theology

Doctrinal studies addressing key themes in Christian belief through Scripture and sound exegesis.

Palamas and Islam Revisited Members Public

In this post I will be quoting from Gregory Palamas: The Hesychast Controversy and the Debate with Islam, Translated Texts for Byzantinists, Volume 8, translated with an introduction and notes by Norman Russell, published by Liverpool University Press, 2020. Palamis assumes that both Christians and the Turkish Muslims have the

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
orthodoxyislamtheology

Zwingli On Mary’s Perpetual Virginity Members Public

Huldrych (Ulrich) Zwingli was a prominent magisterial Protestant reformer who even opposed Martin Luther in respect to core doctrines such as the holy Eucharist, which he denied became the actual body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet despite his vehement opposition to the Roman Catholic Church, Zwingli actually

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
marychurch-historytheology

Justin Martyr: Jews Worship the Same God Members Public

In his dialogue with Trypho the Jew and his companions, the great saint and martyr Justin Martyr acknowledged that both Jews and Christians worship the same exact God. I cite the relevant section of that discussion. All emphasis will be mine.   Chapter 10. Trypho blames the Christians for this alone—

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historychristianityjudaism

Chrysostom, God & the Jews Members Public

I quote here the entirety St. John Chrysostom’s, Against the Jews. Homily 1, which is a homily written to Christians who were still fascinated by the Jews and their religious practices, thinking that these rites were still somehow pleasing to God. In this highly emotionally charged letter, Chrysostom severely

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historychristianityjudaism

Augustine, Jews, Philosophers & God Members Public

Here is what the great saint wrote in respect to whether the Jews worshiped God or not, and also in regards to the Greek philosophers like Plato agreeing with Christianity if they were alive to have seen it spread:   iv, 6. Those who think it a vain or even a

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historysaintsjudaism

Athanasius & the Arian Creeds Members Public

This lengthy extract is from Athanasius’ De Synodis. It chronicles the beliefs of Arius and those who believed like him, and further details some of the many councils and creeds which followed after Nicaea in order to either overturn it or revise it. What makes these creedal formulations rather peculiar,

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
church-historytheologytrinity

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
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