The Pattern of Christian Truth
1 Corinthians 4:7
The Pattern of Christian Truth
- Explanation of the title and its origins
- Reference to the book by Turner and the response to Walter Bauer’s thesis
Examination of Heresies
- Marcionism
- Background of Marcion and his beliefs
- Marcion's rejection of the Old Testament and creation
- Church’s response affirming the unity of creation and redemption and the continuity of the Old and New Testaments
- Arianism
- Background of Arius and his theological points
- Arius's view of God’s indivisibility and Jesus’s nature
- Council of Nicaea's response affirming the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father (homoousios)
- Importance of the doctrine of the Trinity in understanding the story of Jesus as the story of God
- Pelagianism
- Background of Pelagius and his theological points
- Pelagius’s views on human nature, sin, and grace
- Augustine’s counterarguments emphasizing original sin and the need for divine grace
- Summary of Pelagian propositions and Augustine's responses
Lessons Learned from Heresies
- Affirmation of the coherence of creation and redemption
- Affirmation of the sanctity of the incarnation
- Importance of humility in understanding divine grace
Conclusion
- Call to revisit historical theological debates to understand and proclaim the apostolic gospel