Doug’s Theological Thoughts

  • Epistle Reading – 2025-01-15

    ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS 5:22-26; 6:1-2Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk…

  • Land Promises to Israel Were Already Fulfilled

    In the time of Joshua, all the land promises were fulfilled. Joshua 21:43-45 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-15

    Paul of Thebes Saint Paul of Thebes was born in Egypt around 227 in the Thebaid of Egypt. Settling into a mountain cave, Saint Paul dwelt there for ninety-one years, praying incessantly to God both day and night. He sustained himself on dates and bread, which a raven brought him, and he clothed himself with…

  • Cycles of Revenge

    I found a useful graphic. It illustrates what happens when a victim becomes a victimizer. There is a way to escape this cycle. Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. And this: Psalm 103:6 The LORD…

  • Gospel Reading for Today – 2025-01-14

    LUKE 4:1-15At that time Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone…

  • Reading from Acts – 2025-01-14

    ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2:38-43In those days, Peter said to the people, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all…

  • Saints of the Day – 2025-01-14

    The Holy Fathers slain at Sinai and Raitho There were two occasions when the monks and hermits at Sinai and Raithu were murdered by the barbarians. The first took place in the fourth century when forty Fathers were killed at Mount Sinai, and thirty-nine were slain at Raithu on the same day. Mount Sinai, where…

  • Frequency of Communion

    This is an old post. Read with caution… I have been asked in the past how often I think that a church should take the Lord’s Supper (Communion). This is a tough question to answer for a couple of reasons. The Bible seems to indicate that we should celebrate it every time we meet together.…

  • Towards a Theory of the Church

    One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church The Nicene Creed declares the Church to be One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. These are often called the four marks of the church. Can a Protestant affirm these words from the Nicene Creed or does he/she redefine the words from their traditional meaning when using the words? I don’t…

  • Time Markers and Bible Prophecy

    The Olivette Discourse is the words of Jesus that he spoke from the Mount of Olives. This is found in Matt 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It describes the events that would happen to Jerusalem. Jesus is answering a question that the disciple asks him. Matt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount…

  • Saints of the Day 2024-12-13

    Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes of Greater Armenia Circa 300 AD. Persecuted under the emperors Diocletian and Maximianus. Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Lucia the Virgin-martyr Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America Orthodox Christianity Then and Now Gabriel the Hieromartyr, Archbishop of Serbia Orthodox…

  • Principalities and powers in heavenly places

    Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Leads to this verse: Ephesians 3:14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and…

  • Ancient Paths vs the Ancient Path

    The YouTube video channel ancientpathstv produces some interesting content. It’s done by a Presbyterian pastor and has critiques of pretty much every other Christian sect including Eastern Orthodoxy. I’ve enjoyed the videos in the Anabaptists and the “radical reformation” quite a bit. They show the lawlessness and even warfare that resulted from that path of…

  • He shall be called a Nazar*

    Matthew 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

  • Eusebius Source Materials

    Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History is important as a witness to Apostolic Succession. Composition began around 311, and 4 versions were issued.  The final version of the text appeared soon after the fall of Licinius in 323. Eusebius had access to the Theological Library of Caesarea and made use of many ecclesiastical monuments and documents, acts of…

  • The Death of Logical Positivism

    The original version of this book killed off Logical Positivism. Here’s a PDF of the essay.

  • Bishops and Episcopos

    Perry Robinson looks at the difference between Bishops and Episcopos.

  • Gospel Reading 2025-01-14

    LUKE 20:1-8At that time, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to Him, ‘Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.’ He answered them, ‘I also…

  • Epistle of the Day 2025-01-14

    The reading ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS 3:23-29; 4:1-5Brethren, 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…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-14

    The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus The Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus, Slavs by origin, lived at the beginning of the fourth century during a persecution against Christians by the emperor Licinius (311-324). Saint Hermylus served as deacon in the city of Singidunum (Belgrade). Condemned by Licinius to imprisonment, he was long and cruelly tortured…

  • Zacharias son of Barachias

    Here’s an interesting verse: Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. The name Zacharias son of Barachias is an enigmatic name. Zacharias is an…

  • On Hating the “Institution” of the Church

    Gospel reading for today. ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 4:7-13 BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (in saying, “He ascended, ” what does it…

  • Jesus Among the Gentiles

    Gospel Reading of the Day MATTHEW 4:12-17 At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of…

  • Saints of the Day 2025-01-12

    Tatiana the Martyr of Rome (200’s AD) The Holy Virgin Martyr Tatiana was born into an illustrious Roman family, and her father was elected consul three times. He was secretly a Christian and raised his daughter to be devoted to God and the Church. When she reached the age of maturity, Tatiana decided to remain…