Category Archives: Philip Melanchthon

Luther on Becoming a Theologian

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“If anybody wishes to become a theologian, he has a great advantage, first of all, in having the Bible.  This is now so clear that he can read it without any trouble.  Afterward he should read Philip’s Loci Communes.  This … Continue reading →

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Melanchthon on Slavery and Natural Law

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Also in civil law, as they call it, there are many things that reflect human affections instead of natural laws.  For what it more foreign to the law of nature than slavery?….a good man will fashion civil constitutions according to … Continue reading →

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Melanchthon Laments Rejection of Classical Literature

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“I consider in my mind these admirable gifts of God, namely the study of literature and of the humanities—and apart from the Gospel of Christ this world holds nothing more splendid nor more divine and I also consider, on the … Continue reading →

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Melanchthon on the Sacraments

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Matthew Phillips

“Sacraments are signs of God’s will toward us, not simply signs of the people’s will among themselves, and so it is right to define the New Testament sacraments as signs of grace.  A sacrament consists of two parts, the sign … Continue reading →

Posted in Apology of Augsburg Confession, Augsburg Confession, Augustine of Hippo, Book of Concord, Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, sacraments | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Importance of Speech

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“The whole community of men, the method of organising life in public and in private, procuring everything by which we preserve life, and also all communication, are held together by speech.” Philip Melanchthon, “Praise of Eloquence,” in Orations on Philosophy … Continue reading →

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Eloquence is worth the effort

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“For eloquence is something altogether greater than a noisy mass of words.  But yet, I see the young fall into error; since they know neither the power nor the nature of eloquence, they do not consider it worth the effort … Continue reading →

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Misery loves company

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“See how a teacher’s task, to my discomfort, is many sided.  Never, unless compelled by a teacher, does a boy take a book into his hands.  When he receives it, his eyes and mind wander off.  A teacher explains something, … Continue reading →

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All the liberal arts flow from history

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“I do not know if our world would suffer less harm without the sun, its soul as it were, than without history, the principle of all civil activities.  Our forebears have often insisted unanimously that the Muses were born from … Continue reading →

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Memory, identity and history

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Matthew Phillips

“Our memory is the thread of our personal identity; our memory liberates us from what Melanchthon, Luther’s colleague, called perpetual childhood.  Without our past we have no present or future.” Carter Lindberg, The European Reformations, 2nd Ed, p. 2 Lindberg … Continue reading →

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