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So, maybe the Apostle John did come from a rich family!

Actually there is some good evidence in Scripture, besides the one Scripture that I quoted in the other post that James and John bar Zebedee came from a rich family. In fact, it has been pointed out to me that there are some very good Scriptures that point to Zebedee’s family having some money and influence. Let’s take a look at some of those Scriptures. Mark 1:19-20 — When He had... [Read more]

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Our pious ideas about the Apostles

One of the bloggers on yesterday’s post said: At the same time, I am reminded of the statement of Jesus to the effect that he was homeless, that he had no place to lay his head. Perhaps there is “voluntary poverty” involved? The statement to which he is referring is: And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His... [Read more]

Poor and illiterate apostles and New Testament people?

After yesterday’s post, another blogger commented: What was their own standing in their own community? We can’t know, I think. But from the texts alone, it seems evident that they had their own business and one of them, at least, owned a boat. Several of them had houses (one passage in the Gospel says something to the effect that Jesus, too, owned a home). The passage you cited indicates some... [Read more]

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Were the apostles poor and illiterate?

Were the twelve apostles poor and illiterate? I was leading a Bible Study tonight when one of the people involved made the statement that the Twelve Apostles were probably mostly poor and illiterate. After all, they were fishermen and salt of the earth, and many people did not know how to read or write back then. But, is this an accurate statement of the probable situation of the Twelve Apostles?... [Read more]

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Saint Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage... [Read more]

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On requesting intercessory prayers from the saints

Are there any Biblical and historical quotes that appear to demonstrate that both the Apostles and the Early Church Fathers expected that the saints and angels would be aware of what we are doing and would intercede for us? And is there anything that says that we should revere them and remember them with special days? Funny you should ask. Revelation 5:8 – “Now when He had taken the scroll,... [Read more]

Scripture, Tradition, and Ecumenical Councils, final post

This series of posts began with a post from Caldonia Sun found here related to the autumn book club on mysticism. It triggered me to begin reflecting again on Holy Tradition, what it is, and what it means for our lives. But, behind it was also a whole set of discussions over a several year period with Huw over at Sarx on the difference between tradition and Tradition. Oddly enough, I have now come... [Read more]

Scripture, Tradition, and Ecumenical Councils, part 06

This will probably be the least satisfying posting, both for myself and for those reading this. Remember that it took decades for the Church to work out the four negatives (only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation) that define our Lord Jesus Christ. I have very little faith that I can give a good via negativa description of Holy... [Read more]

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Scripture, Tradition, and Ecumenical Councils, part 05

It took a little longer to return to this subject than I thought. But, what is Holy Tradition? In order to understand more about Holy Tradition, it is very helpful at this time to use a way of speaking that is much more common in the East than in the West. And that is what is called variously, Apophatic Theology, the Via Negativa, or Negative Theology. One description of the Via Negativa is, “In... [Read more]

Scripture, Tradition, and Ecumenical Councils, part 04

And now, back to our regular programming. As we have been talking about Holy Tradition, part of the problem that I see is that many people want Holy Tradition to be a list of canons, a list of practices, a list of dress codes, a list of personal grooming codes, etc., all of which can be easily parsed so that it is possible to easily tell when one is following Holy Tradition and when one is not. That... [Read more]