Church History: 10/18/2022

McNiell, John Thomas. The History and Character of Calvinism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1962. 229-232. We hear of a Freudian analyst, Oskar Pfister, who subjected Calvin to a hostile review for changing the God of love to a God of anger and for creating an ecclesiastical monopoly. I go to the surgeon for surgery, the lawyer for legal counsel and the dentist to get the teeth cleaned. The poor man is out of his lane and clearly hasn’t read or understood the nature of the man, the theology or the historical context. More could be said. McNiell takes up the defense with balance. We’re too much read in Calvin to avoid both the hero and villain narrative. It’s complex. Sit down, Dr. Pfister, be quiet and read much more. Much more. Then, some more, thank you. Greg Allison’s Historical Theology. Zondervan, 2011. Chapter 20. The Holy Spirit. 430ff. Prof. Allison leads on through the early church on the subject of the Holy Spirit: Clement of Rome, Barnabas, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, Justin Martyr, Tertullian and a detour on Montanus and his two prophetesses—which didn’t go down well. (433-435). Prof. Allison then retails Monarchianism, dynamic Monarchianism, Theodotus of Rome, Paul of Samosata, modalistic Monarchiansim, Praxeus of Rome, Sabellius, Tertullian on the three distinct Persons and one God, and closes with Arianism who denies the deity of the Son and Holy Spirit.