More House Photos

So today we had our townhouse inspected and it passed with flying colors.

Here are some photographs that I took today

Our address as of June 15th will be
806 Bruton Drive
Gibsonia, PA  15044

Ephesians 1:15-18

Biblical Text
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all his people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people," (Ephesians 1:15-18, TNIV)  

Commentary from the Early Church Fathers(1)
The Eyes of the Heart. Jerome: His phrase “eyes of the heart” clearly refers to those things we cannot understand without sense and intelligence…. Faith sees beyond what the physical eyes see. Physical eyes are in the heads of not only the wise but the unwise. Epistle to the Ephesians 1.1.15 seq.

These Eyes Have Become Opened Among the Gentiles. Ephrem the Syrian: The signs manifested to the external eyes of the Jews did them little good. But faith opened the eyes of the hearts of the Gentiles. Homily on Our Lord 32.

That You May Know by Insight and Revelation. Marius Victorinus: Let us understand that we arrive at the full mystery of God by two routes: We ourselves by rational insight may come to understand and discern something of the knowledge of divine things. But when there is a certain divine self-disclosure God himself reveals his divinity to us. Some may directly perceive by this revelation something remarkable, majestic and close to truth. … But when we receive wisdom we apprehend what is divine both through our own rational insight and through God’s own Spirit. When we come to know what is true in the way this text intends, both these ways of knowing correspond. Epistle to the Ephesians 1.1.17–18.

My Comments
I really like Jerome's line, "Faith sees beyond what the physical eyes see" and Ephrem points out that the Jewish authorities of Jesus' day saw many signs and it did them no good whatsoever, as they still refused to believe.  

I include the comments from Victorinus not because I agree with him (as I do with Jerome and Ephrem) but because I think he's mistaken.  A number of theologians embrace this dualistic knowledge of God often referred to as natural and special revelation.  While I agree that there is biblical support for the position that God is revealed through natural means (Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1) come to mind, there is also a common theme that comes out particularly in the Romans passage.  People seem to get natural revelation wrong.  As Paul notes what has revealed has been made plain from what has been made (Romans 1:19-20) but according to Paul people rejected this knowledge.  

The other point of contention that I have with Victorinus comes from my recent study of Moltmann.  What Moltmann argues, and I think persuasively, is that at least in the West classical theism, or "The Spy in the Sky Theology" (NT Wright's phrase) dominates people's understanding of who God is.  So when people talk about God they talk about the creator of the universe – not the crucified Jesus the Christ.

On a more personal note, as I prepare for my final few weeks at Northmont I found Paul's words very relevant to my own feelings as I am preparing to leave the church that I have been apart for the past three years as both a volunteer and staff member.  

Notes(2)
Jerome (c. 347–420). Gifted exegete and exponent of a classical Latin style, now best known as the translator of the Latin Vulgate. He defended the perpetual virginity of Mary, attacked Origen and Pelagius and supported extreme ascetic practices.

Ephrem the Syrian (b. c. 306; fl. 363–373). Syrian writer of commentaries and devotional hymns which are sometimes regarded as the greatest specimens of Christian poetry prior to Dante.

Marius Victorinus (b. c. 280/285; fl. c. 355–363). Grammarian of African origin who taught rhetoric at Rome and translated works of Platonists. After his conversion (c. 355), he wrote against the Arians and commentaries on Paul’s letters.

1. All comments taken from: M. J. Edwards, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT 8. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999), ???.


2. Biographical information is from: ACCS Introduction and Bibliographic Information, Ancient Christian commentary on Scripture. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005).

Ephesians 1:11-14

Biblical Text
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."
(Ephesians 1:11-14, TNIV)


Commentary from the Early Church Fathers(1)
Our Inheritance Is Secured. Chrysostom: By this seal God shows great forethought for humanity. He not only sets apart a people and gives them an inheritance but secures it as well. It is just as if someone might stamp his heirs plainly in advance; so God set us apart to believe and sealed us for the inheritance of future glory

My Comments
Ah, the predestination verses from Ephesians.  I will admit that there was a day when these verses dominated my thinking like nothing else, primarily because of my training in Westminster Calvinism (aka TULIP).  But, in more recent years my thinking has broadened out and I now take more seriously the question of what does it mean that "In him we were also chosen…"  What does it mean to view election/predestination through Jesus the Christ?  

