Learning Theology with the Church Farther

Introduction

Theologians possess an outstanding gift within themselves. They produce paramount contributions towards religious phenomena. This paper tackles a book that attributes its implications to the contributions of theologians. Hall is the author of the text. He was one of the early theologians who explained diverse doctrines in Christianity. A comprehensive and critical explanation engulfs these phenomena in the Christian religion. Hall’s text gives a perspective of worship through the fathers in Christianity. The focus of the entire text is on discipline, prayer, as well as the sacraments. He evaluates the perspectives that exist in Christianity concerning the broad factors. Diverse individuals have varied perspectives about the factors. Consequently, Hall gives outstanding propositions through the engaging text (Hall, 2002). The text considers the difference in beliefs throughout Christianity. Hall also advocates for a combined perspective of spirituality and theology. Theology is a discipline that explains Christian spiritual domains. Therefore, Hall’s text implicates that theology and spirituality ought to maintain a similar pace and perspective. The text comprises eleven chapters that tackle diverse issues.

Chapter 1

This chapter is about preparing to learn theology with the church fathers. The incarnation of the Word is a key subject. The ancient periods of the church involved much development of the word. In this case, development of the Word was the dominant practice. Hall refers to the writings of John 1:1. Through a comprehensive and critical consideration, Hall exhibits diverse attributes that contribute to the supreme God. The word is God, and out of the word, there a human figure develops, who serves the world as their savior (Hall, 2002). In this chapter, Hall introduces the perspective of the fathers. He refers his implications to Paul in the scriptures. In this context, a father has absolute knowledge about the teachings and the ministry of Jesus Christ. The text implicates that it is essential to learn from the fathers since they have an outstanding knowledge about Christian teachings, as well as the ministry. This title is common in the catholic doctrine.

Chapter 2

This chapter places its focus on Jesus Christ. He is the begotten son, but not made. This chapter gives an outline of the Arian controversy. Arius is incongruent with the implication of Alexander, who was a bishop in Alexandria. The bishop implicates that the son not begotten from God. Alexandria connotes that the father and the son exist consistently always (Hall, 2002). There is no distinguishing factor between the father and the son. Arius highly disapproves of this. In Athanasius’ response, the chapter quotes the scriptures in Colossians 2:9. This verse connotes that the son is in the father, and the father is in the son. This is an indication that the son is a significant component of the father. God is an eternal father; the son is an eternal relationship with the father. This is according to the response from Athanasius in the chapter. He considers the beliefs of Arius to be out of spiritual presumption.

Chapter 3

The chapter speaks of the mystery and wonder of the trinity.  Kant is an essential character in this chapter. He argues that the principle of the trinity does not make practical value. Kant implicates that some individuals might tend to claim of their understanding of the trinity. In reality, these individuals lack the practical perspective towards life. Jefferson is an alternative character in this chapter. He does not understand the principle of trinity. He argues that the arithmetic sophistication of the principle of trinity hides the identity of Jesus (Hall, 2002). It blurs the vivid understanding of Jesus. The trinity is not a topic in the scriptures. Profound writers like Paul did not handle it as a topic. This is a concept that dominantly emerged from the fathers. They made this invention due to their outstanding knowledge of the Bible. This was definitely after a comprehensive analysis of the Biblical data. They cumulatively agreed that God works in unison as the trinity. This involves the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 4

This chapter illustrates about Christ divine and human. Christ composes the trinity. According to the analysis of the fathers, Christ composes the trinity as the son. According to John 1:1, there was the word in the beginning. Simultaneously, the word was God. This word came to develop into a savior of the world. Christ was the savior of the world from iniquity. The son qualifies as a divine figure due to his makeup, his capability as well as his origin. In his makeup, the son is a component of the trinity (Hall, 2002). His capability manifests in his miracles as well as his divine ability to take away the iniquities of the world. Christ constitutes the trinity, so he lived before his birth on earth. The human perspective of Christ manifests when he descends to the earth to save the world from sin. He undergoes birth through the Holy Spirit, and lives as a physical man. According to this chapter, Christ lives on earth from birth until his crucifix. Throughout his life, he exhibits human traits. This is a conclusion that dominantly emerges from the analysis of the fathers on the scriptures.

