Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

More documents

Recommendations

Info

15Theme No: 2On God the FatherTheme No: 3On the Son1. The Father, who is one of the Persons of Trinity, is Almighty:Ref: Jn. 10:29. My Father, which gave them me, is greaterthan all; and no man is able to pluck them out of myFather’s hand (K.J.V.)CommentEvery attribute of God is applicable to the Father, of coursenot to the exclusion of the other two Persons. This latteraspect is because of the operation of perichoresis. Subjectto this it may be said that the Father is all-powerful.2. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, in addition to all that isseen and unseen. Besides He is the generator of the Logos orWord the Son, who is begotten of Him at the beginninglesstime. Also, He possesses all the characteristics and features ofGodhead.Ref: 1Cor. 8:6. But to us there is but one God, the Father,of whom are all things and we in him; (K.J.V.)CommentThe relation of God the Father to Cosmos as well as Hisprimordial nature are brought out here in qualifying Him asthe Creator. The S.O.C. believes in Creation ex-nihilo or outof nothingness. So the Church does not approve of the theorythat God gave an orientation or reorientation of matter whichhad been in existence and that He brought out Cosmos outof Chaos. Nor does the S.O.C. believe in the emanationtheory, put forward by some philosophers. His relation to theSon is one of generation from the beginning of thebeginningless time.1. Jesus, who is one of the Persons of Trinity and who is the Wordcum Son of God the Father, is begotten of the Father frometernity.Ref: (a) Jn. 1:1. In the beginning was the one who is calledthe word. The word was with God and was trulyGod. (L.B.)(b) Jn. 1:14… We saw his true glory, the glory of theonly Son of the Father (L.B.)CommentThe Son can be treated as the second Person for the sakeof enumeration. Although begotten of the Father He is theancient of the days. In other words, there was not a timewhen the Son was not, as Saint Athanasius the great ofAlexandria put it at the Nicene council of 325 C.E. It impliesthat He is co-eval with the Father. Besides, He is co-equal inpower with the Father. This further signifies that there is nosubordination for the Son. By this assertion the S.O.C. refutesthe cardinal doctrine of Arius that Jesus the Son, is a createdone.2. Uncreated as Jesus is, He has the very same substance as theFather and the Holy Spirit have.Ref: Jn. 10:30. The Father and I are one. (G.N.B.)CommentThe relation of the Son to the Father is further elucidatedhere. He is of the same ousia or nature and of the samesubstance as of the Father. This is categorically proclaimedin the Creed of the S.O.C.3. As willed by Himself, the Father and the Holy Spirit, and withoutcausing any mutation to His own Godhead, he condescended
16On the Son 3132Quintessence of Religious Doctrinesfrom heaven and was born a man from the immaculate virgin,for the salvation of mankind.Ref: (a) Mal. 3:6. I am the Lord and I do not change (G.N.B.)(b) Heb. 2:14. Since the children as he calls them arepeople of flesh and blood, Jesus himself becamelike them and shared their human nature. (G.N.B.)(c) Jn. 1:14. The word became a human being and ...lived among us (G.N.B.)CommentHis incarnation through the Virgin was on His own volition,expressed of course through the co-operation of the HolySpirit. There was not an iota of persuasion, let aside,compulsion on the second Person of Trinity for this mysteryor marvel. It is due to the operation of the divine dispensationand Perichoresis, an inherent characteristic of the BlessedTrinity. The main purpose of this episode was the salvationof mankind. Thus what was planned through Israel and herprophets was consummated in the incarnation of the Lord.Salvation became necessary because of the fall of mankindfollowing the disobedience of the first parents. Even thoughHe was born of the Virgin, His Mother Mary remained everVirgin. For the S.O.C. this is what is implied by the immaculacyof