The part about these versus that caught my attention were the ending – "When you believe you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…" and "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation".  The phrase, "in Christ" is one of the most common in the New Testament (perhaps the most common, depending on how you define a phrase) and is worthy of great consideration.  It is this spirit that joins us to Christ and allows us to share in his life.  

Notes(2)
John Chrysostom (344/354–407; fl. 386–407). Bishop of Constantinople who was noted for his orthodoxy, his eloquence and his attacks on Christian laxity in high places.

1. All comments taken from: M. J. Edwards, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT 8. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999), ???.


2. Biographical information is from: ACCS Introduction and Bibliographic Information, Ancient Christian commentary on Scripture. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005).

Brian's Big News...

Renee and I bought a townhouse!!! We had looked at it last weekend and really liked it, so we visited again this morning and decided it was the one and put in an offer. They counter offered an hour later, we counter offered, they responded, and we took it. It’s a townhouse in Richland, about a mile and a half from Hampton Presbyterian (where I’ll be working). It has three bedrooms and four baths (two full, two half), a finished basement, and a nice, big deck. We close on June 15th!

Here are some photos:

This is the exterior













This is the kitchen looking out into the dining room/living room













This is the dining room end of the living room/dining room













This is the living room end of the dining room/living room, looking into the kitchen














This is the family room













This is the bathroom off the family room

Ephesians 2:4-10

Biblical Text
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:4-10, TNIV)  

Commentary from the Early Church Fathers(1)
God Did Not Originally Desire That Any Should Perish. Ambrosiaster: These are the true riches of God’s mercy, that even when we did not seek it mercy was made known through his own initiative…. This is God’s love to us, that having made us he did not want us to perish. His reason for making us was that he might love what he had made, seeing that no one hates his own workmanship. Epistle to the Ephesians 2.4.

He Formed Us Anew as His Members. Ambrosiaster: God made us in Christ. So it is through Christ once again that he has formed us anew. We are his members; he our Head. Epistle to the Ephesians 2.5.

Already Exalted. Jerome: Above he said that God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand…. Some may ask how God who has saved us and raised us with him has also made us sit with Christ. A simple response would be indeed that, in the light of God’s foreknowledge, Paul is speaking of what is to come as though it had already been done. … One who understands the resurrection and the kingdom of Christ spiritually does not scruple to say that the saints already sit and reign with Christ! Just as a person may become truly holy even in the flesh, when he lives in the flesh and has his conversation in heaven, when he walks on earth and, ceasing to be flesh, is wholly converted into spirit, so he also is seated in heaven with Christ. For indeed “the kingdom of God is within us.” Epistle to the Ephesians 1.2.1 seq.


My Comments
These two comments from Ambrosiaster and Jerome stood out to me.  In the past I've usually focused on the later part of this verse, especially Ephesians 2:8.  Ephesians 2:8 is a verse that contradicts "faithism" – the idea that it is our decision for Jesus that saves us, thereby turning faith into a work that we do in order that God might have mercy.  

Ambrosiaster clearly argues against this type of attitude toward salvation.  God's love is shown that even when we did not seek his mercy he made it known through his own initiative.  The act of God in, through, and as Jesus Christ was the embodiment of the mission of God to reconcile the whole world to himself.  Ambosiaster continues that just as we were made through Christ (John 1:3 – all things were made through the Word of God) so too we are redeemed through Christ.  The reconciliation and restoration of us is at God's initiatve.  All that we can do is respond in faithful obedience, but this response is not the condition of salvation.  

