Meaning of “Live by Faith” (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, etc.)

Last updated on: August 17, 2024 at 10:19 am By Dave Armstrong

I will be interacting with an excellent, ecumenical, and thought-provoking article, entitled “Interpreting Faith in the Reformation: Catholic and Protestant Interpretations of Habakkuk 2:4b and Its New Testament Quotations” (Mario M. C. Melendez, Themelios, Vol. 45, Issue 2, August 2020). Mario M. C. Melendez is Auguie Henry Chair of Bible and assistant professor of Old Testament and biblical studies at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His words will be in blue, Martin Luther’s in green, and John Calvin’s in... Read more

Various Protestant Errors (vs. Steve Gregg)

Last updated on: August 17, 2024 at 2:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

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***** Protestant Steve Gregg’s words will be in blue. See his online biography. ***** This began with a thread on my Facebook page where I posted a meme. It read as follows (numbers added for the sake of reference): Protestantism: [1] Where everyone is a priest except priests, [2] Where everyone can bind and loose except bishops, [3] Where you can command angels but not ask their help, [4] Where you can talk to the devil but not to saints,... Read more

Reply to Luther’s “On the Councils & the Church”

Last updated on: August 14, 2024 at 11:55 pm By Dave Armstrong

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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

Last updated on: August 9, 2024 at 10:45 am 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

Last updated on: August 8, 2024 at 1:59 pm 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

Last updated on: August 8, 2024 at 12:49 pm 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

Last updated on: August 7, 2024 at 4:35 pm 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

Last updated on: August 7, 2024 at 4:21 pm 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

Last updated on: August 6, 2024 at 10:03 am 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

Last updated on: August 5, 2024 at 4:30 pm 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