Theological Journals, Part 1: 10/20/2022

William Whittaker’s “Disputation on Holy Scripture:” Dr. Whittaker argues, again, that the Hebrew OT and Greek NT are the canonical benchmarks to which all versions must be conformed. Not the Latin Vulgate, but the Hebrew and Greek. Bellarmine and others argue the antiquity of the Vulgate, to which Dr. Whittaker claims the greater antiquity of Hebrew and Greek. John Jewel’s “Apology for the Church of England:” Bishop Jewell explains the sacraments, baptism, Holy Communion, the Reformed view, justification by faith alone, and Rome’s purgatory. Straight-forward and Reformed so far. “Ante-Nicene Fathers down to 325 AD: we read the first four chapters of 1 Clement. A lovely introduction and praise of the history of the Corinthian church (with allusions to election as well), but then notes the schism and disturbance by proud, young men turning on their presbyters (plural). Clement then begins touring how envy and emulation adversely affected Biblical characters—he starts with Cain and Abel and work through to King Davd.