St. Basil Summary

Over the centuries, Christianity has organised its beliefs into a systematic theology that draws from its sacred writing and tradition. While the main beliefs of Christianity are shared by all Christian variants, there are degrees of different in the interpretation of these beliefs and how they are lived out in everyday life. This can be seen in the important of sacred text, principle belief of the concept of salvation in John 3:16, principle belief of divine and humanity in ‘John 1:14’, principle belief of resurrection in ‘Mark 16:1-8’, principle belief of revelation in ‘1 corinthians14:6’, and beliefs through the Trinity in ‘2 Corinthians 13:14’. This essay will explain the important of the sacred text and the principal beliefs of Christianity.

Hagner, D., Hengel, M. & Barrett, C. (1999). Conflicts and challenges in early Christianity. Harrisburg, Pa: Trinity Press International.

Fr. Justin Havens gave a lecture about the history, principles and practices of the Orthodox church and emphasized that Christ should be the focus of our education, and our every thought and action. He described how religion is primarily about making ourselves better and orthodox focuses on becoming like the best human, nonetheless divine being in existence, Jesus Christ. His attributes, perfections, motivations, teachings, lifestyle and everything about Him is the epitome of goodness. Thus the succession in church leadership, from Jesus, to Peter, throughout the generations to various bishops is described as one of the key reasons why orthodox Christianity is perceived as God’s ordained church on the earth as well as the amazing durability of the religion as approximately 160,000 Orthodox followers were slaughtered, significantly reducing the religion’s population. However, as Fr. Havens

Difficulty 41 was written by St. Maximos the Confessor during the seventh century and was part of a larger body of work titled, The Ambigua. The Ambigua answered difficult theological questions faced by the early church fathers, such as St. Gregory Nazianzus, using Greek philosophical methods. Difficulty 41 explains how the incarnation of Christ restores man to his proper function granted to him before the fall, for Christ unites all of creation in him by overcoming the divisions of being. St. Maximus’ writing draws on St. Gregory Nazianzus’ homily on the Theophany and on Gregory of Nyssa’s writings concerning the divisions of being. St. Maximus’ Christology would forever influence Christian doctrine and thought and as the last link between the theology of the East and West, as he is considered the last church father accepted in both churches.

Throughout the history of Christianity, there have been many different ideas on how a Christian should interact with the world in which they lived. From the biblical writings of The Gospel according to Matthew, and The Acts of the Apostles, to the non-biblical writings of On Philosophy, and The Prescription Against Heretics, the ideas of Christianity were brought together. The two non-biblical documents highlight the arguments of whether or not Christians should study Greek philosophy. The books from The Bible showed that Christian beliefs focused on how one should primarily seek their ultimate reward or satisfaction in the Kingdom of God (spiritual), rather than in the here and now (temporal). Christianity, as it began, was a faith that emphasized the importance of acting charitable towards the less fortunate, while understanding that it was ones duty to worship God and spread that love for Him to those who didn’t believe.

In Chapter one, “The Bauer Thesis: An Overview,” Rodney J. Decker orients the reader to the work of Walter Bauer. Though he summarizes Bauer’s other research and highly praises his lexical work enshrined in BDAG (p.9-10), Decker focuses the chapter on summarizing Bauer’s “paradigm shaping book,” Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earliest Christianity. First, he sketches the broad outlines of Bauer’s thesis without entangling the reader within the minutia of Bauer’s arguments (p.11-17). Next, taking up the bulk of the chapter, Decker surveys several major responses, both positive and negative (but mostly negative), that have been leveled at Orthodoxy and Heresy since its publication, from the first critical response by H. E. W. Turner in 1954, to Köstenburger and Kruger’s book published in 2010 (p.17-32). Decker concludes the chapter by declaring, in the words of Darrell

Hildegard von Bingen, a German prophetic visionary and polymath, lived in the twelfth century at a time when the church was becoming corrupt and unstable. As a young nun in the Benedictine community at Rupertsburg and under Jutta’s tutelage, Hildegard acquired a prolific knowledge of the Christian scriptures as well as the doctrines and theology of the Church. She was able to use this knowledge to shape her ideas and to lobby for church reform. Throughout her life, Hildegard received visions that were believed to have been divinely inspired. She was encouraged to write down these ‘visions’ in her exemplary work, the Scivias—‘Know the Ways of the Lord’— which was approved by papal imprimatur and as such was motivated to carry God’s Work. The

Paul’s letter to the Romans is of his greatest theological works, passed down for thousands of years and still as relevant today as it was in Paul’s time. How exactly is it relevant the modern Christian may ask? What with its harsh language that includes statements such as “the wages of sin is death” (6:23) and “the wrath of God” (1:18), one may say that current times have changed. Some may say that the issues Paul addresses are acceptable in today’s society. What exactly is the Christian to think? The purpose of this short essay is to examine how the Book of Romans relates to the Christian in the twenty-first century and how it helps to shape his worldview.

