Morning Prayer

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 1:” in “History of Higher Criticism,” Dean Dyson Hague continues his highly constructive deconstruction of Dr. Briggs and Dr. Sandy on the issue of divine inspiration of the Bible. This is the cracked foundation of a house built on sand which falls when the storm comes. Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” gives a canonical list of the OT and NT, no minor historical matter. For Psalm 27, Prof. Calvin comments on the “strength and confidence” God gives His saints. Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Isaac:” we hear of the blessings-mix-up by Rebekkah’s gaming resulting in the blessing going to Jacob. ISBE on “Leviticus:” comments on aspects of Levitical worship that are “to the LORD” or “before the LORD.” Divine Presence is the predicate of the gracious, Sinaitic covenant. For Genesis 20: Prof. Keil waxed on, exegetically, about Abimelech’s return of Sarah to Abraham along with atoning gifts. For Judges 12.1ff., Prof. Keil discusses Jepthah’s vow and his daughter. For Isaiah 12.1-3, Prof. Henry comments on the song of praise, exquisitely placed after chapter 11—great craftsmanship and logical follow-on from chapter 11. ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall comments on the phrase “eternal life”—both qualitatively and quantitively. For Mathew 10.5-15, Prof. Jamieson gets wonked out on a few textual issues, as he is wont to do. For Romans 7, Prof. Hodge concludes 7.7-13 on the doctrinal point. The problem isn’t the accusatory, damnatory, and illustrative law. The law is holy, spiritual and good. The problem is original and actual sin. For Acts 2.1ff., Prof. Henry comments on the nations gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” further comments on Protagoras who sounds much like a moral relativist. What is true for you is your truth and what is true for me is my truth. The wind may be chilly to you but not to me. Is the wind chilly? EDT: “Abraham Kuyper:” wonks out on Kuyper’s political career as Prime Minister and then seated member of the Dutch Parliament. Theologically, his view of common grace has done its duty—corrupting Reformed institutions. Kuyper feared such and noted such. For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge wonks out about those denying the teleological argument. He’s get on toward Kant and Hume. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond further explicates the historicity of Genesis 1-11, a battleground in decades past. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof outlines eschatology. In the next session, we’ll start the march through the doctrine of God. ODCC: Hincmar, Abp. Of Reims (806-872): a resume is given leading up to the conflicts with Gottschalk on predestination and Ratramnus on the bone-muncher-crunchy view of the Eucharist. For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff continues to outline the Formula of Concord, 1577, including the article on bone-muncher-crunchies and the Eucharist. A lot of heat, but no light. 1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #688 comments on the varied venues of knowing God, Scriptures being one among many, thus, reducing the Canon to platoon Lance Corporals. Nice camouflage for denial of Canonical supremacy. Westminster Confession of Faith 13.2: 2. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.