Category: 1 Corinthians

AMBROSIASTER:

The servant sent by the Lord does what he has to do even if he is not willing, because if he does not do it he will suffer for it. Moses preached to Pharaoh even though he did not want to, and Jonah was forced to preach to the Ninevites.

ORIGEN:

The fact that he is completely free makes Paul the exemplary apostle. For it is possible to be free of immorality but a slave to anger, to be free of greed but a slave to boasting, to be free of one sin but a slave to another.

AUGUSTINE:

It is not from the one who wills nor from the one that runs but from God who has mercy that we obtain what we hope for and reach what we desire. Esau was unwilling and did not run. Had he been willing and had he run, he would have obtained the help of God who by calling him would have given him the power both to will and to run. read more

Christianity does not require us to be constantly changing, but it does require us to grow deeper in our relationship with God.  The Old Covenant was satisfied with external practices that were necessary and part of belonging to the people of God.  The New Covenant is a new way of belonging to God, it is not based on repeated performances.  The New Covenant is a belonging that is rooted in love – not one based in having the same opinions or practices as other believers.

So even though Tradition and traditions are important to our identity (individually and collectively), the goodness that comes from their venerable age cannot substitute the active discernment Charity demands.  We’ve said and done things certain ways for hundreds or thousands of years.  The only reason to continue, however, is because those ways and those things conform to Charity and Truth.  If we discern that the old garment is no longer Christ, we must first put on Christ – put on Charity – not simply patch up the old. read more