Morning Prayer

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 1:” in “History of Higher Criticism,” Dean Dyson Hague notes three commonalities amongst the decadent ones: no miracles, no miraculous narratives, no prophecies, no revelation and no inspiration of the Biblical text as understood throughout the rule of Messiah in the centuries.

Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” continues to speak about Bible reading, recommending the OT once/year and NT twice/year. Dr. Cranmer would like that as would Aelfric, Wycliffe, and Tyndale.

For Psalm 27, Prof. Calvin notes how David turns over his thoughts to God to renew himself. A divine action upon him by God preserving his mind and soul. God communicates strength.

Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Abraham” comments on the birth of Isaac and context.

ISBE on “Leviticus:” comments on the “mediating” position on Levitical composition in the pre-exilic period, versus the post-exilic date of composition.

For Genesis 19: Prof. Keil comments on Lot’s wicked answer to the sodomites banging on his door for the heavenly guests. Lot offers his virginal daughters instead of the heavenly guests, answering one sin with another sin. God strikes the sodomites with blindness. Prof. Keil makes it to be mental blindness.

For Judges 11.1ff., Prof. Keil continues to speak about Jepthah’s election to Princely status as a judge and military avenger of the Ammonites.

For Isaiah 12.1-2, Prof. Henry introduces this hymn of praise, following the glories of the Messianic rule were announced. Fitting. Like the Exodus, praise followed in Exodus 15 and, here, after Messianic annunciations (ch. 11), a song of praise.

ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall comments on the moral and theological meaning of “world” as the context of moral darkness.

For Mathew 10.1ff., Prof. Jamieson comments on the need to follow Christ in commissioning servants: prayer and preparation of missioners.

For Romans 7, Prof. Hodge comments on freedom from the curse of the law, breaking that curse by Christ’s Person and Work, freeing the servant to serve God.

For Acts 1.15-26, Prof. Henry comments on the prayers in the period between the Ascension and Pentecost. It’s what God’s people do in communion with the Living God. Communication.

Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” summarizes pre-Socratics as a bequeathment to the Socratics, that is, the Sophists, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were working with what they inherited. A nice summary by Prof. Copleston.

EDT: “John Knox (1514? - 1572):” describes Knox’s political theory, state and church relations, and authority to commit regicide if the king was an idolater.

For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge exquisitely tours animal anatomies—varied animals—and the anatomical previsions and provisions for sustenance of life, evincing Design, will and intelligence.

For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond tries to assess human accountability for thoughts, speech and actions in view of the eternal decree.

For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof notes makes anthropology theology proper by his titles given on anthropology. A better nomenclature. It’s not unanchored and detached from theology proper.

ODCC: Hilary of Arles (403-449): archbishop of Arles and a semi-Pelagian. Leo 1 dethrones him.

For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff covers the period of 54-64 AD for Paul, his travels, his letters and final arrival in Rome.

For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff comments on the “Truce of God,” a Gallican initiative, that prohibits feuds and wars in certain period of the church’s calendar. Several Synods over the 11^th century effectively limit conflicts.

For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff give in full Calvin’s letters to Farel and Viret in April 1549 over the loss of his beloved Idelette. Anyone who impute cold harshness to Calvin has not done the historical homework.

For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch talks about Bullinger’s “spider network” bringing Reformed thinkers into the web. An industrious correspondent (think FB correspondent).

For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff describes the theological triumvirate to the Formula of Concord: Andrae, Chemnitz, and Selnecker. The Arminio-Romanists will have that flavor. More later on these proto-Arminians.

1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #665-667 surpasses anything in print by Angloes on the Ascension of Jesus. Clear, precise, and Biblical. The decadent Protestants have nothing to compare to it: decadent Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists. Confessional Protestants are exempt and are not decadent deviants.

Westminster Confession of Faith 11.2:

2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.