Calvinistic Belief

Discussion in 'Theology and Doctrine' started by Pax_Christi, Jan 4, 2013.

  1. bwallac2335

    bwallac2335 Well-Known Member

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    Of course no one is saying that an individual father is infallible but more or the less consensus of the fathers and what they taught. You can discern that, for the most part, from a reading of the church, the creeds, and the liturgies
     
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  2. Rexlion

    Rexlion Well-Known Member

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    Which goes back to the fact that the absolute standard is the Bible. And the Fathers are being referred to as 'the standard' in the context of 'aids to interpreting Scripture.' :)
     
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  3. Stalwart

    Stalwart Well-Known Member Anglican

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    Of course. Just as Rexlion said, the fathers are not an independent source of revelation. That source is the Scriptures, because it is written by the Holy Ghost as St. Augustine has said. That is a privilege he would not have ascribed to himself.

    So when I say that the Fathers are the standard, I mean in terms of human teachers. The Anglican divines judged Calvin, Luther, and Pius V, by the standard of Augustine, Cyril, and Chrysostom. That is important to note, because everyone else did the opposite: Calvinists judged Augustine by the standard of Calvin. Roman Catholics judged the Fathers by the standard of Roman doctrines (even going so far as to 'correct' the ancient manuscripts). Etc.

    If anyone should have priority, you'd think we'd all agree it's the Fathers, but unfortunately Anglicans were unique in thinking that way.
     
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