I normally read the Acknowledgements with interest. Sometimes they are boring and bland. Much better to include some life. I enjoyed this from Lewis Ayres', Augustine and the Trinity (CUP, 2010):
'Anna Catherine Edith, Thomas Francis Augustine and Iain Harry George Gabriel have not been much concerned with Daddy's book: it is not in rhyming couplets, it does not concern Jedi knights and does not come with pictures. But they have been delighted that I have been willing to provide so much paper, with one side oddly used, for colouring and drawing. Their productions on this paper - from treasure maps to 'sacry things' - have frequently been wonderfully diverting. (p.xi)'
My own children often pop into the study to collect my old sermon notes to use as scrap paper, so it struck a chord. I am praying for grace always to embrace the diversion!
Oh, and Thomas Francis Augustine counts as some good theological Catholic names, eh?
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
The Regulative Principle of Public Worship
If you had a really strict view of The Regulative Principle of Public Worship (that is, that everything done in the Lord's Day service requires an explicit and clear New Testament command), what New Testament text would you appeal to for that?
If there isn't one, then this form of RP is self-defeating, isn't it? The Regulative Principle rules out the Regulative Principle, one might say?
If there isn't one, then this form of RP is self-defeating, isn't it? The Regulative Principle rules out the Regulative Principle, one might say?
Monday, March 28, 2016
Christian walk?
There is something to be said, I think, about the Christian life as a walk with the Lord. And a purposeful one: yes, we may stroll with the Lord in the cool of the day, but the Christian life is not an aimless amble: it is a journey, a pilgrimage with a destination. It is a race, but a marathon, not a sprint. And since it is a battle, it is also a march. Perhaps too it is a dance.
Zeal without Burnout
Christopher Ash, Zeal Without Burnout: Seven Keys to a Lifelong Ministry of Sustainable Sacrifice (The Good Book Company, 2016) hardback, 123pp
A really helpful practical little book which I imagine would be worth the time of most pastors and many others. It's not a hard read but it deserves thinking about. Ash suggests taking the time to seek to do a self-check.
Ash's advice is biblically and theologically grounded and born of long experience, both personally and in helping others. As well as being honest about being on the brink of burnout or worse himself more than once, Ash includes the moving and instructive stories of various other Christians. There is undoubtedly much wisdom mere.
Even if there is not much here that is new, the book is a helpful reminder and because it gives big principles as well as a few specific tips, it could have a profound impact.
Medical doctor and pastor, Steve Midgley, gives a short appendix on what burn out is, warning signs and practical steps.
The book goes something like this:
Distinguish between sustainable sacrifice and burnout
Remember that you are a creature of dust
We need sleep, days off*, friends an inward renewal
Beware celebrity / ungodly ambition / pride
Christian service is worth it
Rejoice in the grace of God not just in the gifts he may have given you
* - Ash calls this a Sabbath but doesn't get into debates about the nature of the Christian Sabbath. What he is talking about is the principle of normally sticking to a day off a week.
A really helpful practical little book which I imagine would be worth the time of most pastors and many others. It's not a hard read but it deserves thinking about. Ash suggests taking the time to seek to do a self-check.
Ash's advice is biblically and theologically grounded and born of long experience, both personally and in helping others. As well as being honest about being on the brink of burnout or worse himself more than once, Ash includes the moving and instructive stories of various other Christians. There is undoubtedly much wisdom mere.
Even if there is not much here that is new, the book is a helpful reminder and because it gives big principles as well as a few specific tips, it could have a profound impact.
Medical doctor and pastor, Steve Midgley, gives a short appendix on what burn out is, warning signs and practical steps.
The book goes something like this:
Distinguish between sustainable sacrifice and burnout
Remember that you are a creature of dust
We need sleep, days off*, friends an inward renewal
Beware celebrity / ungodly ambition / pride
Christian service is worth it
Rejoice in the grace of God not just in the gifts he may have given you
* - Ash calls this a Sabbath but doesn't get into debates about the nature of the Christian Sabbath. What he is talking about is the principle of normally sticking to a day off a week.
Easier Easter All Age Talk
Friends have noticed that if you take the 't' out of Easter and add an 'i' you make it Easier. And that the 't' could be said to be cross-shaped. I wonder if there is the germ of an educational all age Easter talk here on Jesus' words in Gethsemane: not what I want, but your will be done. Thank God that Jesus didn't take the easy way out but that he went to the cross for us.
