Theology – Page 2 – Faith Unto Ages

The Superiority of Biblical Cosmology over Pagan Creation Myths

Throughout history, man has made attempts to explain the origin of all things. This is evident when examining the various cosmological stories of antiquity, such as in the case of the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians who attributed the birth of existence to various deities. These deities had fallen human characteristics, ambitions, and interests.

To cite Holmon’s Quicksource:

“Egyptian and Babylonian (as well as the earlier Sumerian) creation myths were inherently polytheistic, with teeming masses of powerful but flawed gods competing for the spotlight… cohabitations, base motives, and warring between the chief gods led to the incidental creation of other gods as well as the earth, sky, sea, and all living things”

– Whorton, Mark S, and Hill Roberts. Holman Quicksource Guide to Understanding Creation. Nashville, Tennessee, Holman Reference, 2008, 41-42.

These deities of the said groups were not only limited, as they wrestled “with eternal matter to fashion heaven and earth” (Whorton, 37) but were unjust and grudging against the human race. For instance, the Babylonian Enuma Elish tells that the human race was created from the blood of the defeated Kingu, who was seen as being the commander of demons, from the underworld, and an enemy to “superior” deities. Consequently, a personal and loving relationship between humanity and the gods was lacking; as they were created not only as a result of conflict, but to perform difficult labors of the gods such as building, digging, etc.

On the contrary, the Holy Scriptures speak of there being One God that is completely good, just, eternal, omnipotent, sovereign, unlimited, and sacred. As such, He was not in need of any other assistance, nor in need of pre-existent matter to create; as He made all things out of nothing by His Word. The idea of a deity needing pre-existent matter was one shared with, and perhaps adopted, by Plato.

St. Athanasius’ defense of the Christ’s Divinity and Virgin Birth against the Jews

In St. Athanasius’ treatise ‘On the Incarnation’, he writes to a certain Macarius who was a proselyte to Christianity. Being inexperienced in apologetics, St. Athanasius had instructed him through this work to guide him on the Church’s teaching regarding the Omnipotence of the Word and His Incarnation. This was a doctrine which was challenged by both Jews and Gentiles alike; as it was a radical change from what was taught by history’s greatest philosophers, and exceeded human rationality.

For this particular post, we will be examining St. Athanasius’ rebuttal of the Jews, and how he proved the Incarnation from Holy Writ.

To initiate his rebuttal, he first addressed the Jew’s skepticism of Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrection. He opens by appealing to the Old Testament scriptures; as they are shared by both Christians and the Jews alike since both religions revere them as being God inspired and therefore: authoritative, infallible, and inerrant.

To cite him directly:

“First, then, we will consider the Jews. Their unbelief has its refutation in the Scriptures which even themselves read; for from cover to cover the inspired Book clearly teaches these things both in its entirety and in its actual words”

~ (On the Incarnation, Chapter VI).

Following this, he claims that the Prophets foretold Christ’s Virgin Birth; and cites prophets such like Isaiah and Moses.

Citing the Prophet Isaiah, he said:

“Prophets foretold the marvel of the Virgin and of the Birth from her, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name ‘Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us’ (Isaiah 7:14)”

~ ibid.

The Theology of the Holy Trinity – St. Gregory of Narek

“Beneficent, almighty, awe-inspiring God, good Father, charitable donor of mercy, whose very name heralds the good news of your grandeur, compassion and fatherly affection, you are gentle even toward the bitter and discontented.

With you also is your Son, who is like you, whose hand is strong like yours, whose awesome reign is eternal like yours, whose exaltation is shared with you in your creation.

So too the Holy Spirit of your truth, that flows from you without end, the perfect essence of existence and eternal being, is equal to you in all things, reigning with the Son in equal glory.

Three persons, one mystery, separate faces, unique and distinct, made one by their congruence and being of the same holy substance and nature, unconfused and undivided, one in will and one in action.

One is not greater, one is not lesser, not even by an eyelash, and because of the unobscurable light of heavenly love revealed in our midst both have been glorified with a single crown of holiness from before the ages.”

– (Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart, Prayer 13, A).