30 July 2006
Patristic Quote for the Day
"Since then we are to discourse of the things of God, let us assume that God has full knowledge of Himself, and bow with humble reverence to His words. For He Whom we can only know through His own utterances is the fitting witness concerning Himself." St. Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity, Book I:18
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3 comments:
Interesting post.
Could this be an ancient argument for the perspicuity of of the apostolic scriptures?
Pax!
Tom Fast
I don't know where that silly statement I made above came from. It's just that I've been having a conversation in my head for the past couple of months which was spawned by discussions I read, by people for whom I have the greatest respect, regarding the biblical expressions of the wrath of God and how language cannot adequately convey literal truths about the nature of God. Perhaps I have completely misunderstood the argument. Nonetheless, I wonder if we underestimate the power, intimacy, and substance of words...especially the Word of the Lord. I readily admit that on this subject I am drawing from a well about an inch deep, as is obvious, I'm sure. Yet I must agree with C.S. Lewis in saying that words are never "mere."
I'm not quite sure what my comments really have to do with your post, but your post evoked these thoughts in me.
Tom Fast
PS----I'll be waving at you from above as we fly over your area of the country on our way to Florida. So if, on Tuesday morning, you hear a plane fly overhead, be sure to look up and wave back! :)
Hi, Tom. With the traffic from I-55, I never notice the planes, so don't hold your breath waiting for me to wave back!
Hilary's approach to theology is pretty interesting. I hadn't paid much attention to him until Carl Beckwith pointed me in his direction a few years back. Carl thinks that the Reformers were quite indebted in Hilary when it came to the question of how to approach the sacred Scriptures. The above quote is but one example.
Pax!
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