This could perhaps be combined with some kind of anagrams or acrostic thingy or something.
There is at least almost a whole year to think about it!
This could perhaps be combined with some kind of anagrams or acrostic thingy or something.
There is at least almost a whole year to think about it!
Saturday, March 26, 2016
The Significance of the Resurrection
The Significance
of the Resurrection
§ A neglected subject?
- the centrality of the cross (cf. 1 Cor 15:3-4; Acts
4:2, 33)
- busy defending the bodily resurrection / empty tomb
Past Event
§ Evidence that Jesus was who he
claimed to be
§ Shows there is life beyond the
grave (1 Cor 15:12)
§ Shows that Jesus’ God is the
living and true God
§ Shows God accepted Jesus’
sacrifice – his death was effective
§ Death defeated (Rom 6:9; 1 Cor
15:54-57; Acts 2:24)
§ Jesus’ vindication /
justification and ours (Rom 4:25)
§ Jesus is enthroned as Lord of
all (Acts 2:32,36)
§ Jesus is the Son of God in
power (Rom 1:4)
§ A man on the throne of the
universe – New Adam (Ps 8; 1 Cor 15:44b-49)
§ The New Creation / New Age has
begun
- Firstborn from among the dead (Col
- Firstfruits (1 Cor 15:20, 23)
Present Effects
§ Jesus is alive – we can know
him personally
He is with us (Mt 28:20)
§ Jesus our permanent High
Priest lives to intercede for us (Heb 7:24-25; Rom 8:34)
§ We have new birth into a
living hope through the resurrection (1 Pet 1:3)
§ We are made alive and raised
with Christ (Eph 2:5-6; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-3; Rom 6:4-5; 8:11)
§ The power of the resurrection
is at work in us (Eph 1:19-20; Phil 3:10-11)
§ Our labour in the Lord is not
in vain (1 Cor 15:58)
Future Hope
§ We will be raised (1 Cor 6:14;
1 Thess 4:14)
§ Jesus will judge all people
(Acts 17:31; 10:40-42)
§ We will receive transformed
physical bodies (Phil 3:21; 1 Cor 15:42-54)
§ Hope for creation / physicality
(Rom 8:18-22)
The Evidence for the Resurrection
The Evidence for the Resurrection – some quotes
from the internet!
Thomas Arnold, headmaster of Rugby school and Regius
Professor of Modern History at
Oxford University, wrote:
"I have been used for many years
to study the history of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of
those who have written about them; and I
know of no fact in the history of people which is proved by better and fuller
evidence… to the understanding of a fair inquirer,
than the great sign that God has given us,
that Christ died and rose from the dead."
(quoted in Michael Green, The
Day Death Died, IVP, Leicester, 1987, p.15)
In the 1930s a journalist, Frank Morison, was convinced that
miracles did not happen though he
admired the character of Jesus, and set out to write a book disproving the
resurrection. When he studied the evidence, he wrote his book Who Moved the Stone? and with great
honesty entitled the first chapter: "The Book that Refused to be
Written." (Michael Green, Man Alive,
IVF, London, 1967, pp.54-55)
Lord Darling, formerly Lord Chief Justice of
England, wrote:
"The crux of the problem of whether Jesus was or was not what he
proclaimed Himself to be, must surely depend
on the truth or otherwise of the resurrection. On that greatest point
we are not merely asked to have
faith. In its favour as a living truth there exists such
overwhelming evidence, positive and
negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent
jury in the world could fail to bring in the verdict that the resurrection
story is true."
(quoted in Michael Green, The
Day Death Died, IVP, Leicester, 1987, p.15)
Sir Edward Clarke, a High Court Judge, said:
"As a lawyer I have made a
prolonged study of the evidence
for the events of Easter Day. To me the evidence is conclusive, and over and over again in the High Court I have secured
the verdict on evidence not nearly so
compelling. As a lawyer I accept the Gospel evidence unreservedly as the testimony of truthful people to facts that they were
able to substantiate."
Bishop Westcott, one of England's greatest New
Testament scholars, said: "It is not too much to say that there is no
single historical incident better or more variously
attested than the resurrection of Christ."
(quoted in Michael Green, The
Day Death Died, IVP, Leicester, 1987, p37)
Consider the evidence: How would you explain?
(1) The empty tomb
(2) The
resurrection appearances – see especially 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Do any of the alternative explanations of the
resurrection seem possible?
E.g. did Jesus’ disciples fake his resurrection by
stealing Jesus’ body?
