Reply to Luther’s “On the Councils & the Church”: Pt. 1

August 12, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

Martin Luther completed his treatise, On the Councils and the Church in March 1539. In Luther’s Works (Vol. 41) it takes up 170 pages (9-178; translated in 1966). In the Introduction included in that volume, the editors observe: Luther’s On the Councils and the Church represents his final judgment concerning the medieval church as well as the first broad foundation for a new doctrine of the church within nascent Lutheranism. . . . Luther concludes from his analysis that although councils... Read more

Church Fathers on Baptism: First 400 Years

August 9, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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Handy Quick Summary of Their Essential Teaching on the Nature and Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism This compilation is wholly derived from the following set of articles that I completed on 8-8-24: Church Fathers & Baptism: Justin Martyr [7-23-24] * Theophilus of Antioch (fl. 185-191) on Baptismal Regeneration [Facebook, 7-23-24] * Irenaeus & Clement of Alexandria on Baptism [7-23-24] * Tertullian on Baptismal Regeneration [7-25-24] * Origen & Cyprian On Baptism [7-26-24] * Dionysius of Alexandria (d. c. 264) on Baptismal Regeneration [Facebook, 7-26-24] *... Read more

Augustine (354-430) On Baptism

August 8, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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Baptism and Being “Born Again” . . . born again by baptism; the generation by which we shall rise again from the dead, and shall live with the Angels for ever. (Explanations of the Psalms, 135:13 [135, 11] ) As regards the question of baptism, that our being born again, cleansed, justified by the grace of God, should not be ascribed to the man who administered the sacrament, . . . (Against the Letters of Petilian the Donatist, iii, 50,... Read more

St. Jerome (c. 343-420) On Baptism

August 8, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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In the Church’s baptism, that most unclean bird the devil is expelled, and the dove of the Holy Spirit announces peace to our earth. (The Dialogue Against the Luciferians, 22) If we do not sin after baptism, why do we ask that we may be forgiven our sins, which were already forgiven in baptism? Why do we pray that we may not enter into temptation, and that we may be delivered from the evil one, if the devil cannot tempt those who are baptized? (Against Jovinianus, Bk. II, 3) Baptism, . . . though it put... Read more

John Chrysostom (c. 345-407) On Baptism

August 7, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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Baptism and Being “Born Again” And for what reason, says one, if the laver take away all our sins, is it called, not a laver of remission of sins, nor a laver of cleansing, but a laver of regeneration? Because it does not simply take away our sins, nor simply cleanse us from our faults, but so as if we were born again. (Instructions to Catechumens, First, 3) Baptism and Justification / Sanctification Hear therefore what follows: “And such were... Read more

Papal Infallibility: Reply to Lutheran Jordan Cooper

August 7, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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Including Documentation of Popes’ Massive Consultation with Bishops and Others Before Declaring Dogmas, and Particulars of the Voting at Vatican I Rev. Dr. Jordan B. Cooper is a Lutheran pastor, adjunct professor of Systematic Theology, Executive Director of the popular Just & Sinner YouTube channel, and the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary (which holds to a doctrinally traditional Lutheranism, similar to the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod). He has authored several books, as well as theological articles in a variety of publications. All my Bible... Read more

Ambrose (c. 336-397) On Baptism

August 6, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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In order that being renewed by baptism you might hold to that manner of life which beseems those who are washed. . . . Open, then, your ears, inhale the good savour of eternal life which has been breathed upon you by the grace of the sacraments . . . (On the Mysteries, ch. 1, 1, 3) There is also a third testimony, as the Apostle teaches us: For all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized to Moses in the... Read more

Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335-c. 394) On Baptism

August 5, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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The time, then, has come, and bears in its course the remembrance of holy mysteries, purifying man —mysteries which purge out from soul and body even that sin which is hard to cleanse away, and which bring us back to that fairness of our first estate . . . you are enriched with a great gift: over you that are uninitiated, because you have a fair expectation of hope — remission of what is to be accounted for, release from bondage, close relation to God, free boldness... Read more

Gregory Nazianzen (c. 330-c. 390) On Baptism

August 2, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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Baptism and Grace We call it the Gift, because it is given to us in return for nothing on our part; Grace, because it is conferred even on debtors; Baptism, because sin is buried with it in the water; . . . Such is the grace and power of baptism; not an overwhelming of the world as of old, but a purification of the sins of each individual, and a complete cleansing from all the bruises and stains of sin.... Read more

Olympics Blasphemy & Christlike Righteous Indignation

August 1, 2024 By Dave Armstrong

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Some Catholics and other Christians are now lamenting the denunciation and outrage over what happened in the opening ceremony of the Olympics, with the mockery of the Last Supper and the hyper-sexualized mythological paganism. They have vociferously complained that too many (?) have expressed themselves in a manner that exhibits what they believe to be hatred, and works against a proper witness and evangelism. This is my reply regarding that particular issue. *** First of all, as a preliminary note... Read more