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On which books are in the Old Testament

There is a very legitimate argument between Christians over which books are in the Old Testament. In fact, to this day, there is not one list on which all Christians agree. In fact, there are not even two lists, or even three lists, but, would you believe there are at least four lists? Listed below are four lists of Old Testament books along with which section of Christendom has which list. When we... [Read more]

To invoke or not to invoke, that is the question!

OK, I know you are waiting for me to say it. There is no place in the Scriptures that gives any direct mention of the invocation of the saints for intercessory prayer. There, I said it. I got it off my chest! So, why do I believe in the invocation of the saints? Let me post a quote from the Book of Tobit. I know that it is not part of the Protestant Bible, nevertheless, it lets me bring up a... [Read more]

Intercession and Invocation of the Saints (and the Theotokos)

Philip Melanchthon Well, we finally get to the subject for which various of you are waiting, the intercession of the saints. But, actually to begin correctly, I need to divide that phrase into two related phrases, the intercession of the saints and the invocation of the saints. What is the difference between the two phrases? The first phrase speaks to whether the saints in glory look down upon us and... [Read more]

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Quick hint for tomorrow

OK, so here is a thought for you, and the reason why I have left intercession of the saints until the end of my musings on the Theotokos. Think with me on this. Do a thought experiment with me. Imagine two cases. The first is the one in which the Anabaptists are 100% correct. Most Holy Mary is not Ever-Virgin. She is not Queen of Heaven. She was not bodily taken up into heaven. The second one is the... [Read more]

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Dormition of the Theotokos

Hm, I know that the juicier subject is the intercession of the saints, but let me take up the subject of the assumption of the Theotokos because it will let me make some points about the differences in approach between the East and the West. OK, so both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic believe that Mary is physically in heaven. Why, then, do we so strongly say that the Roman Catholic Church should... [Read more]

For the Irish among us

St. Patrick of Ireland St. Patrick’s Prayer (St. Patrick’s Breastplate) I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength... [Read more]

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So, what else do the Orthodox believe about the Theotokos

Well, Dave asked me to enumerate what else the Orthodox believe about the Theotokos. This list is in addition to what was mentioned previously. 1.  Almost of all us believe that she was assumed into heaven – but we think the Roman Church was very wrong to label this a dogma. 2.  There is a debate among us over whether Mary lived a sinless life, but we all agree that she was not born incapable... [Read more]

Why do we call her the Theotokos?

So, why do we call the Virgin Mary the Theotokos? Hmm, no, I am not talking about the theological justification for the term. I mean, why do we use the term, “Theotokos,” and do not simply use the English, “Mother of God?” After all, that term has been used by both Roman Catholic and Protestant. The Formula of Concord states, “Therefore she is truly the mother of God and... [Read more]

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The Protestant Theotokos and I

So, before I start out in discussing the Orthodox view of the Virgin Mary, let me do something different. Let me list with which doctrines of the Virgin Mary both the Reformers and I would agree. Now, here is my point. If one disagrees with the Orthodox Church, with the Roman Catholic Church, and with the Reformers on these doctrines, then one should no longer say that it is a Protestant/Catholic problem.... [Read more]

The Protestant Theotokos

Jean Cauvin The Theotokos is a subject of much debate between Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox. One of the people who commented on an earlier post asked me to speak to the Orthodox view of the Theotokos. That person commented that this was one of the areas of conflict/questions between Protestants and the rest of Christianity. So, I think I will speak about the Theotokos. One would think that... [Read more]

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