1 Corinthians 1:20-23
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
Comment
The two simple reactions to pain and loss:
One is a protest – This is outrageous – How dare God arranges this so that I have to suffer.
That protest is important. Man is asking for fulfilment.
I experience only the loss. It is not right. That is only the penultimate word.
The ultimate word ought to be an expression of hope.
Is there someone, somewhere who can take this pain, who can carry it, absorb it and somehow dissolve it in the fire of His love, which is much greater, which masters the pain. In Christ we have that.
Who God is, is precisely as Jesus shows Himself to be. He really is God. He really is man. Docetism was a heresy that was dealt with early on where they say God was pretending to be man.
We emphasise that we have to look to Christ and to Christ on the Cross to get to the core of this mystery that God is love. What does that Cross teach us?
One thing is clear is that if it hadn’t been for the Cross then the truth that God is love would remain unfounded, unconvincing.
How do you know God is love if He isn’t prepared to prove it?
To dramatise it by His own suffering love, His own willingness to descend into the brokenness of the human condition. Looking at this crucified God, you can’t help but explain this is what love means. Here is the embodiment of love.
Suffering with, entering deeply into my own pain.
Whatever descent I have – depression or pain or whatever, has already been included, contained within the infinite descent of Christ.
He blazes the trail through this forest of pain.
So I could never accost God and say “Look, you didn’t understand my pain and it somehow exceeded what you had to endure”
How does He taking His own pain involve my pain?
What He does not assume He will not redeem!
This is the ancient patristic refrain. If He assumes my life, my death then He includes both in His own life and death.
His humanity somehow encompasses mine. So by looking to Him, I have more than an example on how to suffer and die.
I have a source of efficacious grace which enables me to triumph, not just to endure, not just to simply submit but to become victorious in the face of suffering.
I have Easter.
Source: Regis Martin – “Franciscan University Presents”
Showing posts with label 1 Corinthians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Corinthians. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
2 Thess 2:15 Hold Fast to True Teachings
Prov. 22:28
Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set
2 Thess 2:15
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
1 Cor 1:4-6, 10
I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge -- even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you –
I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Comment
The scripture quotes above sort of jumped out at me when I had in the back of my mind of a theme for the early Church, your and my ancestors in faith.
Reading the quotes below it should surprise no Christian today that we can find evidence that the truth of the Scriptures were enforced by the early Church, when there was dissension.
Quotes
Irenaeus (ca. A.D. 140-ca. A.D. 202) writes:
’[B]eing most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit.’ (Against Heresies 2,28:2).
Athanasius (ca. A.D. 295-A.D. ca. 373), the great Patriarch of Alexandria, writes:’
[T]he tokens of truth are more exact as drawn from Scripture, than from other sources.’ (Nicene Definition 32).
Tertullian of Carthage (ca. A.D. 155/160-ca. A.D. 240/250) writes:
’If it is nowhere written, then let it fear the woe which impends on all who add or to take away from the written word.’ (Against Hermogenes 22).
Ambrose (ca. A.D. 340 -ca. A.D. 397), the bishop of Milan, writes:
’For how can we adopt those things which we do not find in the holy Scriptures?’ (Duties of the Clergy I,23:102).
Augustine, the bishop of Hippo (ca. A.D. 354-ca. A.D. 430), writes:
’[W]hat more can I teach you, than what we read in the Apostle? For holy Scripture setteth a rule to our teaching, that we dare not ‘be wise more than behoveth to be wise;’ ... Be it not therefore for me to teach you any other thing, save to you the words of the Teacher.’ (Widowhood 2).
Origen of Alexandria (ca. A.D. 185-ca. A.D. 253/254) writes:
’In proof of all words which we advance in matters of doctrine, we ought to set forth the sense of Scripture as confirming the meaning which we are proposing....Therefore we should not take our own ideas for the confirmation of doctrine, unless someone shows that they are holy because they are contained in the divine Scriptures as in the temples of God’ (Comm on Matthew 25).
Source: all quotes above were taken from an article called
The Rule of Faith in Patristic Thought - by J. A. Gallegos
Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set
2 Thess 2:15
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
1 Cor 1:4-6, 10
I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge -- even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you –
I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Comment
The scripture quotes above sort of jumped out at me when I had in the back of my mind of a theme for the early Church, your and my ancestors in faith.
Reading the quotes below it should surprise no Christian today that we can find evidence that the truth of the Scriptures were enforced by the early Church, when there was dissension.
Quotes
Irenaeus (ca. A.D. 140-ca. A.D. 202) writes:
’[B]eing most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit.’ (Against Heresies 2,28:2).
Athanasius (ca. A.D. 295-A.D. ca. 373), the great Patriarch of Alexandria, writes:’
[T]he tokens of truth are more exact as drawn from Scripture, than from other sources.’ (Nicene Definition 32).
Tertullian of Carthage (ca. A.D. 155/160-ca. A.D. 240/250) writes:
’If it is nowhere written, then let it fear the woe which impends on all who add or to take away from the written word.’ (Against Hermogenes 22).
Ambrose (ca. A.D. 340 -ca. A.D. 397), the bishop of Milan, writes:
’For how can we adopt those things which we do not find in the holy Scriptures?’ (Duties of the Clergy I,23:102).
Augustine, the bishop of Hippo (ca. A.D. 354-ca. A.D. 430), writes:
’[W]hat more can I teach you, than what we read in the Apostle? For holy Scripture setteth a rule to our teaching, that we dare not ‘be wise more than behoveth to be wise;’ ... Be it not therefore for me to teach you any other thing, save to you the words of the Teacher.’ (Widowhood 2).
