Thomas Jefferson - Select Quotes

The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three-headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three-headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites.
~ in a letter to his nephew Peter Carr

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than no to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere.
~ in a letter to Abigail Adams, 1787)

Read more

The Eschatology of Jonathan Edwards

Here is is another article that I contributed to the Dictionary of Premillennial Theology .  As with the previous articles, I would change some things in this material if contributing to this or a similar compilation.  Nevertheless, I believe the following to be both accurate and helpful.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) is generally recognized as America’s greatest theologian and philosopher. At the time of Edwards’ ministry most of Protestant theology, being heir to the amillennialism of Augustine and Calvin, spiritualized the Scripture’s teaching concerning the millennium. Edwards, on the other hand, was innovative in the development of a postmillennial eschatological vision. Edwards saw the millennium as a literal historical reality which was the telos toward which history had been progressing since the fall of Adam. He thought it probable that this latter-day glory would begin in America. His millennial expectation is often considered to have been a major factor in the social movement resulting in the American Revolution.

Edwards interpreted tribulational passages as predictions of the apostasy of the Roman Catholic Church and the suppression of true religion. He believed that the Reformation marked the shortening of days (Matt. 24:22), which is to be identified with the restricting of the powers of spiritual Rome and the papal Antichrist. Applying the year-day theory of interpretation to the twelfth chapter of Revelation, Edwards proposed that the millennium would arrive approximately 1260 years after 606 A.D., when the Bishop of Rome was recognized as having universal authority. Thus, the millennium was imminent and the revival fires of the Great Awakening could very well be harbingers of the coming age when great progress in technology would free mankind from material concerns to engage more fully in the noble exercises of mind and vital religion. At this time the kingdom of Antichrist will be utterly overthrown and there will be a national conversion of the Jews. Following the millennium will come a period of great apostasy and tribulation, which will be superseded by the personal Second Coming of Jesus Christ in infinite majesty. The saints will be gathered unto their Head, forever to be in his presence, and the wicked will be summoned before the judgement-seat of Christ. (Kevin Stilley )

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, general editors Perry Miller and John E. Smith, 10 volumes (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957-1993); ______, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, reprint 1992, 2 volumes (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Press, 1834).

For What Would You Die?

Over the weekend I had a long talk with my children about why we observe Memorial Day. We do not celebrate the death of anyone but remember and honor their sacrifice. Life is sacred, to lay it down for the benefit of others is worthy of remembrance and honor.

So, for what would you die? Family? Friends? Your country? Freedom? Truth?

Once we admit that there are causes for which it would be appropriate to die, we acknowledge that there are things more important than life, and that death is not the greatest evil — that suffering and death can have great meaning and purpose. The question is often asked why a good God would allow suffering, the implication being that God must either be not good or not powerful enough to prevent it. No, that does not follow. That reasoning is specious. Once we acknowledge that there are things to be valued more greatly than life and comfort we can not put an all-knowing God into the dock. He can allow the unpleasant, for reasons that are meaningful and good.

The death of Jesus of Nazareth exhibits this reasoning. The murder of the only righteous man was a great evil, and yet the event is full of meaning and purpose. Jesus is our propitiation - He is our mercy seat.

I encourage you to think upon Romans chapters 1, 2, and 3 as an appropriate follow-up to the observance of our national Memorial Day.

Caecilius Statius - Select Quotes

Hi sunt inimici pessumi fronte hilaro corde tristi. [Your worst enemies are those whose faces are cheerful while their hearts are bitter.]
~ in Hypobolimaeus

Vivas ut possis quando nec quis ut velis. [Live as you can since you cannot live as you would.]
~ in Plocium

Serit arbores quae saeclo prosint alteri. [He plants trees to be useful to another generation.]
~ in Synephebi

Wisdom oft lurks beneath a tattered coat.

Titus Maccius Plautus - Select Quotes

Tacitast melior mulier semper quam loquens. [A woman is always worth more seen than heard.]
~ in Rudens -1114

Quem di diligunt adulescens moritur, dum valet sentit sapit. [He whom the gods love dies young, while he has strength and senses and wits.
~ in Bacchides, -816

Read more

Euripides - Select Quotes

The gods have sent medicines for the venom of serpents, but there is no medicine for a bad woman. She is more noxious than the viper, or any fire itself.
~ in Andromache

Man’s greatest tyrants are his wife and children.
~ in Oedipus

Read more

History - Select Quotes

History is philosophy teaching by example.
~ Dionysius of Halicarnassus, in De Arte Rhetorica

History, the evidence of time, the light of truth, the life of memory, the directress of life, the herald of antiquity, committed to immortality.
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero, in De Oratore

Read more

Diairesis and Prohairesis

Diogenes Laertius has handed down to us some fascinating source material in his work Lives of Eminent Philosophers. The historical background he provides for Paul’s address on Mars Hill is extremely enlightening, and yet it seems to be completely ignored by most expositors of the book of Acts. Read more

Marcus Tullius Cicero - Select Quotes

Of all the gifts of the gods to the human race, philosophy is the richest, the most beautiful, the most exalted.
~ in De Legibus

Philosophy is the best medicine for the mind.

History, the evidence of time, the light of truth, the life of memory, the directress of life, the herald of antiquity, committed to immortality.
~ in De Oratore Read more

Babylon Uncovered

Next Page »