Category: Reformed

  • Assurance of Salvation

    Protestant Notion of the Assurance of Salvation is Unbiblical To a Protestant in the Reformed tradition, these words of Paul can be nothing but a theoretical impossibility. 1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should…

  • Human Letters Were Written in Hearts Before Written Letters

    The Apostle Paul wrote this second letter to the Church at Corinth. Paul’s first visit to Corinth had previously occurred during his second missionary journey and lasted for almost two years (50-52 A.D.) ref: Paul’s Visits and Letters to Corinth. In the letter Paul describes the Church there are the product of his preaching.  2 Corinthians…

  • Orthodoxy on Calvin and Calvinism

    The Orthodox Church produced the following document: The Confession of Patriarch Dositheos of Jerusalem (1672).  This Confession of Faith has been ratified by all of the autocephalous Churches (Jerusalem, Russia, and Georgia in 1672; Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and the Bulgarians under the EP at the Council of Constantinople in 1723. St. Justin Popovich and St.…

  • The Perspicuity of Scripture

    One of the more curious novelties of the Protestants is the notion of the “The Perspicuity of Scripture”.  One definition of this idea is found here: The doctrine of the clarity of Scripture (often called the “perspicuity of Scripture”) teaches that “the meanings of the text can be clear to the ordinary reader, that God uses…

  • Private Interpretation of Scripture

    Looking at this passage: 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Protestant Understandings of this Passage Like most…

  • St John Chrysostom – On the Scriptures

    From Homily 9 on Colossians Tarry not, I entreat, for another to teach you; you have the oracles of God. No man teaches you as they; for he indeed oft grudges much for vainglory’s sake and envy. Hearken, I entreat you, all you that are careful for this life, and procure books that will be medicines…

  • Sola Scriptura is Contrary to Scripture Itself

    Defining Sola Scriptura Sola scriptura (Latin for ‘by scripture alone’) is a theological doctrine held by most Protestant Christian denominations, in particular the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, that posits the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. The Orthodox churches consider Sola scriptura to be contrary to the phronema (Greek…

  • Orthodox View of Dispensationalism

    The End Times – Orthodox Vs Evangelical Protestant Teachings – Presentation 3 A good overview of Dispensationalism as contrasted to Orthodoxy.

  • Review of Father Josiah Trenham’s “Rock and Sand” book

    This is a great review of “Rock and Sand”. I’m only three chapters through the book (due to some vision problems). I took Reformation History at Fuller as well as a class on John Calvin at a secular university. I also did quite a bit of reading of Reformation History along the way so I…

  • Are Icons an Accretion? A Response to Gavin Ortlund

     This is very well written. Are Icons an Accretion? A Response to Gavin Ortlund ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: Panegyric to Great Martyr Theodore the Tiro (St. Gregory of Nyssa) ca 396 AD

  • Daily Epistle Reading 2025-11-17

     The Epistle reading for today is Galatians 2:16-20. Galatians 2:16-20 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by…

  • Protestant authors that are gateways to Orthodoxy

    The Protestant authors that are gateways to Orthodoxy are largely English Anglican authors and still preserve something of the historical church. Two good ones are NT Wright and CS Lewis.  Wright and the New Perspective of Paul (NPP) have caused a stir in the Reformed world. He’s taken on the Reformed view of justification. The…

  • Old Testament Prophecy of the Church

    There’s a prophesy of the church found in the Old Testament Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be…

  • CS Lewis and Theosis

    This week’s Catechumen class reading is from The Orthodox Faith, Worship, and Life.  The subject is Section 3.7 The deification of man. This is also called theosis. Theosis is “to become Gods by grace.” CS Lewis had the same teaching. Lewis the lover of myth, and Lewis the imaginative writer who was most sensitive to…

  • Orthodox vs Protestantism

    Background My faith background was as an Evangelical Protestant. I attended two Evangelical seminaries and got a Master of Theology degree and a Master of Divinity degree. I was an Evangelical church pastor for a few years. It didn’t end well. Good Things about being an Evangelical One thing I am thankful about being an…

  • Anabaptists Go Crazy – The Dark History of Münster…

    Wikipedia article 

  • Apostolic Succession: Common Objections Refuted w/ Perry Robinson

     

  • The Confession of Dositheus (1672)

    The Synod of Jerusalem of 1672 soundly rejected any further attempts at reformulation of Orthodox teachings and strengthened Orthodox beliefs against both the Protestant Reformation and Catholicism. The Synod produced its own confession, The Confession of Dositheus (Patriarch of Jerusalem), in which point by point it refuted Cyril’s’ eighteen points. Orthodoxy’s Official Response to Calvinism — The Confession…

  • Orthodox Apologist Responds to Tony Costa’s Critique of Eastern Orthodox Theology

    Orthodox Apologist Perry Robinson has a five hour response to Reformed Baptist Tony Costa’s critique of Eastern Orthodox Theology. (Perry on Ancient Faith Today podcast with Kevin Allen).