Ramsay, William M. Pauline and Other Studies in Early Church History. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979.
When catechetized in the Reformed faith, e.g. the Westminster Confession of Faith, learning is a corollary concern in life; it’s logical and natural to life in the Triune God who creates, sustains and preserves knowledge: Semper Fidelis et Sola Deo Gloria. Good regulated Prayer Book doctrine, worship and piety is another corollary. A further note, before getting involved with Sir Ramsay’s volume, we point to Anglican clerics.
Given the modern Anglican bishops throughout England and the USA (some of whom should be defrocked and thrown overboard), one has to do one’s own reading. We are reminded of Archbishop Edwin Sandys who said: "The ministers, you see should teach the right way. He which beareth that name and performeth not this office, is but an idol. Let another take his bishopric. Such drones were better smothered than suffered in that hive, where none should live that will not labour. Such as sow not why should they reap ? Neither is it any new thing to cast out unworthy ministers who cast off care of their duty. Solomon deposed Abiathar the high priest : and Justinian deprived Sylverius and Vigilius, bishops of Rome. These are good precedents for princes in like case to follow." Archbishop Sandys— Ser. 1 Sam. xii. 23, 24. Yes, we need to toss a number of them.
But, we digress and return to our theme of Prof. Ramsay’s volume.
This 414-page volume is available at: http://www.amazon.com/
Contents
1. Shall We Hear Evidence or Not?
2. The Charm of Paul
3. The Statesmanship of Paul
4. Pagan Revivalism and the Persecution of the Early Church
5. The Worship of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus
6. The Permanence of Religion at Holy Places in Western Asia
7. The Acts of the Apostles
8. The Lawful Assembly
9. The Olive-Tree and the Wild-Olive
10. Questions: With a Memory of Dr. Hort
11. St. Paul’s Road from Cilicia to Iconium
12. The Authorship of Acts
13. A Study of St. Paul by Mr. Baring-Gould
14. A Pauline Chronology
15. Life in the Days of St. Basil the Great
Index 1
Index 2
One’s point of view is determinative of conclusions. Presuppositions matter. In approaching St. Paul, is it admissible or inadmissible in terms of his encounter with the risen Redeemer?
Is Acts 9 overblown rhetoric?
For Saul-later-Paul, the Old Testament depended upon God dwelling and communicating with humans. The “true religion” depended on the “voice and will of God” (4). Paul was raised on this conviction arising from generations-upon-generations of historic conviction.
Two specimens indicate Paul’s views of revelation (although there are more):
Romans 1.18ff: “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
Acts 17.24ff: “ God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being…”
We return to Paul more directly.
Did Saul-turned-Paul hear John the Baptist? The Baptist had a national following and was known in the Royal courts. Or, had he heard Jesus? Or, the Apostles preaching in Jerusalem? We know he heard (St.-Bondservant-Deacon) Steven. The early Church surely knew of Saul-later-Paul and steered clear of him, post-conversionally.
Christ “revealed Himself” to Paul. Paul rehearses his conversion in Acts 9, 22 and 26, as well as sections elsewhere in the Epistles. There was sight, sound and doctrinal content.
But, was this distorted? Real? Exaggerated? And indication of an unbalanced and diseased mind? Was this an imposture? Was he self-deceived? A mad man? A lunatic? Irrational?
The difference between Paul himself and his travelling companions existed. What was clear to him was not to the companions. Had Paul died on the spot, they would have known nothing of the causes or content of the vision and voice of Christ.
Paul recounts his experience. This become central to his life. Central to his mission. He lives and dies in the comfort of His Savior.
Presuppositions matter. Christ arose. Christ's sovereign control involves molecules and nations. Christ revealed Himself to St. Paul.
Sir Ramsay asks the question: “Shall We Hear the Evidence or Not?
When catechetized in the Reformed faith, e.g. the Westminster Confession of Faith, learning is a corollary concern in life; it’s logical and natural to life in the Triune God who creates, sustains and preserves knowledge: Semper Fidelis et Sola Deo Gloria. Good regulated Prayer Book doctrine, worship and piety is another corollary. A further note, before getting involved with Sir Ramsay’s volume, we point to Anglican clerics.
Given the modern Anglican bishops throughout England and the USA (some of whom should be defrocked and thrown overboard), one has to do one’s own reading. We are reminded of Archbishop Edwin Sandys who said: "The ministers, you see should teach the right way. He which beareth that name and performeth not this office, is but an idol. Let another take his bishopric. Such drones were better smothered than suffered in that hive, where none should live that will not labour. Such as sow not why should they reap ? Neither is it any new thing to cast out unworthy ministers who cast off care of their duty. Solomon deposed Abiathar the high priest : and Justinian deprived Sylverius and Vigilius, bishops of Rome. These are good precedents for princes in like case to follow." Archbishop Sandys— Ser. 1 Sam. xii. 23, 24. Yes, we need to toss a number of them.
But, we digress and return to our theme of Prof. Ramsay’s volume.
This 414-page volume is available at: http://www.amazon.com/
Contents
1. Shall We Hear Evidence or Not?
2. The Charm of Paul
3. The Statesmanship of Paul
4. Pagan Revivalism and the Persecution of the Early Church
5. The Worship of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus
6. The Permanence of Religion at Holy Places in Western Asia
7. The Acts of the Apostles
8. The Lawful Assembly
9. The Olive-Tree and the Wild-Olive
10. Questions: With a Memory of Dr. Hort
11. St. Paul’s Road from Cilicia to Iconium
12. The Authorship of Acts
13. A Study of St. Paul by Mr. Baring-Gould
14. A Pauline Chronology
15. Life in the Days of St. Basil the Great
Index 1
Index 2
One’s point of view is determinative of conclusions. Presuppositions matter. In approaching St. Paul, is it admissible or inadmissible in terms of his encounter with the risen Redeemer?
Is Acts 9 overblown rhetoric?
For Saul-later-Paul, the Old Testament depended upon God dwelling and communicating with humans. The “true religion” depended on the “voice and will of God” (4). Paul was raised on this conviction arising from generations-upon-generations of historic conviction.
Two specimens indicate Paul’s views of revelation (although there are more):
Romans 1.18ff: “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
Acts 17.24ff: “ God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being…”
We return to Paul more directly.
Did Saul-turned-Paul hear John the Baptist? The Baptist had a national following and was known in the Royal courts. Or, had he heard Jesus? Or, the Apostles preaching in Jerusalem? We know he heard (St.-Bondservant-Deacon) Steven. The early Church surely knew of Saul-later-Paul and steered clear of him, post-conversionally.
Christ “revealed Himself” to Paul. Paul rehearses his conversion in Acts 9, 22 and 26, as well as sections elsewhere in the Epistles. There was sight, sound and doctrinal content.
But, was this distorted? Real? Exaggerated? And indication of an unbalanced and diseased mind? Was this an imposture? Was he self-deceived? A mad man? A lunatic? Irrational?
The difference between Paul himself and his travelling companions existed. What was clear to him was not to the companions. Had Paul died on the spot, they would have known nothing of the causes or content of the vision and voice of Christ.
Paul recounts his experience. This become central to his life. Central to his mission. He lives and dies in the comfort of His Savior.
Presuppositions matter. Christ arose. Christ's sovereign control involves molecules and nations. Christ revealed Himself to St. Paul.
Sir Ramsay asks the question: “Shall We Hear the Evidence or Not?
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