church-history

Historical studies on the development of Christian doctrine, early church writings, councils, and controversies.

EO, ISLAM, & ECUMENISM Members Public

The following is taken from Angeliki Ziaka’s article “103. Orthodoxy and Islam – major Concerns for Orthodox Engagement,” pp. 676-686, in the Orthodox Handbook on Ecumenism: Resources for Theological Education, published by Regnum Studies in Global Christianity, 2013, being an imprint of Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. This handbook was

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
orthodoxyislamtheology

VATICAN II, THE CATECHISM & WORLD RELIGIONS Members Public

In this post I will quote what the official documents of the Catholic Church teach in respect to the world’s religions and how salvation is to be obtained. I begin with what Catechism of the Catholic Church says. All emphasis will be mine: The Church and non-Christians 839 “Those

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
catholiccatholicismchurch

Justin Martyr, Greek Philosophers & Christ Members Public

St. Justin Martyr believed and taught that prehuman Logos or Word of God had made himself know even to the Greek philosophers, which is why they were aware and spoke of the Logos. He believed that Christ, who is the uncreated Logos, did this in order to prepare them for

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historytheologyjesus-christ

EO on Communion with Heretics/Schismatics Members Public

According to the canons of the Eastern Orthodox faith, no one can have communion with heretics or schismatics and still remain in good standing with the Church. This applies to the clergy as well: Canon XXXII of the council of Laodicea states: “That one must not accept blessings of heretics,

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
orthodoxycommunioncanon

John Calvin & the Book of Baruch Members Public

In his commentary on 1 Cor. 10:20, the Swiss Reformer John Calvin believed that the blessed Apostle borrowed the language of the following verse from the deutero-canonical writing Baruch: “For you provoked the one who made you by sacrificing to demons and not to God.” Baruch 4:7 New

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
calvinismapocryphacanon

Origen on Prayer & Intercession of Saints Members Public

Here will be quoting from the English translation of Origen on Prayer, published by Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI, pp. 25-29. Origen lists four different types or moods of prayer, which can be broken down as: 1. Request. 2. Prayer. 3. Intercession. 4. Thanksgiving Origen permits that requests,

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
prayersaintschurch-history

Origen and the Worship of Angels Members Public

Origen is often misquoted as denying that Christians were to pray to or invoke angels or the saints in heaven to intercede for believers on earth. They base this on Origen’s response to the Christian critic and pagan Celsus, whom this prolific Christian wrote a thorough refutation to. In

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelsworshipprayer

St. Hippolytus’ Exegesis of Daniel Members Public

In this post I will be sharing St. Hippolytus’ lengthy explanation of the Daniel’s prophecies as it relates to the coming of Christ. It is taken from the work titled, Some Exegetical Fragments of Hippolytus. Before I do so I provide a summary of this blessed saint’s awe-inspiring

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
danielprophecymessiah
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