Morning Prayer

Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” speaks generally of Acts and the early challenges of Jewish and Gentile Christianity. For Psalm 28, Prof. Calvin comments on God as David’s “strength.” Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Isaiah:” addressing the thrilling chapters of 36-39 dealing with Sennacherib and Hezekiah. ISBE on “Leviticus:” further comments on “cleanness” and “holiness.” For Genesis 22: Prof. Keil notes that Abraham’s faith was strengthened by the Moriah-event and that he saw even more clearly the Protevangelium and the covenantal promise. For Judges 12.1ff., Prof. Keil shifts forwards to Jepthah’s successors, Ibzan and a few others, largely in relation to the tribes to the east of Jordan. For Isaiah 13, Prof. Henry notes how God simply summons nations when needed for His purposes. Babylon’s gloom is forecast. ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall discusses “faith,” “perseverance” and “assurance” in John’s works. For Mathew 10.22-42, Prof. Jamieson notes that the hairs of our heads are all numbered. For Romans 7.22, Prof. Hodge comments on the war between the flesh and spirit in the regenerate man. John Wesley ain’t gonna like that. For Acts 2.1ff., Prof. Henry comments on “tongues,” foreign languages that were miraculously given wherein the recipients spoke in a foreign language they had never studied. Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” comments on Socrates life in Athens and his wife Xanthippe. Did he engage with cosmogonic interests? Socrates believed the wise man knew his ignorance. EDT: “Lamb of God:” the Pascal Lamb as a sacrifice, although Socinian types choke on it. For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge speaks of the mind and soul hungering for God, much like animals hunger for food. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond advocates “day” as 24-hours in Genesis 1. Of the 2225 uses of “yom,” the overwhelming numbers mean a cycle of the day. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof notes comments on the historical argument for God—every tribe has the divine instinct by creation. Berkhof notes that while these proofs are not proofs, but are useful as confirmations for the elect. ODCC: “Abbess:” the head of a nunnery of the Benedictine or Franciscan orders. Must be in the nunnery for 10 years before advancement to Abbacy. For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff engages the Tubingers on the Paul v. Peter divide, the alleged divide. An hypothesis and postulate on the hunt for facts. For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff notes the almsgiving was turned into merit-mongery with purgatory in view. Even Augustine went in that direction to some decree. For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff discusses Calvin’s arrival in Geneva in Sept 1541, arriving with much ado and adulation and by the invitation of Geneva’s 3-layered magistracy. For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch notes the Lutheranizing flavors that are worked into the committee product of the Ten Articles. Contentions were high at points according to Alesius. For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff discusses the omnipresence of Christ’s body—Lutheran Ubiquitarianism and Eutychianism. 1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #713-715 nicely discusses Messianic prophecies. Westminster Confession of Faith 11.4: 4. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.