Exhortation

Last updated on: December 25, 2011 at 8:16 am By Peter Leithart

It’s often said that the ancients couldn’t conceive of the incarnation because they couldn’t conceive of the infinite inhabiting the finite. The real problem was more fundamental: The ancients couldn’t conceive of anything truly infinite. An infinite thing has no boundaries; without boundaries, a thing is shapeless; shapeless things cannot be defined as things at all, and so don’t really exist. For the ancients, infinity was an all-consuming blob of terrifying nothing. “Nothing infinite can exist,” Aristotle said. Christians know... Read more

Oxen and mangers

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 7:10 am By Peter Leithart

Yahweh appears to Job in a whirlwind and challenges Job by reminding Him of His infinite creative power. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” He asks. “Who set its measurements? Where were you, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:1-7). Yahweh’s infinite liveliness and power continue to energize everything. “Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of... Read more

What’s Israel For?

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 6:33 am By Peter Leithart

Van Leeuwen offers this superb description of the purpose of Israel among the nations: “In the life, society, state and culture of Israel the Lord the Creator is active in carrying out his purposes. The religious ideas, the mythology, cult and ritual, the social and legal traditions, yes, and even the political structure of the Gentile peoples are incorporated into the life of Israel. The promised land lies right at the centre of the ‘sphere of influence’ of the ancient... Read more

What’s Israel For?

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 6:33 am By Peter Leithart

Ends of the land

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 6:04 am By Peter Leithart

In his brilliant Christianity and World History , Arend Th. van Leeuwen argues that the phrase “ends of the earth” as a description of the GEntile lands alludes to the land/sea distinction of the original creation, and also that it puts the Gentiles in the position of being the “frontier” or “borderland” of Israel, the land ruled from Zion. “Ends of the land” is probably a better translations. He spells out some of the implications: “Were the Gentiles to be... Read more

Exporting Gay Rights

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 3:44 pm By Peter Leithart

BBC News reports that the US has been pressuring African countries to promote the gay rights agenda: “President Barack Obama has ordered US government agencies to put gay rights at the heart of foreign policy . . . . The US has said it will use foreign aid and diplomacy to fight discrimination against gays and lesbians. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said ‘gay rights are human rights.’” Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is resisting the pressure: “‘Before anyone gives me... Read more

Britain and Middle East Persecution

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 3:39 pm By Peter Leithart

In today’s Daily Telegraph , Fraser Nelson reviews the recent threats to Christians in the Middle East: “The Arab Spring was always going to mean danger for religious minorities, unleashing the Islamic extremists who previously were kept at bay. For all their evil, the old secular tyrants abused their victims equally, whether they wore the cross, hijab or skullcap. This year’s revolutions are marked by the utter absence of any leaders-in-waiting. History has repeatedly shown how, under such circumstances, regime... Read more

Chariots

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 8:15 am By Peter Leithart

The first chariot-rider in the Bible is Joseph, who is praised as a ruler in Egypt as he rides in his chariot (Genesis 41:43), who takes amn entourage of chariots to greet his father’s entry to Egypt (Genesis 46:29), and who takes a “great company” of chariots and horsemen to his father’s funeral (Genesis 50:9). Joseph is the first to become like his heavenly Father, who makes clouds His chariot. The next time we see chariots, Pharaoh is chasing Israel... Read more

Ring of glory

Last updated on: December 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm By Peter Leithart

Nyssa: “Do you see the circle of glory among those who are alike? The Son is glorified by the Spirit; the Father is glorified by the Son; again the Son has his glory from the Father and the only-begotten thus becomes the glory of the Spirit. For with what shall the Father be glorified but with the true glory of the Son, and with what shall the Son be glorified but with the majesty of the Spirit.” Anatolios glosses this... Read more

Passion and createdness

Last updated on: December 22, 2011 at 3:18 pm By Peter Leithart

Anatolios ( Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian Doctrine ) offers this neat “Well, duh” summary of Nyssa’s reconceptualization of human passions. Hellenic philosophy made passibility both an ontological and a moral category. Passions were “disordered affections” but these disordered affections were built into a “finite material existence that rendered a nature passive to external forces.” Disordered, morally condemnable responses then are built into material existence. Nyssa realized that this can’t be right and so “he sunders the... Read more