Gregory of Nyssa is overshadowed in many regards by his brother, Basil the Great’s ecclesiastical clout, and Gregory Nazianzen’s theological genius. But of the 3 Cappadoceans Gregory of Nyssa is arguably the most naturally brilliant thinker (1). This led to him being a premier example of early church mysticism and philosophy and even being namedContinue reading “Gregory of Nyssa on the Beatitudes”
Category Archives: Church Father Friday
Did Justin Martyr Teach Transubstantiation in Apology 1.66?
Church Father Friday is the ongoing curation of Patristic texts. These short selections from church history remind us of where we’ve been, and what God has done throughout history for the Church. I pray these excerpts are a blessing to you. Justin Martyr is often quoted in favor of Transubstantiation being the position ofContinue reading “Did Justin Martyr Teach Transubstantiation in Apology 1.66?”
3 Pastoral Lessons from the Letters of Gregory Nazianzen
Church Father Friday is the ongoing curation of Patristic texts. These short selections from church history remind us of where we’ve been, and what God has done throughout history for the Church. I pray these excerpts are a blessing to you. No author has influenced me as much as Gregory Nazianzen. His depth, poeticContinue reading “3 Pastoral Lessons from the Letters of Gregory Nazianzen”
John Chrysostom on Sexual Immorality
Pleasure is the god of the lost. Whatever form it takes, sex, drugs, leisure, finance, childolatry, or controlling salvation through works, pleasure remains the goal. It’s easy to forget that the issues we deal with today are the same issues the early church waded through. Sexual immorality isn’t an invention of modernism, it’s been anContinue reading “John Chrysostom on Sexual Immorality”
The First Use of Trinitarian Language in Church History
The Church’s understanding of the Trinity is founded on Scripture and calcified through overcoming heretical controversies. Every orthodox Father following the Apostles used language that affirmed the Trinity in various contexts. But when was the protean use of distinct Trinitarian language in Church history? Often, Tertullian is thought to be the origin of Trinitarian labels because he used “Trinitas” to explain the Godhead. However, while Trinitas is the root of the word “Trinity”, and even though Tertullian was the first Latin speaking theologian to use it, he wasn’t first overall. The first use of Trinitarian language in Church history comes from a surprising source, Theophilus of Antioch.
The Early Church’s Defense Against the Argument of Antiquity
Church Father Friday is the ongoing examination of Patristic writings, controversies, biographies, and modern interpretations. These short selections from church history remind us of where we’ve been, and what God has done throughout history for the Church C.S Lewis wrote a famous introductory essay for Athanasius’ work the Incarnation of the Word of GodContinue reading “The Early Church’s Defense Against the Argument of Antiquity”
Reformation Chambers 