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Melchizedek to Jesus: The Divine Thread of Bread and Wine

This past Sunday at church, we were looking at Genesis 14 in the sermon. There’s a lot going on in this chapter with nine different kings all at war fighting one another, and Abram and Lot somehow mixed up in the middle of it (this is before Abram is renamed to Abraham). Sodom gets invaded, Lot gets taken captive (along with everyone else) and then Abram mounts a daring rescue with 318 of his men! It’s really quite action-packed for such a short chapter. I don’t know about you, but I always think of Abraham as this kindly old man, not some tribal warrior ready to go all “Taken” on his enemies (Gen 14:14–16). Abraham, probably It’s in the mids...

Lent: Day 17 - Justin Martyr: First Apology: Chaps. 60-68

Day Seventeen: St. Justin Martyr: First Apology, Chaps. 60-68 Who: Justin Martyr was a Philosopher who converted to Christianity and became a tireless evangelist and apologist. Justin wrote more Christianity than any other person prior to his time. He is classified herein as Eastern, since he a native of Samaria and his thought patterns were Eastern. However, he spent the last years of his life in Rome, where he was executed as a martyr (c. 165). What: An apologetic (defence) essay to explain what Christians believe and do. Why: Justin is demanding the Emperor to investigate accusations and unjust persecution against Christians so that they at least may fac...

Lent Day 27: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 61-70

...ere is no communion between light and darkness. (2 Corinthians 6:14) He goes on to teach that they, and anyone who denies Christ's divinity and says he is a created being, are no better than the heathen, “since they worship that which is created” rather than “the Creator, the Lord of all, by whom all things came into being, with those things which were originated” (John 1:1-4). On hearing that Anthony had denounced the Arians, the city rejoiced and even the Greeks and their temple priests came to see Anthony speak, and in that time many people were healed and set free from demons, and “as many became Christians in those few days as one would have...

Spiritual Disciplines of the Early Church: Ancient Practices for the 21st Century

...week for communion, worship and fellowship with other believers. “But every Lord’s day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.” (cf. Hebrews 10:24–25) Didache (c. 50 – 70)   Meditation Meditation and silence. This is likely the least practiced discipline amongst regular Christians. I say “regular” because unless you’re a monk or nun, this is a practice often overlooked — especially in this busy modern life. “Be still, and know that I am God!” Ps. 46:10 A lot of the monastic traditions grew out of learning to be still an...

Jesus, Mithras and Ancient Roman Cults: Separating Fact from Fiction

...ptism and communion (Eucharist). While both belief systems value spiritual growth, their approaches differ, especially in that with Christianity all the work for salvation is achieved by and through Jesus, we don’t work or do things to attain that salvation. We also know what the seven grades of initiation into Mithraism were called, thanks to Jerome listing them out in chapter two of his letter To Laeta: Those I mean by which the worshippers [of Mithras] were initiated as Raven, Bridegroom, Soldier, Lion, Perseus, Sun, Crab, and Father? It’s not unusual for religions to have special rites and rituals, but since we know very little about Mithraism, it...

The Early Concept of the Trinity: Tracing the Roots

..., and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Further Reading The Didache | Patristics.info Clement of Rome: 1 Clement | Patristics.info Ignatius of Antioch | Patristics.info Justin Martyr: First Apology | Patristics.info Ignatius of Antioch’s View of the Trinity | Orthocath (wordpress.com) Early Trinitarian quotes by Early Church Fathers | carm.org Where did the word “trinity” originate? | Bible.org The Triune God: A Historical Study of the Doctrine of the Trinity: Amazon.co.uk: Fortman, Edmund J: 9781579102234: Books The Birth of the Trinity: Jesus, God, and Spirit in New Testament and Early Christian Interpretations of the O...