Ecclesiasticus

"Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work, nor glorify yourself at a time when you are in want." Ecclesiasticus 10:26

Murphysboro Centuries, 5th secular

Arcadius, 395-408
- oldest son of Theodosius the Great, was only 18 when came to the throne - he took the East, his younger brother Honorius took the West - the halves of the empire were later briefly rejoined, but some consider that from this time on, the division is permanent, and so some see Arcadius as the first Byzantine emperor

- was an enthusiastic Christian, but not believed to be a very forceful personality - others were the “power behind the throne” - Rufinus (apparently killed on orders of Stilicho, the regent in the West), then Eutropius (ran afoul of the empress and was executed), Gainas (a German general who was killed in an anti-German revolt), and then the empress Eudoxia

Patristics

“Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it.” 1 Clement, XV, ANF 1:9

Baier's Axioms

Supra et extra omnes creaturas nihil est, quam solus Deus.

Nothing is above and outside of all creation, except God alone.

Murphysboro Centuries, 4th sacred

Augustine of Hippo, 354-430

- the greatest theologian of the ancient Western church - pagan father, devout Christian mother

- lived a fairly “wild” life for a while, studied to be a lawyer and government official - came to Milan as a teacher of rhetoric (speech)

- influenced greatly by Ambrose, converted in 386 by a child's voice saying “take and read” - was baptized, returned to Africa and was planning to start a monastery, but was forced to become a priest and in 395 became the bishop of Hippo

- wrote much against the Donatists, the Manichaeans (good and evil of equal power in a struggle for the world) and the Pelagians (5^th century)

- greatly influenced the Western church, and was “the spiritual ancestor, no less, of much in the Reformation”

Luther quotes

“On the other hand, masters and mistresses should not govern their servants, maids and workers high-handedly. They should not scrutinize everything, but occasionally overlook some things and wink at their faults for the sake of peace. For as long as we live on earth in imperfection it is not possible for everything to go according to the rules in any class of men.” Martin Luther, Treatise on Good Works, LW, AE, 44:98

Latin proverbs

Felix, quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. (Binder)

Happy is he whom other people's dangers make cautious.

Murphysboro Centuries, 4th sacred

Jerome, 340-420

- one of the greatest “scholars” of the ancient Western church - studied in Rome, Antioch and Constantinople - in 382-384 was in Rome working for Pope Damasus, but was so “vindictive” in his arguing that when Damasus died, Jerome had to leave Rome and he eventually settled in Bethlehem, where he founded a monastery

- Pope Damasus suggested that Jerome revise the Latin version of the Bible that the Roman church was using at the time - instead, going back to the original Greek and Hebrew, Jerome came up with a “new” translation, the Vulgate, which was used by the Roman church until the 1960's

Imitation of Christ

Si usque in hodiernum diem semper in honoribus et voluptatibus vixisses, quid totum tibi profuisset, si jam in instanti mori contingeret? Omnia ergo vanitas, præter amare Deum, et illi foli servire. Qui enim Deum ex toto corde amat, nec mortem, nec supplicium, nec judcium, nec infernum metuit, quia perfectus amor securum ad Deum accessum facit. Quem adhuc peccare delectat, non mirum, si mortem, judicium timeat. Bonum tamen est ut, si necdum amor a malo te revocat, saltem timor gehenæ te coerceat. Qui vero timorem Dei postponit, diu stare in bono non valebit, sed diaboli laqueos citius incurret. 

 

If even unto this day you had ever lived in honors and pleasures, what would the whole profit you if now death came to you in an instant? All therefore is vanity, save to love God and to serve Him only. For he who loves God with all his heart fears not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love gives sure access to God. But he who still delights in sin, no marvel if he is afraid of death and judgment. Nevertheless it is a good thing, if love as yet cannot restrain you from evil, that at  least the fear of hell should hold you back. But he who puts aside the fear of God cannot long continue in good, but will quickly fall into the snares of the devil.