Maybe Jesus wasn’t really dead?
Why The Resurrection Matters (1 Cor 15) - notes / handout text
Why the resurrection matters (1
Cor 15)
The meaning /
significance on the resurrection
So what? What the
resurrection can do for you:
Sam Allberry, Lifted: Experiencing the resurrection life
(IVP, 2010) 144 pages ISBN: 9781844744237 £6.99
(1) ASSURANCE
(a) The resurrection
assures us that Jesus was who he claimed to be
(b) The resurrection assures us of what Jesus has done
Rm 4:25; 1 Cor 15:17
“the resurrection is the consequence and demonstration of our
salvation because death is the consequence and demonstration of our sin.”
Death as the wages of sin Gen 2:17; 3:2-5, 19; Rm 6:23
(2) TRANSFORMATION
Spiritually raised now
(Col
God gives life &
new life - Rm 4:17; 1 Sam 2:6; Ez 37; Ps 16:10; Phil 2
(a) New life - Eph
2:1-10
(b) New perspective - Col
3:1-4
(c) New conduct - Eph
5:8, 11-14 Col 3:5, 8–10; Acts 4:32–35
(d) New power - Rom 8:9–11; Rom 6:5–14
(e) New ambition - Phil
3:10-11
(3) HOPE
Mistake 1: The mistake
that the resurrection has already taken place (2 Tim 2:17-18)
(a) Wrong to think: We
have it all now
(b) Wrong to think: This is all there is
Mistake 2: There is no
resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:12)
Jesus is the first of
many - Rm 8:11
Look at nature:
(i) put death in, get
life out - 1 Cor 15:36
(ii) what you get out
wasn’t what you put in - 1 Cor 15:37-38
(iii) God is, of
course, able to give things the appropriate kinds of bodies - 1 Cor 15:39-41
Look at the risen
Jesus:
1 Cor 15:49; Phil 3:21
Continuity &
discontinuity - 1 Cor 15:42–44
Resurrection hope for
creation - Rev 21:1, 5; Is 65:17; 11:6–9; Gen 9:11; Mt 19:28; 1 Cor 15:58
“God says, ‘I will make all things new’, not ‘I will make all new
things’.”
Frustration &
Promise - Rm 8:19-22
(4) MISSION
Acts 17:30-31
The exaltation of
Jesus - Phil 2:5-11
The reality of
judgement - Rm 1:3-4; Dan 12:2; John 11:25; Acts 4:1-2
The necessity of
mission - Mt 28:19-20
Friday, March 25, 2016
Another list of Easter videos
which mentions some of those already cited.
http://thathappycertainty.com/2016/03/22/17-easter-videos-for-2016/
http://thathappycertainty.com/2016/03/22/17-easter-videos-for-2016/
Thursday, March 24, 2016
The Lord's Supper as a Meal - Some sermon notes for Maundy Thursday
Chewing Over The Meal Jesus Gave
Us
The Lord’s Supper in the context of a meal (1
Cor 11)
The Last Supper a
Passover Feast (Mk 14:12,16; 1 Cor 5:7)
Early Church: “breaking
of bread” (Acts 2:42, 46); agape, love feast (Jude 12)
Man as a needy, dependent, hungry creature fed
by God
à receive with humility not a meritorious good
work offered to propitiate God
Cf. eating in Eden
à obedience / faith / gratitude (Eucharist =
thanksgiving)
Jesus the True Bread
of Life (John 6:35, 51) Ã satisfaction and eternal life from Him
Communion (sharing / fellowship) with God
God invites us and offers
us hospitality (Ps 23:5)
We are at peace with
God and enjoy his company
Jesus’ guest list:
eats with sinners and outcasts (Lk 15:2)
We are Jesus’ friends
(Mt 11:19; John 15:12-15; Rev 3:20)
à flee idolatry, shun the table of demons (1 Cor
10:14-22)
Communion with one another
We have Jesus in
common – we all participate in him (1 Cor 10:16)
“Com-panion”s – lit.
one who breaks bread with another
The family meal –
table fellowship, Jews and Gentiles (Gal 2:12)
A sign of unity (1 Cor
10:17) Ã table manners (1 Cor 11:20-21, 33): love, sharing
Food & drink – complete provision
Bread – basic staple, essential, satisfying nourishment, strengthens us for service;
affirms creation; God uses us à work
Wine – not water, party drink for glad celebrating (Ps 104:15)
à Looking forward with hope the Wedding Feast of
the Lamb (Mt 26:29; Rev 19:9; 1 Cor 11:26)
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
More Easter All Age Talks / Assemblies
Naturally I took the opportunity to talk to colleagues before and after the Chrism Eucharist yesterday about their best Easter all age talks.
