Irenaeus On “Endless Succession”

(from Against Heresies, Book II, Chapter 24)

   2. But if any persons at this point maintain that those souls, which only began a little while ago to exist, cannot endure for any length of time; but that they must, on the one hand, either be unborn, in order that they may be immortal, or if they have had a beginning in the way of generation, that they should die with the body itself–let them learn that God alone, who is Lord of all, is without beginning and without end, being truly and for ever the same, and always remaining the same unchangeable Being. But all things which proceed from Him, whatsoever have been made, and are made, do indeed receive their own beginning of generation, and on this account are inferior to Him who formed them, inasmuch as they are not unbegotten. Nevertheless they endure, and extend their existence into a long series of ages in accordance with the will of God their Creator; so that He grants them that they should be thus formed at the beginning, and that they should so exist afterwards.

   3. For as the heaven which is above us, the firmament, the sun, the moon, the rest of the stars, and all their grandeur, although they had no previous existence, were called into being, and continue throughout a long course of time according to the will of God, so also any one who thinks thus respecting souls and spirits, and, in fact, respecting all created things, will not by any means go far astray, inasmuch as all things that have been made had a beginning when they were formed, but endure as long as God wills that they should have an existence and continuance. The prophetic Spirit bears testimony to these opinions, when He declares, “For He spake, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created: He hath established them for ever, yea, forever and ever.”(Psalm 148: 5-6). And again, He thus speaks respecting the salvation of man: “He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him length of days for ever and ever“(Psalm 21: 4), indicating that it is the Father of all who imparts continuance for ever and ever on those who are saved. For life does not arise from us, nor from our own nature; but it is bestowed according to the grace of God. And therefore he who shall preserve the life bestowed upon him, and give thanks to Him who imparted it, shall receive also length of days for ever and ever. But he who shall reject it, and prove himself ungrateful to his Maker, inasmuch as he has been created, and has not recognised Him who bestowed [the gift upon him], deprives himself of [the privilege of] continuance for ever and ever.  And, for this reason, the Lord declared to those who showed themselves ungrateful towards Him: “If ye have not been faithful in that which is little, who will give you that which is great?” (Luke 16: 11), indicating that those who, in this brief temporal life, have shown themselves ungrateful to Him who bestowed it, shall justly not receive from Him length of days for ever and ever.

   4. But as the animal body is certainly not itself the soul, yet has fellowship with the soul as long as God pleases; so the soul herself is not life, but partakes in that life bestowed upon her by God. Wherefore also the prophetic word declares of the first-formed man, “He became a living soul” (Genesis 2: 7), teaching us that by the participation of life the soul became alive; so that the soul, and the life which it possesses, must be understood as being separate existences. When God therefore bestows life and perpetual duration, it comes to pass that even souls which did not previously exist should henceforth endure [for ever], since God has both willed that they should exist, and should continue in existence. For the will of God ought to govern and rule in all things, while all other things give way to Him, are in subjection, and devoted to His service. Thus far, then, let me speak concerning the creation and the continued duration of the soul. 

http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/fathers/ante-nic/irenaeus/02-ag-he.htm

Christianity: A Package Deal Or… No Package At All!

    Illustrations are useful.  Sometimes they are necessary in order to press home the truth of a concept or idea about which we are trying to inform the public.  In the case of heresy, it is essential that Christians know what they are up against, before they can apply the appropriate remedy.  When a heresy like Hyper-Preterism starts to enter the fold, illustrations may be profitably adduced to bring out the fact that 2,000 years of Christian teaching was not in vain.  Saith Hosea: “I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets” (Hosea 12: 10).  These similitudes stick in people’s minds, helping them to deal with absract ideas as if they were concrete realities.  In light of this educational principle, today’s question is: what practical illustration can we employ to explain the  concept of 2,000 years of Christian understanding?

James B. Jordan: Friend Or Enemy Of The Faith?

  During the past couple months, I’ve had the dubious honor of coming into collision with the teachings of James B. Jordan, a sometimes-respected Reformed minister who has written extensively on the subject of eschatology.  One of Jordan’s disciples, an Australian guy named Mike Bull, recently wrote a series of articles in which he allegedy rebutted a piece I wrote last year.  Some of Bull’s theories, fanciful as they are, naturally piqued my curiosity as to what his mentor Mr. Jordan teaches regarding the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What I expected to find was at least some moderate respect for 2,000 years of Christian teaching.  My investigations, however, disclosed that Mr. Jordan evinces a marked contempt toward anyone who suggests that God has maintained a basic understanding of the truth within His community of saints.  Not only does Jordan reject such a tenet, but in a headlong spirit of private interpretation, he has virtually invented a new form of Christianity which nobody ever knew about until he came along. Because of Jordan’s radical overhaul of historic Christianity, one must ask, when the final analysis is made, whether he is really servicing the cause of orthodoxy, or that of Hyper-Preterism..

Listening To 2,000 Years Of Christian Teaching

    I was recently contacted by Joe Heschmeyer, co-author of the “Shameless Popery” blog, who posted a counter-response to my rebuttal of his contention that in order to accept the historical argument consistently, one must embrace Roman Catholicism.  Joe’s post is entitled “Listening To The Church Fathers,” and is actually a pretty solid defense of the Roman Catholic position.  In fairness, I have to tip my hat to Heschmeyer, because he is a first-class debater  —  much better than myself.  But despite his rhetorical excellence, he is lacking the true perspective..

Chiliasm Defended, From Sources Ancient And Modern (Chapter 1)

 Note: The following article was originally part of a 21-chapter series I wrote in 2008 entitled “Reformed Chiliasm.” I am now in process of revising these chapters, and publishing them one by one as they are completed. The reason I am doing this, is because I recently came to the steadfast conviction that what Christians now need more than ever is a return to pure historic Christianity. This is the only solution to all the heresies plaguing the churches. It is also the only solution to all the novel systems being propounded by men who wilfully diregard and set aside what 2,000 years of Christianity taught concerning eschatology. My hope is that the points made in this series will commend themselves to the hearts of those who have wandered from the paths of truth, so that they too may repent of their errors and return to the “faith delivered once and for all to the saints” (Jude 3).

 

Chapter I.  

It is no misstatement to say that Chiliasm lies at the core of Christian eschatology. Even among its staunchest adversaries, its antiquity is unquestioned. Although Chiliasm has had ups and downs throughout the centuries, and while it has sometimes even been branded as heresy, a large majority of the saints recognize that it alone properly explains and interprets the Messianic promises in language that “little children” would understand. That Chiliasm was the faith of men such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Lactantius, Commodian, and others influential in the early church, tells us that it is compatible with the orthodox faith. It also claims a spiritual power that it is conspicuously absent from A-Millennial and Post-Millennial systems. “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Cor. 4: 20).

This series will be aimed at defending the doctrines of Chiliasm from a Biblical as well as historical perspective. It will take into account advances made in prophetic studies since the Reformation — not discounting, of course, the voice of the ancient church. It is my frank opinion that in the first three centuries of Christianity will be found the purest expression of the faith. These papers will therefore reflect that assumption. At the same time, I intend to adhere closely to the Protestant doctrine of “Sola Scriptura.” The result will be a well-balanced study of eschatology, and one which I pray the Lord will use to encourage, strengthen, and bless others.