Theological Journals, Part 1: 10/9/2022

William Whittaker’s “Disputations on Holy Scripture:” Dr. Whittaker NUKES Bellarmine and Trent on the Canon and Apocryphal books. A total takedown. These writers support Dr. Whittaker that the OT Canon consists of 22 OT books (the same as the CoE with 39 books). Here’s the list supporting Dr. Whittaker: Rufinus, Josphesus, Athanasius, Cyprian, Eusebius, especially Cyril of Jerusalem, notably Jerome, Gregory the Great, Isidore of Seville, John the Damascene, Nicephorus, Rabanus Marius, Rudolphus, Hugo of St. Victor, Richardus de S. Victor, Lyra, Dionysius Carthusianus, Abulensis, Antoninus, Cardinal Hugo, Erasmus, and, notably, Cardinal Cajetan. All these are claimed as good sons and children of Rome. What will the Tridentists make of all this? Of course, many of the above said there were deuterocanonical writings, but they were not Canonical for doctrine-making. John Jewel’s “Apology for the Church of England:” the “Life of Jewel” is prefixed to the “Apology.” We hear of his ejection from Oxford and Dr. Martial, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, pursuit of Vermigli’s favorite student, Jewel. Jewel is ejected and finds safety in some London homes before leaving for Frankfort, Germany. In Frankfort, he meets Dr. Robert Horne (Winchester), Sandys, and Sir Francis Knowles, all Marian exiles for the faith. Of note, Jewel had signed a recantation while at Oxford (which did him no good since he was a known man). At Frankfort, he publicly rejects/abjures his earlier recantation. It moves the congregation to great affection for Jewel. Vermigli is at Strassburg and prevails on Jewel to join him on 30 Oct 1553 (Cranmer is in the Tower at this point). Jewel joins Vermigli and is housed and fed by him. At Strassburg, Jewel meet Poynet, Grindal, Anthony Coke, and Cheke. Finally, Vermigli and Jewel move to Strassburg where Vermigli takes a professorial post for Hebrew studies. He meets another English Reformer, James Pilkington. Jewel and others, during this 4-5 year exile hear of the brutal martyrdoms and the bloodiness of “Wily Winchester” (term used by the biographer). In exile, he learns strength, faith, more learning and associates with the great leaders who will later inform and shape the English Reformed Church. A glorious biography. ANF1—“Apostolic Fathers and Justin Martyr:” the tour involves a detailed outline of Justin Martyr’s “Dialogue with Trypho.” We might add that it gives a look at how Justin Martyr uses the OT and the hermeneutical method in the early church.