One person had borrowed a coffin from a local undertaker and was considering how to use it untraumatically!
A classic talk is to do with Believing The Unbelievable on the basis of Eye-Witness Evidence. This simply involves doing something unbelievable: eat a daffodil (do check on the health and safety of this), pretend to eat a tin of dog food (though this rather detracts from the point), cycle down the aisle in full regalia. A friend of mine is keen for me to pogo-stick into church. Anyway, anything unbelievable. Ask: would your friends believe you if you told them you'd seen it? We ought to believe in the resurrection because the empty tomb and the appearances of Our Lord are confirmed by honest, reliable witnesses. (We believe things on the evidence of others all the time - e.g. I have never been to Australia, but I believe it exists).
Easter Punctuation. This could be adapted for almost any Bible passage and has the virtue of being educational!
! - The shock of Good Friday
? - What's it all about?
" " - for anything anyone says!
. - It seems like a dead end / the stone over the tomb
... - Waiting while Jesus is in the tomb
! - The tomb is empty
? - What's going on?
etc. etc.
Extra points for anyone who uses a semi-colon!
Easter Hats.
A baby's bonnet for Jesus born to die.
A judges wig for Jesus' trial.
A black hat / veil / undertaker's black hat to represent a funeral.
A crown of thorns.
A real crown.
A football club or other hat to represent a fan or follower.
etc.
Easter Colours.
Large sheets of coloured card / images on the screen / bits of cloth etc. to help you tell the story:
Green (palms) / Gold (kingship) / Grey (donkey) for Palm Sunday.
During Holy Week the leaders are Green with envy. They increasingly see Red.
Red wine colour for the Passover meal.
Green for the garden. (Red for the blood of Jesus' sweat)
Silver for the 30 pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed Christ.
Black for betrayal and trickery, for the night, for the darkness of the human heart.
Jesus' purple robe.
Brown for the cross.
Gold for the title above the cross and the crown of thorns.
Red for the blood of Jesus.
Grey for the gloom of morning / confusion.
Gold for the resurrection.
White for the forgiveness of sins / the empty tomb / the grave clothes / the shinning whiteness of the angels.
Green for go follow Jesus, sent out on mission etc.
Blue for Jesus' ascension into the sky.
Tell the Easter Story with stuff in Eggs (chocolate or plastic could work): https://thevicarswife.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/resurrection-eggs-for-toddlers-sunday-school-and-busy-vicars/
The Bible Societies Easter Poem / Video / Powerpoint / script: - Easter from the point of view of Jesus' friends, Peter, Mary (and John) http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/easter-2016/
Glen Scivener's latest poem: If You Had Been Here - drawing on John 11 - http://christthetruth.net/
Or the previous Bread of Heaven one. https://thevicarswife.wordpress.com/tag/glen-scrivener/
Easter & Holy Week goodies: https://onlinepastor.org/
And no doubt there are lots of other videos in the world.
One person had borrowed a coffin from a local undertaker and was considering how to use it untraumatically!
A classic talk is to do with Believing The Unbelievable on the basis of Eye-Witness Evidence. This simply involves doing something unbelievable: eat a daffodil (do check on the health and safety of this), pretend to eat a tin of dog food (though this rather detracts from the point), cycle down the aisle in full regalia. A friend of mine is keen for me to pogo-stick into church. Anyway, anything unbelievable. Ask: would your friends believe you if you told them you'd seen it? We ought to believe in the resurrection because the empty tomb and the appearances of Our Lord are confirmed by honest, reliable witnesses. (We believe things on the evidence of others all the time - e.g. I have never been to Australia, but I believe it exists).
Easter Punctuation. This could be adapted for almost any Bible passage and has the virtue of being educational!
! - The shock of Good Friday
? - What's it all about?
" " - for anything anyone says!
. - It seems like a dead end / the stone over the tomb
... - Waiting while Jesus is in the tomb
! - The tomb is empty
? - What's going on?
etc. etc.
Extra points for anyone who uses a semi-colon!
Easter Hats.
A baby's bonnet for Jesus born to die.
A judges wig for Jesus' trial.
A black hat / veil / undertaker's black hat to represent a funeral.
A crown of thorns.
