Morning Prayer

Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” What is the Bible about? 4-5 words are given to summarize each Biblical books. Most are workable and a few new rewrites. For Psalm 29, Prof. Calvin notes how David strongly addresses the mighty, the kings, the pride, and their self- intoxication. Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Isaiah:” chapters 58-66 are addressed with the close association of judgment-blessings motifs alternating. ISBE on “Leviticus:” holiness and cleanness prescribed by Leviticus. For Genesis 23: Prof. Keil comments on the burial of Sarah. For Judges 13-16, Prof. Keil comments on the strengths and weaknesses of Samson. For Isaiah 13.1ff., Prof. Henry notes that it will be rough and cruel for the Babylonians. ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall concludes his comments on “eternal life.” For Mathew 10.22-42, Prof. Jamieson discusses the abuses that the disciples will face in the missionary work. For Romans 7, Prof. Hodge continues on the internal struggle between the law in the members and the law in the minds. He’s moving on to the history of that exegesis, noting that patristic writers inclined to view it as the struggle of unbelievers with Augustine following, but then later changing his mind. For Acts 2.5-13, Prof. Henry puts out a detailed list of specific, identifiable, and known languages in which the apostles preached. Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” who is the Socrates of Plato and Aristotle and his views of the Eternal Forms? EDT: “Last Day or Last Days:” the OT references are put forward. For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge discusses the teleological argument. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond comments on young earth and old earth theories and carbon-14 dating. Prof. Reymond thinks God created the world as “old” at the beginning just as he created Adam and Eve as “mature” in the beginning. Curious take. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof offers commentary on a variety of self-professed atheists and agnostics, including Kant, Hume and Comte. ODCC: Ezra Abbot (1819-1894): Unitarian Professor at Harvard Divinity School. For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff show his bias again against the Jewish Christians in Acts 15 who’d not adopted Paul’s “progressivism.” For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff comments on the work of hospitals in connection with convents and monasteries, something new in the barbaric north it is claimed. For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff works in a bigoted statement about Calvin’s “rigor” and “sternness” and, a paragraph later, shows the gentle, kind and cordial. Which is it Schaff? For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch discusses the committee work of the Bishops’ Book, a committee product. For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff present the Formula of Concord, 1577, with its attempt at single predestination and the “God who wants everybody saved.” Good to review and reaffirm earlier reviews of later Lutheran soteriology. 1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #724-728 assert notable things about Mary which a sober Protestant, or True Catholic, could affirm. Westminster Confession of Faith 12.1: CHAPTER 12 Of Adoption 1. All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him, as by a father: yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption; and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation.