Tertullian is an interesting figure in the history of the early Church. He laid the groundwork for several Christian doctrines that are heartily affirmed by the Christians including the primacy of Scriptural authority, perspicuity of Scripture and the principle of Scripture interpreting itself. He wrote several works defending Biblical theology against the various gnostic and heretical movements that were popular in his days. He is the first writer to use the phrase Trinitas (Trinity) to refer to the Godhead. Some of his doctrinal positions were recovered in the Protestant Reformation like the priesthood of all believers and a rejection of icons in worship. Regardless, Tertullian is not officially considered a saint by any of the mainstream apostate denominations like Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy despite their tendency to claim the early church fathers for themselves. Nor, are his works widely read among Protestants. Tertullian is often relegated to the status of a secondary or subordinate among the church fathers.
Tag: Church History
Traditionalist Historical Metanarratives and the Sufficiency of Scripture
Historical Metanarratives are central to how we view history. They help us make sense of the past, find continuity with it and justify our beliefs, juxtaposed against the grand scheme of things. Hence different factions engage in much effort to defend their Metanarratives against those of their opponents. Christian traditions are not exempt from this reality and it is in the light of this that we see the recent factionalism in Christianity over various Metanarratives and sadly many Christian historians and theologians have engaged in the revisionism. On the one end you have the leftist revisionists who wish to read anachronistic frameworks into the past and "cancel" those with differing views based on present understandings of morality. Likewise, you have right wing revisionists who wish to either read the "good ole days" narrative or want to completely ignore serious issues and transgressions in major figures of the past, so as to bolster their ideal of Traditionalism and Elitism.
The Council of Jerusalem and the Curious Case of Infant Baptism
It should at least raise suspicion that not a part of his refutation of the Judaizers is stating that the gentiles already practice circumcision in Baptism. If the Apostles understood covenant theology as the Reformed Paedobaptist does, why was this omitted completely? However, something similar is mentioned in Acts 21 in a discussion between James and Paul. Here we are told that Paul taught Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake circumcision, specifically of their children (v21) and not follow Jewish customs. Interestingly, its not recorded that he did so with the teaching that their children among the gentiles were to be baptized instead!
Felix Manz: The First Protestant Martyred by Magisterial Protestants
On the cold winter morning of the 5th of January in the 1527th year of our Lord, a crowd gathered around the Limmat river in Zurich, Switzerland. They had gathered to witness the execution of Felix Manz, a fellow reformer with Ulrich Zwingli. His crime, he refused to have his infant child baptized and performed baptisms of adults who had professed faith in Christ. Manz would be the first of a long line of Anabaptists who would be murdered by Magisterial Protestants over the years.
Nobla Leycon: A Waldensian Poem
We see daily the Signs to be accomplished,
And that in the increase of evil, and decrease of good.
These are the perils which the scripture mentioneth,
In the Gospels and St.Paul's Writings:
As also, that no man living can know the end.
And therefore we ought the more to fear, as not being certain,
Whether we shall die to day or tomorrow.
But when the day of judgement shall come,
Every one shall receive their full reward.
Those that shall have done either well or ill.
Deo Vicit Mundum 