Morning Prayer: 10/5/2022

Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” the invention of ancient writing and the Gutenberg Press were significant, world-changing developments. For Psalm 31, Prof. Calvin sticks to his oft-noted theme of divine providence in relation to David and his trials. Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Israel:” retails the story of Joshua’s conquests to the NE area, NE of Galilee. For Genesis 26: Prof. Keil gives a history of the tensions, battles, and subjugations of Esau’s descendants (Edomites) by Jacob’s descendants. The God of peace and lover of concord foreordains this course of history, yet, without being the Author of sin. For Judges 16, Prof. Keil discusses Samson’s final acts of pulling down two pillars that support the building full of Philistine aristocrats. For Isaiah 14.4-23, Prof. Henry holds forth on the pride in the Babylonian monarchy. ISBE on Johannine Letters, Prof. I. Howard Marshall discusses Cerinthius and his theology which, according to Irenaeus, St. John knew and deplored, refusing to bathe in the same bathing house in Ephesus. For Mathew 12.9-21, the story of healing the man with a withered hand is retold. Jesus does this on the Sabbath which provokes the Pharisees who take counsel on how to kill him. For Romans 8.12-28, Prof. Hodge discusses the “flesh v. Spirit” antithesis so dominant in Paul’s letters. A theme that has induced a Niagara Falls of ink. For Acts 2.14-36, Prof. Henry notes Peter’s emphasis on the resurrection. Prof. Henry is spending a lot of ink on this sermon. Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” discusses Plato, giving a survey of his background, family, education and intimations of his anti-democracy views. EDT: “Law of God:” Law and Grace are inherent in the Exodus narrative. For Theology Proper (locus 2): Prof. Hodge discusses wonks out in a gab-fest about Dr. Carpenter’s views of physiology. ??. Not sure how this is highlighting the larger theme of the lying theists (there is no such thing as atheists…they are lying theists). For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond discusses Rome’s view of sin, dissing original sin and total depravity (cf. c.400ish in the 1994 CCC…a very explicit account of man being wounded, but not dead in sins and trespasses. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof comments on God’s immutability and infinity. What is in focus, however, is when we finish Berkhof. Calvin? Turretin? A host of commentaries on the Thirty-Nine Articles or the Westminster Standards? Probably Calvin and Turretin. ODCC: “Apocalypse of Abraham:” probably a 1st century AD document or midrash (our word) on Genesis. It is a Christian document. Historical fiction? Use of other sources? ??. For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff comments the fall of Jerusalem (66-70 AD) and the corollary in Rome, the Neronian persecution (64-68 AD). For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff comments on the high value in the Capitularies of Charlemagne, a law code, that fuses civic and ecclesiastical laws. It was a noble achievement, but carried out variously under his weaker successors, his sons. Some very notable ecclesiastical laws regulating marriage, family, divorce, thievery, Sabbath and more. For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff notes Calvin’s influence in crafting church polity, worship and discipline in Geneva. For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch comments on the advances by the German-English Reformers over the English trads during the 1538 negotiations at Lambeth. The Germans are upbeat, but Luther is outraged by the product. 1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs # 800 comments on the unity and diversity of the church. Nice chatter that avoids the dozens of anathemas in the Council of Trent. Wanna comment, Joe Ratzinger or Frank? Westminster Confession of Faith 17.3: 3. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; and, for a time, continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded; hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.