn’t, even those who appear the strongest among us might fall away.
The Scriptures work like spectacles. Read the rest of this entry »
Ch 5: Knowledge of God – in creation and governance of the world.
(follows from previous post)
True blessedness is found in knowing God. So, that none may be excluded, God has been pleased “to daily place himself in our view, that we cannot open our eyes without being compelled to behold him.”
“His essence indeed is incomprehensible, utterly transcending all human thought; but on each of his works his glory is engraven in characters so bright, distinct, and illustrious that none, however dull & illiterate, can plead ignorance as their excuse.” (see Romans 1:20). The heavens and the earth (and the human body, as a “miniature world” in this respect) give innumerable proofs for even “the most illiterate peasant”, indeed for anyone with the gift of sight!
But if, in order to apprehend God, we need not look further than even our own human bodies, “what excuse can there be for the sloth of any man who will not take the trouble of descending into himself that he may find him?” Read the rest of this entry »
Bk 1, Ch 4: The knowledge of God stifled by men
(follows from previous post)
Calvin argues here that even “though experience testifies that a seed of religion is divinely sown in all, scarcely one in a hundred is found who cherishes it in his heart. Some lose themselves in superstitious observances, and others, of set purpose, wickedly revolt from God.” In other words, as a pastor recently pointed out , sinful people always tend towards one of two things: either being a Pharisee, or a rebel.
Book 1, Ch 1: Knowledge of God and ourselves is mutually connected
Wisdom, in its entirity = knowledge of God + knowledge of ourselves.
Which comes first? Read the rest of this entry »
