An example of early Christian reasoning

by fulltimestudent 3 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  fulltimestudent

  Iranaeus (whose Christian ministry was in the second half of the second century CE) in his Adversus Haereses, argue that there can only be four gospels, for the following reason:

  The Gospels could not possibly be either more or less in number than they are.

  Since there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds, while the Church is spread over all the earth, and the pillar and foundation of the Church is the gospel, and the Spirit of life, it fittingly has four pillars, everywhere breathing out incorruption and revivifying men.

  From this it is clear that the Word, the artificer of all things, being manifested to men gave us the gospel, fourfold in form but held together by one Spirit. As David said, when asking for his coming, 'O sitter upon the cherubim, show yourself '. For the cherubim have four faces, and their faces are images of the activity of the Son of God. For the first living creature, it says, was like a lion, signifying his active and princely and royal character; the second was like an ox, showing his sacrificial and priestly order; the third had the face of a man, indicating very clearly his coming in human guise; and the fourth was like a flying eagle, making plain the giving of the Spirit who broods over the Church.

  Now the Gospels, in which Christ is enthroned, are like these. (3.11.8)

  Logical?

  Well, who am I to be the judge????
• 

  fulltimestudent

  And another example, this one from Clement, in a letter to the Corinthians. Clement, is an interesting writer, as its possible that this letter is older than some NT writings.

  In part of the letter he attempts to demonstrate from natural cycles, that the resurrection is a logical cycle of life>death>life:

  Chapter XXIV.--God continually shows us in nature that there will be a resurrection. Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits [102] by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower [103] goes forth, and casts it into the ground; and the seed being thus scattered, though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, ...

  Chapter XXV.--The phoenix an emblem of our resurrection. Let us consider that wonderful sign [of the resurrection] which takes place in Eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it builds itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices, into which, when the time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. But as the flesh decays a certain kind of worm is produced, which, being nourished by the juices of the dead bird, brings forth feathers. Then, when it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest in which are the bones of its parent, and bearing these it passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis. And, in open day, flying in the sight of all men, it places them on the altar of the sun, and having done this, hastens back to its former abode. The priests then inspect the registers of the dates, and find that it has returned exactly as the five hundredth year was completed. [104]

  Reference: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/1clement.html
• 

  jgnat

  mystical!

  What's wrong with mystical?
• 

  designs

  Clemente inspired Russell.