the Blessed Virgin Mary. The S.O.C. does not hold thatshe was born in an immaculate way as her Son was.4. Suffered truly in person.Ref: Acts 1:3… after Jesus had suffered and died (L.B.)CommentBy this assertion the Church, reaffirms that the suffering ofJesus was not a mere fantasy or apparition as the supportersof Docetism held. Docetism was a second century heresy.According to it the body of Christ was only a resemblance,or else of ethereal substance. It implies that Christ’s bodywas not similar to that of humans.5. Was Crucified.Ref: Mk. 15:24… then they crucified him… (G.N.B.)CommentHis Crucifixion was also not a magical feat or feint or illusion.He died on the Cross, on His own accord.6. Tasted death.Ref: Rom. 5:6. Christ died for us at a time when we were helplessand sinful (L.B.)CommentHe died in reality as was proved by the flow of blood andwater from His side when the soldier pierced it. Unlike whatwas propagated by the Docetists or some other heretics, Hisdeath was not an apparition but a reality.7. Was buried.Ref: 1Cor. 15:4. He was buried… (L.B.)CommentIn accordance with the Jewish custom, the body of Jesuswas buried before the Sabbath had set in. Sabbath for theJews is on Saturday. But the day is computed from dusk todusk. Hence the haste in burying the corpse of Jesus onFriday itself, the day on which Jesus was crucified.8. Descended to the sheol, preached to the spirits there;Ref: 1Pet. 3:19. Christ then preached to the spirits that werekept in prison (L.B.)CommentHe then descended to the Sheol, which to some Jewishthinking was the place where all the departed souls wereput. It was a place of gloom cum eerie silence. According tothe Jewish theology these souls were to be there until theDay of Judgement. This descent of Jesus shows that Hismission was not confined to the salvation of those living butrather extended to those of the dead as well. After all, no
Page 2 and 3: 1Quintessence of Religious Doctrine
Page 5 and 6: published in 1964. Since then we ha
Page 7 and 8: 6ThadathilMuttambalamKottayam - 686
Page 9 and 10: 8Translator’s NoteAs I sat down t
Page 11 and 12: 10Abbreviations19 20Quintessence of
Page 13 and 14: 1224Quintessence of Religious Doctr
Page 15: 14On the Blessed Trinity 27 28Quint
Page 19 and 20: 18On the Son3536Quintessence of Rel
Page 21 and 22: 20On the Holy Spirit 39to be the di
Page 23 and 24: 22On the Holy Sacraments 43 44Quint
Page 25 and 26: 24On the Holy Baptism 47 48Quintess
Page 27 and 28: 26On the Holy Baptism 51can fulfil
Page 29 and 30: CommentThe results of receiving the
Page 31 and 32: 30On the Holy Eucharist 59 60Quinte
Page 33 and 34: 32On the Holy Confession 63 64Quint
Page 35 and 36: 34On the Holy Confession 67Ref.: (a
Page 37 and 38: 36On the Holy Orders 71 72Quintesse
Page 39 and 40: 38On the Holy Orders 75Ref: (a) Mt.
Page 41 and 42: 40On the Holy Matrimony 79CommentIt
Page 43 and 44: 42On Burial 833. Bishops, Priests,
Page 45 and 46: 44On Prayer 87CommentThe prayers ar
Page 47 and 48: 46On Fasts 917. The Church has ther
Page 49 and 50: 48On the Feast of the Saints 95The
Page 51 and 52: 50On the Mother of God 99of the arc
Page 53 and 54: 52On the Prayer to the Saints 103 1
Page 55 and 56: 54On the Prayer to the Saints 107Co
Page 57 and 58: 56On the Prayer for the Departed 11
Page 59 and 60: 58On the Prayer for the Departed 11
Page 61 and 62: 60120Quintessence of Religious Doct
Page 63 and 64: 62On Signing oneself with the mark
Page 65 and 66: 64On Chastity 127way; others, becau
Page 67 and 68:
66On Human Soul 131CommentThe S.O.C
Page 69 and 70:
68On Sin 135 136Quintessence of Rel
Page 71 and 72:
70On Repentance 139140Quintessence
Page 73 and 74:
72144Quintessence of Religious Doct
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
76On Independent Creation, Free wil
Page 79 and 80:
78On Independent Creation, Free wil
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
82AppendixNames of the Heritics who
Page 85 and 86:
84Heresies 167 168Quintessence of R
show all

Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?