In this article I have been sharing some of the history of how our Church came to its understanding of the “role” of Christ as savior. In the last issue I shared some of the thinking of the Great Greek … Continue reading
Category Archives: GAINING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FAITH
The whole spiritual experience reflected in Cyril’s Christology implies two central intuitions: (1) God, in the search for incomplete humanity, does not stop halfway, but goes where humanity it – in death itself; and (2) It is not an ideal, … Continue reading
Like Cyril, the central inspiration for Athanasius can be expressed in this phrase taken from Paul’s writing: God, who “alone has immortality” is the only Savior from corruption and death. In his polemics against Arius, Athanasius clearly states: only God … Continue reading
In the previous issue of this article, I truly began sharing the role of Christ as Savior as seen in the East. Our Eastern Church has, of course, seen this slightly different than the Church in the West. One is … Continue reading
According to the three Synoptic Gospels, Jesus, on the way to Caesarea Philippi, a few days before the end of His messianic ministry in Jerusalem, asked His disciples a question about their belief concerning His personal identity: “Who do you … Continue reading
I ended this article in the last issue of the Eastern Herald, by sharing John Damascene’s definition of the two terms which have repeatedly showed up in this article, namely ousia and hypostasis. Hopefully my readers are beginning to have … Continue reading
As I have suggested in this article, the Church only came to a true and real understanding of God through great struggle and debate. Revelation sets an abyss between the truth which it declares and the truths which can be … Continue reading
I have been attempting to share with my readers the struggle that the Fathers had around finding the right Greek word to express how it is possible for us to believe that God is Three-In-One and that Jesus is both … Continue reading
In the last issue I shared something about Basil’s early theology and how he impacted the Church’s understanding of certain elements in our doctrine on Jesus and God. Basil’s early theological writings reveal a thinker in constant development. It is … Continue reading
It has been traditional to speak of Basil as initially a Homoiousian. Truly this requires qualification. Basil does seem to have had some personal connection with Basil of Ancyra and he was strongly opposed to the 360 Homoian creed at … Continue reading