You can read Ligon Duncan On Patristic Covenant Theology (1995) by clicking here
Patristics
Augustine: The Rule Of Faith Is The Apostles’ Creed
1. Receive, my children, the Rule of Faith, which is called the Symbol (or Creed). And when ye have received it, write it in your heart, and be daily saying it to yourselves; before ye sleep, before ye go forth, arm you . . . Continue reading →
Cyprian: Baptize Infants (253 AD)
2. But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think that . . . Continue reading →
Hippolytus (c. 215 AD): Baptize Infants
3. And they shall put off their clothes. 4. And they shall baptize the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents or someone from their family answer for them. . . . Continue reading →
Augustine: Infant Baptism Is The Apostolic And Universal Practice Of The Church
And this is the firm tradition of the universal Church, in respect of the baptism of infants, who certainly are as yet unable “with the heart to believe unto righteousness, and with the mouth to make confession unto salvation,” as the thief . . . Continue reading →
Justification In The Earliest Christian Fathers
Perhaps the first post-Apostolic use of the New Testament verb “to justify” (δικαιόω) occurs in 1 Clement, written just after 100 AD to the same Corinthian congregation to whom Paul had written half a century earlier. There is no claim of authorship . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Simon Gathercole On Gnosticsm, Canon, and Competing Gospels
If I say to you the word “gospel” or “the gospels” you probably think of the canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are scholars, however, who do not accept the canonical gospels as “the gospels.” Rather, since the 1930s an . . . Continue reading →
Justification In The Earliest Christian Fathers: 1 Clement
Perhaps the first post-Apostolic use of the New Testament verb “to justify” (δικαιόω) occurs in 1 Clement, written just after 100 AD to the same Corinthian congregation to whom Paul had written half a century earlier. There is no claim of authorship . . . Continue reading →
Niceta Of Serbia Contra Instruments In Worship Circa 370 AD
it would be tedious, dearly beloved, were I to recount every episode from the history of the Psalms, especially since it is necessary now to offer something from the New Testament and confirmation of the Old, lest one think the ministry of . . . Continue reading →
The Earliest Christians Had A Rural Mission Too
To be clear, Robinson’s point is not that early Christians prioritized rural over urban. Rather his point is that the rural dimension of early Christianity has been routinely overlooked due to a reigning paradigm that has insisted Christians were predominantly urban. In . . . Continue reading →
Tertullian On The Apologetic Power Of Sola Scriptura
Take away, indeed, from the heretics the wisdom which they share with the heathen, and let them support their inquiries from the Scriptures alone: they will then be unable to keep their ground. Tertullian, De res. 3. On the Resurrection of the . . . Continue reading →
Ad Diognetum On Harmony Of All The Parts Of Scripture
11:6 Furthermore, the reverence of the law is sung, and the grace of the prophets is recognized, and the faith of the gospels is established, and the tradition of the apostles is preserved, and the joy of the church exults. Ad Diognetum . . . Continue reading →
Turretin: Who Are The Church Fathers, When Did They Live, and What Authority Do They Have?
Are the writings of the fathers the rule of truth in doctrines of faith and in the interpretation of the Scriptures? We deny against the papists I. Although from the preceding question we are already satisfied that the fathers cannot sit as . . . Continue reading →
Gregory I (c.540–604 AD) Epistles 5.18 To The Bishop Of Constantinople
Gregory to John, Bishop of Constantinople. At the time when your Fraternity was advanced to Sacerdotal dignity, you remember what peace and concord of the churches you found. But, with what daring or with what swelling of pride I know not, you . . . Continue reading →
Chrysostom On Two Kingdoms
[11.] But what is this, “When He shall deliver up the kingdom?” The Scripture acknowledges two kingdoms of God, the one by appropriation (oikeiwsin), the other by creation. Thus, He is King over all, both Greeks and Jews and devils and His . . . Continue reading →
The Shepherd Of Hermas Is A Dull Novel
Dr. Bunsen calls it “a good but dull novel,” and reminds us of a saying of Niebuhr (Bunsen’s master), that “he pitied the Athenian3 Christians for being obliged to hear it read in their assemblies.” —F. Crombie, “Introductory Note to the Pastor . . . Continue reading →
Jerome On Monepiscopacy: The Triumph Of Pragmatism Not Principle
The presbyter is the same as the bishop, and before parties had been raised up in religion by the provocations of Satan, the churches were governed by the Senate of the presbyters. But as each one sought to appropriate to himself those . . . Continue reading →
Fifth-Century Church: Instruments Were For Moses
Q: If songs were invented by unbelievers with a design of deceiving, and were appointed for those under the law, because of the childishness of their minds, why do they who have received the perfect instructions of grace, which are most contrary . . . Continue reading →
Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light . . . Continue reading →
Apostles’ Creed
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 2. And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, our Lord. 3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. 4. Suffered under Ponce Pilate, . . . Continue reading →