Category: Augustine

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Jesus came to save

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And how many others are still bowed down and bound by Satan, who hinders them from looking up at all, and who would have us to look down also! And no one can raise them up, except the Word, that came by Jesus Christ, and that aforetime inspired the prophets: And Jesus came to release those who were under the dominion of the devil; and, speaking of him, He said with that depth of meaning which characterized His words, “Now is the prince of this world judged.” Origen. 1885. “Origen against Celsus.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part … Continue reading Jesus came to save

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So many men to God

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“But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.” – Luke 11:15 “But wisdom is justified of her children.” – Jesus Matthew 11:19 “I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6 Trust Jesus as He has been turning the nations to Yahweh for 2000 years and running now! Did you know that the Biblical writings from the BC (BCE) predicted a coming “Servant/Messiah” who would bring God’s word to the nations world over? Did you … Continue reading So many men to God

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The Pastor that loves everybody but his own family

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The reason why somebody does the same good act seems to matter. Is a person a good person if that person’s reason for the good he/she is doing is not good? It seems that a person can be declared good before God if they are doing good in harmony with their Creator, rather than in opposition to Him. If one’s deeds are done out of love for God and not in rebellion against Him, then that person may be considered good in God’s eyes. Maybe this is one reason why God says that all our righteousness is as filthy rags … Continue reading The Pastor that loves everybody but his own family

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Origen’s cool response to Celsus

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From my layman-level understanding, Origen wrote this in response to Celsus arguing that Plato said some of the same things Christ said but in a more intelligent form, to which Origen has this in part as a response which, considering the success of Christianity in getting sometimes the same truth to the masses, would have probably impressed Plato some. Here is Origen’s cool response: And further, we are not to imagine that a truth adorned with the graces of Grecian speech is necessarily better than the same when expressed in the more humble and unpretending language used by Jews and … Continue reading Origen’s cool response to Celsus

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No one

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Celsus supposes that we may arrive at a knowledge of God either by combining or separating certain things after the methods which mathematicians call synthesis and analysis, or again by analogy, which is employed by them also, and that in this way we may as it were gain admission to the chief good. But when the Word of God says, “No man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him,” He declares that no one can know God but by the help of divine grace coming from above, with a certain divine inspiration. … Continue reading No one

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We maintain

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Origen to Celsus 248AD For ourselves, we maintain that human nature is in no way able to seek after God, or to attain a clear knowledge of Him without the help of Him whom it seeks. He makes Himself known to those who, after doing all that their powers will allow, confess that they need help from Him, who discovers Himself to those whom He approves, in so far as it is possible for man and the soul still dwelling in the body to know God. Origen. 1885. “Origen against Celsus.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; … Continue reading We maintain

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Maybe and maybe not

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I think Plato may have been somewhat impressed with the success of Jesus! These words of Plato are noble and admirable; but see if Scripture does not give us an example of a regard for mankind still greater in God the Word, who was “in the beginning with God,” and “who was made flesh,” in order that He might reveal to all men truths which, according to Plato, it would be impossible to make known to all men, even after he had found them himself. Plato may say that “it is a hard thing to find out the Creator and … Continue reading Maybe and maybe not

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Jesus vs the philosophers

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Origen’s response to Celsus’ recommendation of Christians to abandon Christ for the philosophers (the philosophers did not seem to connect well with the common man even to this day which Origen sees as a major flaw for the philosopher in comparison to Jesus who seems to connect with all sorts of classes of men and women and even those in slavery): Who, then, are those wise men and philosophers from whom Celsus would have us to learn so many divine truths, and for whom we are to give up Moses the servant of God, the prophets of the Creator of … Continue reading Jesus vs the philosophers