It seems strange that so little is known biographically about one of the most important figures in Christian history, but this only serves to add to the mystery and grandeur surrounding the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. Much, however, is known of the time after his conversion to Christ and what he did to contribute to Christianity in this period, and it is this that leaves a greater legacy than the simple facts of his life. The contributions that he made towards the cause of Christ and the spreading and formation of Christianity are what he is perennially remembered for.

This is a situational ethic which is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action in which the ends can justify the means. Although the St Basil had an obligation to its shareholders and the team CEO, CIO, COO and CSO met for the issue, the committee should have sensibilize the community or persuade community members first. Because this community that has been in the area for many years (since 1894), has a big impact on the new merged hospital. People could be more understanding if the board of trustees approved the proposal after they were well informed about the benefit and the good intention. The project was excellent, but poor implementation and the thoughtful decision made the strategy, a liability not an asset. According

At the end of the Byzantine period of art and the beginning of the Romanesque era of architecture and painting, the effects of the period could be seen all across Europe. The main focus of the period was buildings of religious significance, structures like Katholikon and the Hagia Sofia. An area that adopted the style later than the rest of Europe was that of modern day Russia. This was due in part to the city of Constantinople being conquered, and as a result the “seat of Christianity moved north”(Byzantine Lecture, Curtis). Though Russia may have adopted the style, many of its structures of the time follow a unique style greatly influenced by its long history and geography, with aspects of Byzantine buildings injected into it. One structure that exemplifies the Russian style is that of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Russia’s capital city of Moscow. Saint Basil’s Cathedral is a testament to Russia’s own sense of style in architecture that formed from Byzantine roots.

Through the Christmas sermons of Pope Leo the Great the faithful are instructed about a variety of topics ranging from the salvation of all through the Incarnate Word to the denial of various heresies such as Arianism and Manichaeism. While Leo enumerates different points in his sermons, a few themes lend themselves to answering the question, “who is Christ.” Discussion of the Incarnation is inherently present in these sermons because they are given at the joyful feast of the Nativity, but this subject is of great importance to Leo in reference to the denial of the Christian truth about Christ’s nature and birth. In reference to the Incarnation, Leo highlights the fact the Word Incarnate has two full natures in one hypostasis and this is found most prominent in the sermons because Leo is responding to challenges of Christ’s fully being God and fully man but devoid of the taint of sin, and the denial of Mary as theotokos by Nestorius. These sermons give Leo space to denounce falsehoods about Christ and reaffirm the reality of a dual natured hypostatic union who came as the salvation for the sins of Adam and all after him.

John Binns' An Introduction to the Christian Orthodox Churches intends to give the reader an overview of Orthodox churches, and not merely those but those which accepted the Council of Chalcedon. Binns' starts his overview of Orthodoxy's diversity by examining the various bishops found along Straight Street in Damascus, they all are representing different traditions. Through this lens Binns' begins to set the stage for Orthodox history and practice. He begins to differentiate Eastern and Western theology, thus a needed analysis begins to take shape of the Eastern church. Binns' takes on the task of fixing the lack of general information of Eastern Theology effectively by means of examining the past through a survey of Orthodoxy in the east.

Vos attended the Universities of Berlin (1885-86) and Strasbourg (1886-88), sitting at the feet of several prominent liberal scholars and theologians. Through it all, his commitment to historic, orthodox Biblical Christianity, the deity of Christ, the supernatural power and revelation of God and the infallibility of the inspired Scriptures was strengthened and confirmed.  From his ‘baptism of fire’ in the corridors of liberalism, he was armed for the battle brewing in the church at the end

Clement I of Rome was an Apostolic Father of the Church, a leader among men, and a martyr for what he believed in. Through his ordination, actions, and eventual writings he persuaded many to follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. His writings to the Corinthians, ‘stood in the highest esteem in ancient times, and continued in public use in the Corinthian church and in several other churches down to the beginning of the fourth century.’ (4) Through these the people of Crimea, and the world over, learned the difference between Bishops, appointed leaders, and Deacons. No longer were congregations led by the individual with the most money, it was now those appointed who ruled. Through Clement’s strong, and plentiful examples all can become better disciples of Christ. And through his Popehood he brought about a truthful, and blessed reign within the Church for nearly 10