Morning Prayer

For Psalm 26, Prof. Calvin comments on David’s high view of the tabernacle as the sign and seal, an external sign and sermon, that preaches God’s covenantal Presence.

Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Deuteronomy:” discusses the decadent critics cutting Deuteronomy from the Pentateuch and pushing the compositional date to Josiah’s reforms or even later, the post-Exilic period. We would add from our Cranmerian studies, the observation of Prof. G. W. Bromiley: Quite helpfully, but mixing in the 18^th-19^th century, Prof. Bromiley says that Cranmer excluded the “exaggerated subjectivism which is one of the legacies of German Romanticism.”[1]

ISBE on “Leviticus:” discusses the Graff-Wellhausian flat-liners. Leviticus is from a P-source. Dr. Gleason Archer called them the “dissectionists.”

For Genesis 16.1ff.: Prof. Keil discusses Hagar and Ishmael.

For Judges 9.1ff., Prof. Keil is still dealing with the divine judgments on Abimelech and the Shechemites.

For Isaiah 11.1-9, Prof. Henry comments on Christ the Messiah as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9.6-7).

ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall moves on to the “Logos” as a Johannine title, having dealt with the titles of the “Messiah,” “Son of God,” and the “Son of Man.”

For Mathew 9.14-17, Prof. Jamieson deals with fasting.

For Romans 6.12-23, Prof. Hodge comments on the certainty of the effects of justification and union with Christ in His baptism and resurrection. The baptized and regenerated being lives unto God.

For Acts 1.12-14, Prof. Henry comments on the unity and constancy of the apostolic crowd in prayer and praises as they await the promised empowerment of Pentecost.

EDT: “Kenosis Theology:” two types are put forward, both by classicists, Charles Gore and P.T. Forsyth.

For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge discussed Cousin’s cosmological argument—which sounds much like Anselm’s.

For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond is again at his usual finest as he richly explains God’s sovereignty and eternal decrees. He is proceeding with a diachronic review of abuandant OT testimonies to this.

For Eschatology (locus 7), Prof. Berkhof ends his exegetical deflation of premillenialism’s theory of 2-and-3 different resurrections of the body.

ODCC: Basil the Great (330-379): eloquent, learned, statesmanlike and godly, he founded many buildings around Caesarea: church, episcopal residence, hospitals and hostels for the poor. Hence, the appellation “the Great.”

For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff is still disarming the flat-lining “vision-hypothesis” of Saul’s conversion, to wit, it was in his head, not reality, that he met the Ascending Savior.

For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff discusses the Judges-like character of the Middle Ages—periods of decline with sporadic and periodic Judges shining forth. We would add a note from Cranmer’s Augustinianism, to wit, the Augustinian distinction between the visible and invisible church. Sometimes the church is hidden, small and unseen during periods of overwhelming darkness, yet, other periods in the reverse.

For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff gives more background on Sadolet’s letter that accuses the Reformers of being motivated by pride and ambition. Oh the irony! From a Papist Cardinal!

For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch discusses the Ten Articles of 1536 with John Bale expressing dissatisfaction with the last half (136). The Lutherans are unhappy as well. Of note, we add that in Feb 1536, Geneva voted in favor of the Reformation. England was retarded by Harry and the battering ram of Anglo-Romanists (Romanism without the Pope since Harry was the Pope).

For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff discusses the “hades controversy” of the 9^th article of the Apostles’ Creed (296).

1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #628-631 discuss the article “he descended into hell,” a subject long-discussed in church history.

Westminster Confession of Faith 8.8:

8. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.

---

[1] Bromiley, 36.