| Author | Message | ||
| Darrell |
Bruce, thanks for sharing these writings of some of the early church fathers. I find them interesting, but also I find it somewhere between amusing and annoying that they are translated in King James style english. Is there a logical explanation for that? For example, were they first translated into English during the Rennaissance? These writings may have historical significance, but they don't carry the same authority as the letters of Paul, for example. | ||
| Ernie |
Darrell: I understand your frustration with the Early Fathers in translation. They were translated into English in the 19th and early 20 th century. Some of them have been revised, but the language remain kind of biblical. I have had the opportunity to study them in Greek and they are really fascinating. I have read most of them, and I think the translations are not bad. Of course, the originals are great. They are not inspired, and we do not use them as sources of theological authority. However, they are the only historical sources we have to know how the early Christian church functioned. In my own experience, was the reading of these documents that prompted me to search for theological answers to my historical findings. Reading the fathers we understand how flawed the historiography of EGW and the Adventist Church is. I encourage any Christian with a curiosity for the earliest sources outside the New Testament to read them. I've done it with excellent results. God bless you, Ernie | ||
| Timo K. |
Bruce, where do I get "The Epistle of Barnabas"? Do you have the name of the Publisher? Might be an interesting document. | ||
| Ernie |
Timo: The Epistle of Barnabas is found within a collection entitled the Apostolic Fathers. edited by J.B. Lightfoot. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978. Ernie | ||
| Ernie |
Thomas: Thank you for the wonderful prayer you have shared with us. It is true, we were led to believe that keeping the Sabbath was going to be enough reason to be persecuted, one day in the future. However, throughout the history of the Christian church nobody has ever been persecuted for keeping the Sabaath. But millions have died for being faithful to the cause and name of Jesus. As was I reading the materials mailed to the churches for today's program on the persecuted church, my heart was hurt for so many fellow Christians paying with their lives the price of Christ's discipleship. At the same time I praised God for being so gracious with me that even in the midst of theological conflicts, I have had total religious freedom to live and believe according to my conscience. Thomas, God bless you for expressing our hearts in such a beautiful prayer. Ernie | ||
| Bruce H |
Justin Martyr (around 90 - 100 AD) 373 CHAPTER 11 THE LAW ABROGATED; THE NEW TESTAMENT PROMISED AND GIVEN BY GOD There will be no other God, O Trypho, nor was there from eternity any other existing (I thus addressed him), but He who made and disposed all this universe. Nor do we think that there is one God for us, another for you, but that He alone is God who led your fathers out from Egypt with a strong hand and a high arm. Nor have we trusted in any other (for there is no other), but in Him in whom you also have trusted, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. But we do not trust through Moses or through the law; for then we would do the same as yourselves. But now (for I have read that there shall be a final law, and a covenant, the chiefest of all, which it is now incumbent on all men to observe, as many as are seeking after the inheritance of God. For the law promulgated on Horeb is now old, and belongs to yourselves alone; but this is for all universally. Now, law placed against law has abrogated that which is before it, and a covenant which comes after in like manner has put an end to the previous one; and an eternal and final law namely, Christ has been given to us, and the covenant is trustworthy, after which there shall be no law, no commandment, no ordinance. Have you not read this which Isaiah says: Hearken unto Me, hearken unto Me, my people; and, ye kings, give ear unto Me: for a law shall go forth from Me, and My judgment shall be for a light to the nations. My righteousness approaches swiftly, and My salvation shall go forth, and nations shall trust in Mine arm? And by Jeremiah, concerning this same new covenant, He thus speaks: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt1). If, therefore, God proclaimed a new covenant which was to be instituted, and this for a light of the nations, we see and are persuaded that men approach God, leaving their idols and other unrighteousness, through the name of Him who was crucified, Jesus Christ, and abide by their confession even unto death, and maintain piety. Moreover, by the works and by the attendant miracles, it is possible for all to understand that He is the new 374 law, and the new covenant, and the expectation of those who out of every people wait for the good things of God. For the true spiritual Israel, and descendants of Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham (who in uncircumcision was approved of and blessed by God on account of his faith, and called the father of many nations), are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ, as shall be demonstrated while we proceed. B | ||
| Bruce H |
More Justin Martyr CHAPTER 12 THE JEWS VIOLATE THE ETERNAL LAW, AND INTERPRET ILL THAT OF MOSES I also adduced another passage in which Isaiah exclaims: Hear My words, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people: nations which know not Thee shall call on Thee; peoples who know not Thee shall escape to Thee, because of thy God, the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified Thee. This same law you have despised, and His new holy covenant you have slighted; and now you neither receive it, nor repent of your evil deeds. For your ears are closed, your eyes are blinded, and the heart is hardened, Jeremiah has cried; yet not even then do you listen. The Lawgiver is present, yet you do not see Him; to the poor the Gospel is preached, the blind see, yet you do not understand. You have now need of a second circumcision, though you glory greatly in the flesh. The new law requires you to keep perpetual sabbath, and you, because you are idle for one day, suppose you are pious, not discerning why this has been commanded you: and if you eat unleavened bread, you say the will of God has been fulfilled. The Lord our God does not take pleasure in such observances: |