A real crown.
A football club or other hat to represent a fan or follower.
etc.
Easter Colours.
Large sheets of coloured card / images on the screen / bits of cloth etc. to help you tell the story:
Green (palms) / Gold (kingship) / Grey (donkey) for Palm Sunday.
During Holy Week the leaders are Green with envy. They increasingly see Red.
Red wine colour for the Passover meal.
Green for the garden. (Red for the blood of Jesus' sweat)
Silver for the 30 pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed Christ.
Black for betrayal and trickery, for the night, for the darkness of the human heart.
Jesus' purple robe.
Brown for the cross.
Gold for the title above the cross and the crown of thorns.
Red for the blood of Jesus.
Grey for the gloom of morning / confusion.
Gold for the resurrection.
White for the forgiveness of sins / the empty tomb / the grave clothes / the shinning whiteness of the angels.
Green for go follow Jesus, sent out on mission etc.
Blue for Jesus' ascension into the sky.
Tell the Easter Story with stuff in Eggs (chocolate or plastic could work): https://thevicarswife.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/resurrection-eggs-for-toddlers-sunday-school-and-busy-vicars/
The Bible Societies Easter Poem / Video / Powerpoint / script: - Easter from the point of view of Jesus' friends, Peter, Mary (and John) http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/easter-2016/
Glen Scivener's latest poem: If You Had Been Here - drawing on John 11 - http://christthetruth.net/
Or the previous Bread of Heaven one. https://thevicarswife.wordpress.com/tag/glen-scrivener/
Easter & Holy Week goodies: https://onlinepastor.org/
And no doubt there are lots of other videos in the world.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Big News: Jesus Has Really Risen
Some jottings from an all age talk given at Christ Church, Westbourne, on Easter Day 2014.
Jesus had really died
(1) 15:40-41 - The women who knew Jesus well saw it happen
(2) 15:44-45 - An expert confirmed it
(3) 15:47 - The women saw where Jesus was buried
(4) 16:1 - The women expected to find a dead body
Jesus has really risen
(1) An angel tells them that Jesus has risen
(2) The tomb is empty
(3) Later they will meet the risen Jesus
Jesus' resurrection confirms all that he taught, who he was, why he came and the effect of his saving death
What are you going to do about it? How will you respond?
Mark shows us a sandwich:
The women (15:40-41)
Joseph (15:43-46)
The women (15:47-16:8)
He wants us to compare the women and Jospeh.
(1) Joseph responds with faith.
(2) The women respond with fear: (a) they are afraid, (b) they flee and (c) they fail to say anything to anyone.
What will you do?
(I think you could find the video here: http://www.christchurchwestbourne.com/resources/listen-to-recent-talks/)
The Resurrection of Jesus (Mark 15:33-16:8)
Jesus had really died
(1) 15:40-41 - The women who knew Jesus well saw it happen
(2) 15:44-45 - An expert confirmed it
(3) 15:47 - The women saw where Jesus was buried
(4) 16:1 - The women expected to find a dead body
Jesus has really risen
(1) An angel tells them that Jesus has risen
(2) The tomb is empty
(3) Later they will meet the risen Jesus
Jesus' resurrection confirms all that he taught, who he was, why he came and the effect of his saving death
What are you going to do about it? How will you respond?
Mark shows us a sandwich:
The women (15:40-41)
Joseph (15:43-46)
The women (15:47-16:8)
He wants us to compare the women and Jospeh.
(1) Joseph responds with faith.
(2) The women respond with fear: (a) they are afraid, (b) they flee and (c) they fail to say anything to anyone.
What will you do?
(I think you could find the video here: http://www.christchurchwestbourne.com/resources/listen-to-recent-talks/)
An All Age Talk For Easter Sunday
Taken from Christ Church, Westbourne, Easter Day 2013 (to which a friend kindly pointed me, adapted a tiny bit):
Teaches us 2 things:
(1) Jesus wins (vv1-4)
Matthew shows us 4 signs of Jesus' victory
Jesus is victorious over his enemies
Jesus is victorious over death
Are we Jesus' friends or his enemies?
(2) Jesus is truthful (vv5-10)
He rises from the dead just as he says he would
This all calls for 2 responses from us:
(1) Tell others
(2) Worship Jesus
I think you could search for the video here:
http://www.christchurchwestbourne.com/resources/listen-to-recent-talks/
The Rising of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10)
Teaches us 2 things:
(1) Jesus wins (vv1-4)
Matthew shows us 4 signs of Jesus' victory
Jesus is victorious over his enemies
Jesus is victorious over death
Are we Jesus' friends or his enemies?