Origen of Alexandria (ca. A.D. 185-ca. A.D. 253/254) writes:
’In proof of all words which we advance in matters of doctrine, we ought to set forth the sense of Scripture as confirming the meaning which we are proposing....Therefore we should not take our own ideas for the confirmation of doctrine, unless someone shows that they are holy because they are contained in the divine Scriptures as in the temples of God’ (Comm on Matthew 25).
Source: all quotes above were taken from an article called
The Rule of Faith in Patristic Thought - by J. A. Gallegos
1 Cor 11:2 Passing on True Teaching
Matt 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
1 Cor 11:2
I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you
Quote
But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles,
and conversed with many who had seen Christ,
….., having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles,
and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true.
To these things all the Asiatic Churches testify, as do also those men who have succeeded Polycarp down to the present time,—a man who was of much greater weight, and a more stedfast witness of truth, than Valentinus, and Marcion, and the rest of the heretics. He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus caused many to turn away from the aforesaid heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles,—that, namely, which is handed down by the Church.
Source: Irenaeus - Against Heresies: Book III – Ch III
Who was Polycarp?
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna on the West Coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the first half of the second century.
He reportedly sat at the feet of the apostle John and knew St. Ignatius of Antioch.
On account of this, he is one of the apostolic fathers, the earliest group of the fathers of the church who play a special role in transmitting to us the teachings given to us from the apostles themselves (also referred to as apostolic tradition).
Polycarp was apprehended by the Roman authorities when in his eighties, around the year 155AD.
Source – www.crossroadsinitiative.com.au
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
1 Cor 11:2
I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you
Quote
But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles,
and conversed with many who had seen Christ,
….., having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles,
and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true.
To these things all the Asiatic Churches testify, as do also those men who have succeeded Polycarp down to the present time,—a man who was of much greater weight, and a more stedfast witness of truth, than Valentinus, and Marcion, and the rest of the heretics. He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus caused many to turn away from the aforesaid heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles,—that, namely, which is handed down by the Church.
Source: Irenaeus - Against Heresies: Book III – Ch III
Who was Polycarp?
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna on the West Coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the first half of the second century.
He reportedly sat at the feet of the apostle John and knew St. Ignatius of Antioch.
On account of this, he is one of the apostolic fathers, the earliest group of the fathers of the church who play a special role in transmitting to us the teachings given to us from the apostles themselves (also referred to as apostolic tradition).
Polycarp was apprehended by the Roman authorities when in his eighties, around the year 155AD.
Source – www.crossroadsinitiative.com.au
Phil.4:1-3 Clement of Rome
1Cor.15:1-2
Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel,
which you received,
in which you stand, by which you are saved,
if you hold it fast
-- unless you believed in vain.
Phil.4:1-3
Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Eu-o'dia and I entreat Syn'tyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Quote
But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church have been persecuted and put to death.
Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.
Source: The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians Ch 5
Who was Clement?
Around the year 95 AD, a letter was written by the Church of Rome to the Church at Corinth that is attributed to Saint Clement.
This document is the earliest Christian writing besides the New Testament documents.
In fact, the Gospel of John is likely written around the same time as this document.
This "first letter of Clement" was copied by the Corinthian Church and circulated all over the empire.
It was so highly regarded by the universal church that for several centuries the Church in Egypt and elsewhere regarded it as one of the New Testament scriptures.
Source: www.crossroadsinitiative.com
Early Church Father
The Early Church Fathers are important Christian writers after the New Testament era who, because of closeness to that New Testament era, witness to the authentically apostolic way of interpreting the Scriptures handed on to them by the Apostles themselves or by someone who was taught by the Apostles (and so on).
They are the ones who identified for us the particular writings that should be regarded as inspired Scriptures well before the final list of books were defined as making up the Bible as we know it today.
Clement is one person who has been called an Early Church Father.
These early Christian writings are THE source where we find out about the early church, the heresies, the persecutions etc.
To read more about the Early Church Fathers
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/index.html
or google “Early Church Fathers”
Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel,
which you received,
in which you stand, by which you are saved,
if you hold it fast
-- unless you believed in vain.
Phil.4:1-3
Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Eu-o'dia and I entreat Syn'tyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Quote
But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church have been persecuted and put to death.
Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.
Source: The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians Ch 5
Who was Clement?
Around the year 95 AD, a letter was written by the Church of Rome to the Church at Corinth that is attributed to Saint Clement.
This document is the earliest Christian writing besides the New Testament documents.
In fact, the Gospel of John is likely written around the same time as this document.
This "first letter of Clement" was copied by the Corinthian Church and circulated all over the empire.
It was so highly regarded by the universal church that for several centuries the Church in Egypt and elsewhere regarded it as one of the New Testament scriptures.
Source: www.crossroadsinitiative.com
Early Church Father
The Early Church Fathers are important Christian writers after the New Testament era who, because of closeness to that New Testament era, witness to the authentically apostolic way of interpreting the Scriptures handed on to them by the Apostles themselves or by someone who was taught by the Apostles (and so on).
They are the ones who identified for us the particular writings that should be regarded as inspired Scriptures well before the final list of books were defined as making up the Bible as we know it today.
Clement is one person who has been called an Early Church Father.
These early Christian writings are THE source where we find out about the early church, the heresies, the persecutions etc.
To read more about the Early Church Fathers
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/index.html
or google “Early Church Fathers”
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