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Sin, Satan, and Satan’s Fall
I was recently directed to some questions about Sin, Satan, and Satan’s fall. Did Satan exist before Adam and Eve? How and when did he fall? The Scriptures do not specify when God created the angels or when specifically Satan fell. Jude 6 states: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left…
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Grace in Cyril’s Commentary on the Book of Exodus (First Discourse)
The Orthodox Research Institute has published an English translation of the first discourse of Cyril of Alexandria’s Commentary on the Book of Exodus. It’s not a massive volume (about 50 pages of English text). Nevertheless, it serves to illustrate some aspects of Cyril’s teachings on topics related to the doctrines of grace. Most of the…
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A Desert Father on Original Sin
We are sometimes told that the doctrine of original sin is exclusively a Western idea. The primary basis of this claim is that it is Augustine who primarily popularized the term “original sin,” and his influence was mostly felt in the West. The secondary basis is that most Eastern Orthodox folks today seem to reject…
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Dawkins Criticizes Rome and Original Sin
In a recent speech (link), Dawkins has attempted to criticize the Roman Catholic Church. Dawkins began by pointing out that contrary to the implications of Ratzinger in his recent speech in Edinburgh, Adolph Hitler was more Roman Catholic than Atheist, at least by the standard that is used by Rome when saying how many members…
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Did Augustine Teach the Sinlessness of Mary?
I recently received an email from someone who was trying to argue that Augustine “clearly” taught that Mary was immaculate conceived. The person writing to me provided the following quotation (emphasis is his): “Now with the exception of the holy Virgin Mary in regard to whom, out of respect for the Lord, I do not…
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The Punishment of Jehu
I happened to come across an alleged Biblical contradiction. The alleged contradiction is explained thus: Let’s set up the problem clearly: 1. Elijah announced a dynastic judgment on Ahab’s line and household. God told Jehu to execute this judgment, which he did. Jehu is commended by YHWH for executing the house of Ahab in 2…
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Psalms 58:3 vs Kerrigan Skelly
The following is a two-part video response to Kerrigan Skelly on Original Sin and Psalm 58:3. Mr. Skelly challenges Calvinists to exegete this passage, but when we do so we discover that, contrary to Mr. Skelly’s assertions, the text does support the doctrine of original sin. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-kUoHQ3Fks&hl=en&fs=1] To God be the Glory!
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Children Punished for a Parent’s Sins
Introduction Some folks who hold to a nearly dogmatic form of rugged individualism do not like the idea of federal headship, especially when it comes to punishments. I much more rarely hear people complain that they will be judged righteous for the deeds of their federal head. It is when guilt and punishment are concerned…
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Romans 5 a ProofText for Universalism?
Recently a poster over Steve Gregg’s forum, using the handle “Homer,” suggested (it seems, he was a bit oblique) that if Romans 5 demonstrates Original Sin, that it also is a “prooftext for Universalism.” I had written: “Calvinists affirm what Paul taught in Romans 5, that Adam’s guilt was imputed to his family, just as…
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Innocent from Man’s Perspective or God’s?
A poster at Steve Gregg’s forum, using the handle “Suzana” made an interesting argument in favor of the supposed innocence of young children. I’ve presented here basic argument below, followed by my response. Suzana’s basic argument is based on Psalm 106:37-38 Psalm 106:37-3837Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, 38And shed innocent…