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The Coming Kingdom of the Son of Man

The importance of context of what's being said, and to whom, in Scripture. I came across this image the other day (in the header above; see larger here) that links together three parts of Matthew’s Gospel to highlight the connection which many often miss, or read as separate events. I like the image becaUse it shows that when JesUs spoke these things, he would have been saying them directly to the disciples and others who were listening to his teaching, and not in some cryptic, ambiguoUs dictation to a prophetic scribe, devoid of all context and meaning to those around him at the time. Update Feb 2017: I am adding some additional information to this to dis...

Lent: Day 3 - Mathetes to DiognetUs, pt. 2

Day three: Epistle of Mathetes to DiognetUs: Chaps. 7-12 Who: AnonymoUs author, “mathetes” is not a name, but is the Greek word for “a disciple” What: possibly one of the earliest examples of a Christian apologetic defending the faith from its accUsers, written to someone interested in learning more about the faith and its cUstoms Why: The Christian faith was under attack and ridicule in the early centuries, many things about the Church were misunderstood and so varioUs Christians took to writing apologetic's (defences) to clarify doctrines and beliefs from being maligned. When: Estimated between AD 130 and late 2nd century Today's reading is the...

An ancient fragment mentions JesUs' wife!?

UPDATE (3rd May 2014): It is now believed to have been confirmed as a hoax/fake; read the full story on The Wall Street Journal. Ancient and not a fake according to scientists IMAGE: HARVARD UNIVERSITY, KAREN L. KING/ASSOCIATED PRESS A little while ago, there was some hoopla in the news about a newly discovered fragment of papyrUs from ancient times which contained the phrase "JesUs said to them, 'my wife...,'". ObvioUsly, and not surprisingly, the media made a big deal out of this. Atheists and the like, saw it as a blow to Christianity and conspiracy theorists everywhere thought it confirmed their views that the Vatican and the Catholic Church wer...

Lent Day 18: Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 1-9

Day Eighteen: St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 1-9 Who: Third century bishop of Carthage (in modern Tunisia), and martyr from Africa What: A letter to encourage the unity of the church against schisms and heresy during massive Roman persecution Why: A disturbance had happened in the church becaUse of a priest called Novatian — a schismatic of the third century, and founder of the sect of the Novatians. Cyprian wrote to counter this and argues that there can only be one united Church, and the Novatian breakaway was a false church and that Novatian was an antipope.When: Around 249 AD You can find today’s reading on page 92 here: lentfatherscomplete...

Lent Day 29: AthanasiUs: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 81-94

Day Twenty-nine: St. AthanasiUs: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 81-94 Who: Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of the Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373 AD. He was the main defender of orthodoxy in the 4th-century battle against the Arianism heresy. Certain writers received the title “Doctor” on account of the great advantage their doctrine had on the whole Church, AthanasiUs especially for his doctrine on the incarnation. What: The biography of Anthony the Great’s life, which helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Why: From the letter’s own prologue: “The life and conversation of our holy Father,...

Lent Day 33: Cyril of JerUsalem: Catechetical Lectures: Lecture XXII

Day Thirty-three: St. Cyril of JerUsalem: Catechetical Lectures: Lecture XXII Who: Bishop of JerUsalem and Doctor of the Church, born about 315; died probably 18 March, 386. Little is known of his life, except from his younger contemporaries, EpiphaniUs, Jerome, and RufinUs, as well as from the fifth-century historians, Socrates, Sozomen and Theodoret. What: Each of the lectures deal With a different topic to teach converts the mysteries of the Church, particularly: rites of the renunciation of Satan and his works, of anointing With oil, of baptism, of anointing With the holy chrism, and of partaking of the body and blood of Christ. Why: Cyril delivered to ne...