Chapter 5

“On the Holy Spirit” is the title of the chapter. The chapter gives an outline of the fathers’ perspective of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a component of the trinity. As Christ ascended to heaven, he left a helper to the people on earth. This was the Holy Spirit. The ascending of Christ brought much solitude and vulnerability to the followers. Christ left the Holy Spirit to help the Christians on earth (Hall, 2002). Dominantly, the fathers implicate that the Holy Spirit was to guide the people on earth. Throughout life, the human race needed a helper in their lives. This helper would enlighten them not to venture into evil deeds. Through this helper, they would be in contact with the kingdom of God. On this note, this chapter connotes that the fathers had an understanding that the Holy Spirit was a helper after Christ ascended to heaven.

Chapter 6

This chapter tackles three independent entities. The chapter is about sin, grace, and the human condition. Human life entails harsh realities about sin. Sin results to adversities such as death in human life. Adam formulated the basis of sin. This indicates that sin infiltrated into the world .through the deeds of a single individual. According to Romans 5:12, death became the consequence of sin. Through the deeds of Adam, death spread to entire human race as a punishment (Hall, 2002). In this chapter, Hall refers to Paul in the scriptures. Paul connotes that sin was not the initial state of the human race. It infiltrated from the ancestors, Adam and |Eve. This fact explains the current condition of the human race. They are all subject to death and suffering. Grace entails God’s mercy over providence towards the human race. Despite of the sinful nature of the human race, they have a chance to resurrect as Chris did, as they ascend to heaven. The fathers extract this fact from 1st Corinthians 15: 21-22. This defines the grace of God towards the human race.

Chapter 7

The chapter has the title “God’s transcendent providence.” In this chapter, there is a revelation of the fathers’ perspective about the providence from God. This chapter seeks to tackle a question. The question reads, “Is God truly in control of human history?” definitely, the chapter handled this question from the fathers’ perspective. Chrysostom is an individual that makes outstanding contributions towards the concept of God’s providence (Hall, 2002).  In this case, the fact stands out to be God’s goodness prevails even in our evil deeds. The worldly might lack the capability of seeing God’s providence. According to Hall, the believers might undergo suffering in their journey, but they are not subject to harm. This is a definite manifestation of God’s providence. The transcendent providence motivates, and inspires His people.

Chapter 8

The chapter is about God’s wise and loving providence. This is definitely towards the human race. Chrysostom is also a dominant contributor towards this chapter. According to him, God is all-knowing. He is a wise Creator. His providence has its base on His wisdom towards the individuals in the entire human race (Hall, 2002). God creates diverse situations in the human race. On the earth, individuals undergo much suffering and tribulation. God knows the origin of the tribulations. He provides according to his knowledge. God uses these situations to influence human lives. He moulds the character of the individuals through the harsh events in their lives. This is also an outstanding strategy towards curbing the unruly actions and pleasures. The actions and pleasures distract the human race from their purposes towards life. Evidently, God’s providence originates from his wisdom.

Chapter 9

“The sacred scriptures” is the name of the chapter. The sacred scriptures have an essential role to play in the believers’ lives. The scriptures act as a guideline that reinforces values and principles into the believers. It is also essential as it they express the will of God to the people. The sacred scriptures were an inspiration from God (Hall, 2002). The authors were under God’s inspiration and spirit as they wrote. In this process, they did not use their individual capabilities. God influenced their writing. In the recent generations, the sacred scriptures reflect as the will of the spiritual fathers. They are an oath from them that benefits their subsequent generations.

Chapter 10

This chapter talks about One, Holy, Apostolic church. The church is the entire human race of the believers. The church believes in the existence of the trinity. They are a nation that believes in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit exists amid the believers, and guides them over their deeds (Hall, 2002). In this case, the Holy Spirit takes the same place as the Father. Since Christ ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit remains to be a consistent helper to the believers. The church believes in the Holy Spirit as the immediate helper ordained by God. The Apostles teach of one supreme God. This God engrosses the trinity. This presents the faith of the church.

Chapter 11

This chapter entails the resurrection of the body. It also engrosses the everlasting life. According to this chapter, Christ underwent persecution and crucified. On the third day, he resurrected. According to the analysis of the fathers, Christ underwent the crucifix and resurrected as the savior of the world (Hall, 2002). Through this, Christ saved the world from the burden of sin. He took the burden of God’s children. This strengthened the relationship between the human kind and God. The fathers also implicate that the believers will undergo death while on earth. They will resurrect, and will join the heavenly kingdom after judgment. The sinners will be under everlasting fire after judgment. According to the fathers, the individuals compose a body and a soul. Therefore, they are accountable for their deeds.

References

Hall, C. A. (2002). Learning theology with the church fathers. Downers Grove, Ill: Intervarsity  Press.