Lo! How a rose e’er blooming?

I decided to take the original text of the well-known hymn, and translate it without trying to keep the rhyme scheme. Why? Just because! Here it is below: Original My translation –1599 Speyer version–Es ist ein Ros entsprungen,aus einer Wurzel zart,wie uns die Alten sungen,von Jesse kam die ArtUnd hat ein Blümlein brachtmitten im kalten…

Current Theology Thoughts: Pt. 3, Incomprehensibility

Defining Incomprehensibility Incomprehensibility is that theological concept that, negatively, means what cannot be known of God, and, positively, means that only particulars can be known of God without fully circumscribing the entirety of Him. I don’t want to commit an etymological fallacy, by any means, but I’ll just mention that the Latin form had connotations…

Current Theology Thoughts: Pt. 2, Definitions

I started this post just reviewing patristic quotes of immutability, but as I’ve thought through the idea, I think that I need to review definitions of some basic words used in theology and philosophy, and really think through some implications. I’ve decided this post should be split into multiple posts. I should probably also re-write…

Quote: Willson on the Sabbath

God, who knows what crimes out to be restrained by civil pains, has ordained that the violation of this day (Sabbath) is of that character [that] such restraints can be imposed by the civil government only. James R. Willson, “The Sabbath and Civil Government”

Made gods

We have not been made gods from the beginning, but at first merely men, then at length gods; although God has adopted this course out of His pure benevolence. -Irenaeus, Against Heresies

Destined

“But before the foundation of the world were we, who, because destined to be in Him, pre-existed in the eye of God before, —we the rational creatures of the Word of God, on whose account we date from the beginning; for ‘in the beginning was the Word.’” -Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen

The Cup

He has acknowledged the cup…as His own blood, from which He bedews our blood; and the bread…He has established as His own body, from which He gives increase to our own bodies. -Irenaeus, Against Heresies Again, as a Protestant, don’t know what to think of this.

Sons of God?

According to nature…we are all sons of God, because we have all been created by God. But with respect to obedience and doctrine we are not all the sons of God: those only are so who believe in Him and do His will. And those who do not believe, and do not obey His will,…