Doug’s Theological Thoughts

  • Saints of the Day 2024-11-26

    Alypius the Stylite of Adrianopolis Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Nikon Metanoeite Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Stylianos the Monk of Paphlagonia Orthodox Christianity Then and Now George the New Martyr of Chios Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Akakios of Sinai who is mentioned in The Ladder, Innocent of Irkutsk Orthodox Christianity Then and Now

  • Church Fathers 2024-11-25

    Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria Catherine of Alexandria, also spelled Katherine[a] (Greek: Αίκατερίνη) is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the emperor Maxentius. According to her hagiography, she was both a princess and a noted scholar who became a Christian…

  • Gospel Reading 2024-11-25

    MARK 5:24-34 At that time, a great crowd followed Jesus and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-11-25

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS 3:23-29; 4:1-5 Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a…

  • Church Fathers 2024-11-24

    Our Holy Father Clement, Pope of Rome (AD 96) Our father among the saints Clement of Rome (also called Clemens Romanus to distinguish him from Clement of Alexandria) was the third in succession after the Apostle Peter as bishop of Rome. Clement is known mainly for the letter he wrote to the Corinthians in about…

  • Apologetics – Substance and Style

     There are some apologists for the faith who have great content but fail the test of a real apologist. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,…

  • Gospel Reading 2024-11-24

    LUKE 18:18-27 At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-11-24

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS 6:11-18 Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross…

  • Synergism is Scriptural

    The   Greek word, συνεργέω, is transliterated as synergeō and is translated as “workers together” in this passage: 2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  This same word is used in many passages in the New Testament. Mark 16:20 And they went forth,…

  • Epistle Reading for 2024-11-23

    2 Cor 5:1-10 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being…

  • Gospel Reading for 2024-11-23

    Luke 10:19-20 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. This is set…

  • Tradition in Scripture

    The Greek word παραδόσεις (paradosis) is translated in various ways in the KJV and NIV Bibles. This obscures the fact that it’s the same word in Greek G3862 in Strong’s. In this verse, it’s translated as “ordinances” and is a command to keep the traditions that Paul himself delivered to the Church. 1 Cor 11:1-2 Be ye followers…

  • 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…

  • Saints of the Day – 2024-11-23

    Here are the Saints of the Day Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum, Dionysios, Patriarch of Constantinople, Ischyrion, Bishop of Egypt, Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple, Sisinios the Confessor Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium He lived about 340-394 AD. His biography can be found here. He is important for…

  • The Seven Great Ecumenical Councils

    It’s really the beauty of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. They took the Fathers and the Scriptures and reached the conclusions we have today in the Church. The Trinity, the Deity of Christ, the selection of the canon, rejection of iconoclasts, and many others. It was all based on the pattern from the first council in…

  • Lists of Apostles

    Similarities and Differences in the lists of the names of the Apostles Matthew and Mark have the same names, in a different order to each other, and with some different details. The Synoptic Gospels match for the most part, but Luke has a different name for one of the apostles compared to Matthew and Mark.  Matthew and…

  • Interesting Fifth Century Amulet

     An interesting fifth century object was found in Turkey. The object was interpreted by the Turkish archaeological authorities as King Solomon which Islam sees as Prophet Solomon. “The depiction of Prophet Solomon on this necklace surprised us and revealed the importance of the artifact for Anatolian archaeology,” said Çelikbaş. Anatolia is a region of Turkey.…

  • Saints for 2024-11-22

    The Saints for today: Archippus the Apostle, Philemon the Apostle & his wife, Apphia, Onesimos the Disciple of Paul (Today’s Epistle reading) Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her, Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Constantinople Anthimos, President of Crete Righteous Jacob of Evia Archippus According to…

  • The Elect One

    There’s an Old Testament prophecy in the book of Isaiah that is a prophecy of the Messiah. Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. The Messiah is the Elect One. This theme…

  • Gospel Reading 2024-11-22

    LUKE 19:12-28 The Lord said this parable, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, ‘We do not…

  • Epistle Reading 2024-11-22

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO PHILEMON 1:1-25 PAUL, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, and Apphia our sister and Archippos our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God…

  • Web Resources on the Church Fathers and the Bible

    Helpful Study Resources This list should grow with time but here’s a start with the tools I’m using presently. Saints of the Day – Detailed accounts of the lives of the Saints of the Day CatenaBible – Click on a verse and see commentary from the Church Fathers on the verse BlueLetterBible – Useful for looking…

  • Philip the Evangelist was one of the Seven Deacons

    The Apostles in Jerusalem Selected Seven Deacons There are two Philips in the Book of Acts. One of them is Philip who is one of the 12 apostles. The other Philip was selected as one of the seven Deacons in Acts 6.  Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen,…

  • Sola Fide

    “Orthodoxy abhors theological innovation and Luther did two things at the same time; he committed heresy by introducing a theological innovation and he committed schism by rejecting those who did not hold to sola fide, e.g., the early church fathers and the Orthodox Church.” “The issue here is not Pelagianism or Semi-Pelagianism.  The real issue…