Thursday, August 28, 2014
Samson: The Last Judge, Part I (Judges 13:1-25) / Luke Evans / PC A / 32:30
This is a sermon of Luke’s when he was at Rincon in Tucson. I have enjoyed this sermon many times. So much so, that I added it to our reformedaudio.org web site.
When Gentleness Counts / Denis Haack / PCA / 28:43
I met Denis years ago in Tucson at Rincon. From that time on, I became acquainted with his work and very much enjoyed his writings. He’s very much a modern day Francis Schaeffer and I believe he was in fact trained under Schaeffer. He is one of the best commentators on modern culture that I am aware of.
The Continuing Acts of Jesus Christ: An Introduction (Acts 1.1-5) / Claude McRoberts / PCA / 27:56
Acts was written 62-63ad. The second of a two-volume set (to the Gospel of Luke). Theophilus was possibly a Gentile aristocrat. The name Acts is the short name for the full title; The Acts of the Apostles or the Acts of Jesus Christ.
This sermon is intended to be an introductory to the book, but contains nearly no exposition of the text
Augustine’s Theology, the Pre-Scholastic Period, and Anselm – 01 / Frank James / RTS Orlando / 31:40
This was a decent lecture contrasting Pelagius and Augustine. Augustine believed that Adam would have merited eternal life had he perfectly obeyed in the Garden. Whereas Pelagius, despite the belief in attainable perfection independent from Christ, believed Adam would not have merited eternal life.
As Dr. James’ other lectures, no mention of the source material or references to support the various positions presented. I’ve read a lot of Augustine not to challenge anything presented, but I’ve not read anything of Pelagius’ to know if this lecture was accurate or not in presenting his views.
Theological Turning Points: Biblical Authority, NT Canon, and Trinity – 02 / Frank James / RTS Orlando / 58:01
The Muratorian Canon appears to be in use in Rome, late second century. This canon was discovered in 1740 in Italy. It is believed to be late second century in origin. This list of books closely approximates our current canon. The exceptions are 1 and 2 Peter, Hebrews, and James. It does include additional writings not included in the accepted canon. The Apocalypse of Peter and The Shepherd of Hermas are included in the Muratorian Canon.
Irenaeus maintained the same essential list as the Muratorian Canon. He didn’t include Philemon. Irenaeus seems to lend credibility to the Muratorian Canon. The Shepherd of Hermas is referred to as Scripture by Irenaeus.
Origen (230ad) had a list of writings as well. He accepted the writings of Irenaeus, but also included Hebrews, 2Peter, 2 and 3 John, James, and Jude. He also included other works; such as the Didache, The Epistle of Barnabas, the Gospel According to the Hebrews.
With Athanasius we find the exact same 27 books recognized as canonical as we find in the NT today. Nothing additional. Athanasius lists these in his Easter Letter which is dated 367. There are two confirmations of this list. The Synod of Hippo in 393, and the Synod of Carthage in 397 which affirmed these 27 books. Augustine was present at both of these Synods and agreed with these 27 books. These councils ratified the church’s consensus and practice for the prior two centuries. Their authority does not originate with these councils (any more than the trinity originates with Nicea).
Theological Turning Points: Biblical Authority, NT Canon, and Trinity – 01 / Frank James / RTS Orlando / 39:03
Dr. Frank James is the President of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Had I ever attended a seminary in the US, this would have been the school of my choice.
I have to say, this lecture was a bit disappointing. For a graduate level lecture, I would have expected something far less basic. Secondly, his theory of canon formation is not very persuasive to me. He paints the formation process as entirely pragmatic.
As an introduction to early church history, it is helpful as a general survey.
Marcion believed only the writings of Paul were authoritative, with some modification. He also seems to have accepted some writings of Luke. He therefore produced his own canon. Dr. James believes Marcion was the catalyst for the church to produce it’s own canon in opposition to Marcion’s. This seems to reenforce James’ view that the canon was formed purely for pragmatic purposes.
Marcion seems to be revising a list of books already in use in the church. These were a list of books that the early church adopted as authoritative. He is not proposing a list for the first time.
It’s unfortunate that Dr. James does not include any source texts to support his claims regarding Marcion. From prior reading, I know these claims are controversial and disputed.