The rest is silence

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 11:37 am By Peter Leithart

Anatolios summarizes the soteriological consequences of the modalist-leaning theology of Marcellus of Ancyra this way: “Marcellus’s doctrine of God depicts divine being as a monologue – God is singular, monas ; in his own being, he is silent; in relation to creation, he utters his Word . . . . Jesus Christ, as the human incarnation of the Word, encompasses that dialogue in his own being. But since, for Marcellus, dialogue is not internal to God, neither can Jesus Christ,... Read more

Jesus accepte le souffrance

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 11:16 am By Peter Leithart

In Messiaen’s sequence of nine organ pieces on La Nativite du Seigneur , the piece entitled “Jesus accepte le Souffrance” is the seventh, between “Les Anges” and “Les Mages.” It seems to refer to the slaughter of innocents in Bethlehem, but Messiaen has apparently turned it into a moment of vicarious suffering for Jesus Himself. Though He escapes, He begins already as an infant to bear our sorrows. Read more

Where’s the Mystery?

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 11:03 am By Peter Leithart

Anatolios argues that one of the differences between theologians of the unity of will like Arius (Father begets Son by will) and theologians of the unity of being like Alexander and Athanasius (Son is of the Father’s very being) is the location of mystery. Arius located the apophatic limit in the Unbegotten “Father” himself. Alexander, by contrast, said that Son was equally incomprehensible with the Father. But more intriguingly, the mystery is not located in the Father and Son separately,... Read more

Where’s the Mystery?

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 11:03 am By Peter Leithart

Eusebian political theology

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 9:45 am By Peter Leithart

Anatolios ( Retrieving Nicaea ) admits that “we should not leap to the conclusion that a trinitarian theology based on ontological subordinationism, with Father and Son relating within a hierarchy of will and obedience, will necessarily lead to a monarchical political theology.” Yet, “in Eusebius this is exactly what happens”: “Eusebius’s account of the relation between Father and Son extends seamlessly into a comprehensive vision of reality in which the chain of being coincides at every level with a chain... Read more

Maidens

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 9:36 am By Peter Leithart

The word “maiden” is used twice in the Song, first in 1:3, where the Bride says that the maidens love her Lover, and then in 6:8, where the maidens join with the queens and concubines in praising the bride. At the beginning, the maidens love the lover, but by the end of the Song they also express their admiration for the bride. She has been exalted in their regard, after being despised at the beginning. The Bride comes to share... Read more

Job’s dilemma

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 4:57 am By Peter Leithart

Job 32 states the dilemma of the book: “Job was righteous in his own eyes,” and Elihu burns against him “because he justified himself more than God” (vv. 1-2). Job suffers. If Job sinned and suffers just punishment, God is justified. But Job refuses to admit sin commensurate with the punishment. Therefore, Yahweh punishes him unjustly. What cannot happen is that both God and Job be justified. If Job justifies himself, he condemns God; if he justifies God, he condemns... Read more

Job’s dilemma

Last updated on: December 17, 2011 at 4:57 am By Peter Leithart

Merit and Atonement

Last updated on: December 16, 2011 at 1:53 pm By Peter Leithart

Merit, Jonathan Edwards said, is “anything . . . in one person . . which appearing in the view of another is a recommendation of him to the other’s regard, esteem and affection.” On this definition of merit, Edwards is able to insist that imputation is not “unreasonable, or against nature,” since nothing is more common than that “respect should be shown to one on account of his . . . conntexion with another.” Jenson ( America’s Theologian ) explains... Read more

Refined idolatry

Last updated on: December 16, 2011 at 8:23 am By Peter Leithart

Aristotle says his philosophical opponents “destroy necessity.” So long as they are looking at the creation, his opponents are right: Nature is wholly contingent, entirely unnecessary, like art. Aristotle searches for, and thinks he finds, necessity in creation. His philosophy is a refined idolatry. Read more