Imitation of Christ, I, 24:7

Ecclesiasticus

"Free men will be at the service of a  wise servant, and a man of understanding will not grumble."  Ecclesiasticus 10:25

Murphysboro Centuries, 4th sacred

John Chrysostom, 345-407

- born well-to-do, father died early and was raised by his mother - considered to be the best preacher of the Eastern church

- in 398 was “kidnapped” to become the bishop of Constantinople - offended many there with a strict lifestyle - was also tactless and insulting - tried to extend the influence of Constantinople (the new capital) over the rest of the East (which Alexandria and others objected to)

- insulted the empress on a number of occasions (supposedly because of her “extravagance”) - ordered to be tried and deposed by the emperor on charges of treason, was exiled and died in exile

Patristics

“They that are carnal cannot do those things which are spiritual, nor they that are spiritual the things which are carnal; even as faith cannot do the works of unbelief, nor unbelief the works of faith.” Ignatius, Ephesians, VIII, ANF 1:52-53

Baier's Axioms

Nichts ist so klein, Gott ist noch kleiner; nichts ist so gross, Gott ist noch grösser.

Nothing is so small, [that] God is yet smaller; nothing is so large, [that] God is yet larger.

Murphysboro Centuries, 4th sacred

Ambrose of Milan, 340-397

- son of an important government official, was raised and educated to be a civil servant - in the early 370's was appointed the governor of most of northern Italy, with his headquarters at Milan

- when the bishop of Milan died in 374, there was a bitter fight about who would replace him - Ambrose went to the church to quiet the “riot” and a child's voice was heard crying “Bishop Ambrose” - he was immediately elected bishop of Milan, even though he wasn't baptized yet

- was a very practical man and good administrator - was one of the great writers of the Western church (considered one of the Western “doctors” of the church)

- became renowned as a scholar and preacher - supported the Nicene faith and resisted both the Arians and pagans in Italy - was famous for rebuking Theodosius for his slaughter in Thessalonica (and amazed people that he got away with it) - did a lot to develop hymn singing (for example, “Savior of the Nations Come”)

Luther quotes

“A young man should marry at the age of twenty at the latest, a young woman that fifteen to eighteen; that's when they are still in good health and best suited for marriage. Let's God worry about how they and their children are to be fed. God makes children; he will surely also feed them.” Martin Luther, Estate of Marriage, LW, AE, 45:48

Latin proverbs

Navis, quae in flumine magna est, in mari parvula est. (Seneca)

The ship that is big in the river is pretty small in the ocean.

Murphysboro Centuries, 4th sacred

Martin of Tours, 344(?)-397

- born in Hungary of pagan parents - educated in Italy, forced to serve in the army (unwillingly) under Constantius and Julian

- baptized at 18, converted his mother and founded a monastery (the first) in France - c. 370 was elected (unwillingly) to be bishop of Tours

- renowned as a saint and miracle-worker - early on had cut his military cloak (capella) in half to give to a beggar and from that came the name for military “chaplaincy”

Imitation of Christ

Tunc videbitur sapiens in hoc mundo fuisse, qui pro Christo didicit stultus esse et despectus. Tunc placebit omnis tribulatio patienter perpessa et omnis iniquitas oppilabit os suum. Tunc gaudebit omnis devotus et merebit omnis religiosus. Tunc plus exultabit caro afflicta, quam si semper in deliciis fuisset nutrita. Tunc splendebit habitus vilis, et obtenebrescet vestis subtilis. Tunc plus laudabitur pauperculum domicilium, quam deauratum palatium. Tunc plus juvabit constans pacientia, quam omnis mundi potentia. Tunc amplius exaltabitur simplex obedientia, quam omnis sæcularis astutia. 

 

Then shall it be seen that he was the wise man in this world who learned to be a fool and despised for Christ. Then shall all tribulation patiently borne delight us, while the mouth of the ungodly shall be stopped. Then shall every godly man rejoice, and every profane man shall mourn. Then the afflicted flesh shall more rejoice than if it had been alway nourished in delights. Then the humble garment shall put on beauty, and the precious robe shall hide itself as vile. Then the little poor cottage shall be more commended than the gilded palace. Then enduring patience shall have more might than all the power of the world. Then simple obedience shall be more highly exalted than all worldly wisdom.

Imitation of Christ, I, 24:5

Ecclesiasticus

"It is not right to despise an intelligent poor man, nor is it proper to honor a sinful man." Ecclesiasticus 10:23

Murphysboro Centuries, 4th sacred

Ulfilas, 310(?)-383

- born to Gothic Christian parents - in 341 came to Constantinople, and was ordained bishop of the Goths by the Arian bishop there - spent his life trying to convert the rest of the Goths to Christianity

- majority of Goths had left paganism behind by the time he died - translated at least the New Testament into Gothic