Category Archives: theology

Trust the Science

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Matthew Phillips

“Then came the explosion of this myth.  It climaxed in the horrors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and in the fierce fury of fifty-megaton bombers.  Now we have come to see that science can give us only physical power, which if … Continue reading →

Posted in Martin Luther King Jr, theology | Leave a comment

God Descends into Dust

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

“Majesty compressed himself to join to our dust the best thing he had, which is himself.  God and dust, majesty and weakness, utter lowliness and utter sublimity  were united in a single person.  Nothing is more sublime than God, nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Christmas, Incarnation, theology | Leave a comment

More Than a Feeling

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

“For virtue is nothing else than an affection of the mind ordered according to reason, and such affections are said to be very numerous according to the various inclinations of the same mind, yet having one root and origin, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Cross, Hugh of St Victor, Incarnation, Love, medieval, theology | Leave a comment

A Virgin Shall Conceive

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Matthew Phillips

“Perhaps at the time the angel came, she was holding [the text of] Isaiah in her hands; perhaps she was then studying the prophecy which declares: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Aelred of Rievaulx, Mary, medieval, theology | Leave a comment

Defy Everything: Martin Luther in 1520

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“Let us…commit the affairs of men to God in faithful prayer, and be calm.  What can they do? Will they kill [me]?  Will they revive [me] again in order to kill [me] again? Will they brand me [me] a heretic?  … Continue reading →

Posted in Martin Luther, Reformation, theology | 1 Comment

The Price of Satisfaction: Bernard of Clairvaux’s View of Redemption

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“You lived, O man, in darkness and the shadow of death through ignorance of the truth; you were a prisoner and your sins were your shackles.  He [Jesus] came down to you in your prison, not to torture you but … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Cross, medieval, memory, theology | Leave a comment

The Languor of Love

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“Love is an affliction, and the suffering of a soul that is sick.  The authority of the poet [Ovid]–even though it seems unworthy and unsuitable–affirms the truth of this, when he says, ‘Woe is me, for no herb can cure … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, preaching, theology, vice, virtue | Leave a comment

An Infallible Truth

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“It is an infallible truth that no person is righteous unless he believes in God, as stated in Rom. 1 [:17]: ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’  Likewise, ‘He who does not believe is condemned already” [John 3:18] … Continue reading →

Posted in gospel, grace, justice, Martin Luther, Reformation, theology | Leave a comment

The Art of Love

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“The art of arts is the art of love.  Nature, and God, the Author of nature, has reserved to himself the teaching of it.  Love itself has been planted [in us] by the Creator of nature; so if its natural … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, medieval, theology, virtue | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, theology | Tagged , | Leave a comment