(2) Jesus is truthful (vv5-10)
He rises from the dead just as he says he would
This all calls for 2 responses from us:
(1) Tell others
(2) Worship Jesus
I think you could search for the video here:
http://www.christchurchwestbourne.com/resources/listen-to-recent-talks/
Sunday, March 20, 2016
What is Christianity?
Shedd says:
Christianity, in the last analysis, is Trinitarianism. Take out of the New Testament the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and there is no God left. Take out of the Christian consciousness the thoughts and affections that relate to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and there is no Christian consciousness left. The Trinity is the constitutive idea of the evangelical theology, and the formative idea of the evangelical experience. The immensity of the doctrine makes it of necessity a mystery; but a mystery which like night enfolds in its unfathomed depths the bright stars--points of light, compared with which there is no light so keen and so glittering. Mysterious as it is, the Trinity of Divine Revelation is the doctrine that holds in it all the hope of man; for it holds within it the infinite pity of the Incarnation and the infinite mercy of the Redemption.
Introduction to Augustine, On The Trinity, p11, Fig Books edition
http://mb-soft.com/believe/txue/august40.htm
Christianity, in the last analysis, is Trinitarianism. Take out of the New Testament the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and there is no God left. Take out of the Christian consciousness the thoughts and affections that relate to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and there is no Christian consciousness left. The Trinity is the constitutive idea of the evangelical theology, and the formative idea of the evangelical experience. The immensity of the doctrine makes it of necessity a mystery; but a mystery which like night enfolds in its unfathomed depths the bright stars--points of light, compared with which there is no light so keen and so glittering. Mysterious as it is, the Trinity of Divine Revelation is the doctrine that holds in it all the hope of man; for it holds within it the infinite pity of the Incarnation and the infinite mercy of the Redemption.
Introduction to Augustine, On The Trinity, p11, Fig Books edition
http://mb-soft.com/believe/txue/august40.htm
Augustine's style
Shedd is quite rude about it:
Literary excellence is not the forte of the patristic writers. Hardly any of them are literary artists. Lactantius among the Latins, and Chrysostom among the Greeks, are almost the only fathers that have rhetorical grace. And none of them approach the beauty of the classic writers, as seen in the harmonious flow and diction of Plato, and the exquisite finish of Horace and Catullus.
Augustin is prolix, repetitious, and sometimes leaves his theme to discuss cognate but distantly related subjects. This appears more in the last eight chapters, which are speculative, than in the first seven, which are scriptural. The material in this second division is capable of considerable compression. The author frequently employs two illustrations when one would suffice, and three or more when two are enough. He discusses many themes which are not strictly Trinitarian.
Introduction to Augustine, On The Trinity, p10
Shedd surely can't be right that Augustine cared 'nothing for elegance in diction'? (p11) Having said that, it is high praise to call it one of the most pregnant and suggestive of all theological treatises.
Literary excellence is not the forte of the patristic writers. Hardly any of them are literary artists. Lactantius among the Latins, and Chrysostom among the Greeks, are almost the only fathers that have rhetorical grace. And none of them approach the beauty of the classic writers, as seen in the harmonious flow and diction of Plato, and the exquisite finish of Horace and Catullus.
Augustin is prolix, repetitious, and sometimes leaves his theme to discuss cognate but distantly related subjects. This appears more in the last eight chapters, which are speculative, than in the first seven, which are scriptural. The material in this second division is capable of considerable compression. The author frequently employs two illustrations when one would suffice, and three or more when two are enough. He discusses many themes which are not strictly Trinitarian.
Introduction to Augustine, On The Trinity, p10
Shedd surely can't be right that Augustine cared 'nothing for elegance in diction'? (p11) Having said that, it is high praise to call it one of the most pregnant and suggestive of all theological treatises.
Self-consciousness and Trinity
Discussing the Trinity, Shedd argues that self-consciousness is necessarily triadic as it requires (1) the mind (2) to contemplate itself and (3) to perceive that the contemplating subject and the contemplated object are one and the same being or essence.
Introduction to Augustine, On The Trinity, Fig Book edition, p8
We may term these subject-ego, object-ego and ego-percipient. (p10)
Introduction to Augustine, On The Trinity, Fig Book edition, p8
We may term these subject-ego, object-ego and ego-percipient. (p10)
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