Finally, Jerome strikes an "eschatological" cord here.  Paul writes this unusual line, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  Taken literally, at the time of Jesus' ascension we too were taken into the heavenly realms.  The interesting note here is that at the time of Jesus' ascension none of us were born.  So what does Paul mean?  I think Jerome gets at it well, "Paul is speaking of what is to come as though it had already been done."  I agree with Jerome here but want to phrase it a little differently.  Moltmann, in his introduction to Theology of Hope, talks about how Christians live in the tension of knowing that there is something more - the knowing anticipation of the full revelation of God's reign on earth.  The telos, or end point, to which all of history is driving this will literally be true – those who are "In Christ" will be seated in the heavenly places with Christ.  As for now, "in Christ" we too have been taken up into the heavenly places.  What is a reality has not yet been revealed, but is real none the less.  Christ, as our representative has taken us up into the heavenly places: we simply await the eschatological fulfillment of this.

Notes(2)
Jerome (c. 347–420). Gifted exegete and exponent of a classical Latin style, now best known as the translator of the Latin Vulgate. He defended the perpetual virginity of Mary, attacked Origen and Pelagius and supported extreme ascetic practices.

Ambrosiaster (fl. c. 366–384). Name given by Erasmus to the author of a work once thought to have been composed by Ambrose.

1. All comments taken from: M. J. Edwards, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT 8. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 131.


2. Biographical information is from: ACCS Introduction and Bibliographic Information, Ancient Christian commentary on Scripture. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005).

Ephesians 1:3-6

" Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1:3-6, TNIV)  

_________________________________________

What he means is this: The one through whom he has blessed us is the one through whom he has elected us…. Christ chose us to have faith in him before we came into being, indeed even before the world was founded. The word foundation was well chosen, to indicate that it was laid down from some great height. For great and ineffable is the height of God, not in a particular place but rather in his remoteness from nature. So great is the distance between creature and Creator… You have been elected,” he says, “in order to be holy and unblemished before his face.” … He himself has made us saints, but we are called to remain saints. A saint is one who lives in faith, is unblemished and leads a blameless life. John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 1.1.4.(1)

John Chrysostom (344/354–407; fl. 386–407). Bishop of Constantinople who was noted for his orthodoxy, his eloquence and his attacks on Christian laxity in high places.(2)

______________________________________________

This may soon become a series entitled “Reading Ephesians with Chrysostom” after this opening.  In all seriousness, there are a few gems in the ACCS from just these few verses, but there two really stood out to me, both from John Chrysostom.  

The first thing that stood out to me was Chrysostom’s understanding of election.  What I think he holds together really well is that our election is not apart from Jesus Christ, as so often happens in Westminster Calvinism (where election is a decision of the Father before the foundation of the world that can happen entirely divorced from Jesus the Christ).  His line that we are blessed through the same person in which we are elected is right one.  What Chrysostom seems to avoid, at least on this read, is the question of how many are elected.  One might see Chrysostom taking Calvin’s view on election here, in that he’s using election as a doctrine of comfort, not as on that precedes faith (as Westminster Calvinism does).  If one wanted to stretch it, more than I think Chrysostom does, you might see the beginnings of Barth’s doctrine of election (God’s choice to elect humanity through the incarnation of the Son) but I don’t think Chrysostom is quite there.  

The second comment is Chysostom’s understanding of what it means to be holy.  Chrysostom doesn’t say “if you do this, then you’ll be holy”, rather he understands being holy as something that we, by virtue of adoption, are given as a status, and then commanded to live into this status that we have freely been given.  So no amount of human effort will bump someone up on the “holiness meter”, but that is not an excuse for “sinning that grace might abound.”  Rather, those who understand what God has done for them in, through, and as Jesus Christ and are thus the “holy ones”, respond by seeking to live Spirit-empowered lives in obedience to God’s intentions for humanity.  

Looking at the TNIV, I really appreciate how they translated “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.”  The TNIV strives for gender neutrality and could have opted to do any number of things in translating this verse.  Other translations have done things such as “In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ” (ESV) or “He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ” (NRSV).  Now neither of these translations are wrong per say, because the word in the Greek is uiothesian which is understood to mean “adoption” but the root is uios which means “son”.  The TNIV, despite their commitment to gender neutrality accurately renders this one “to sonship through Jesus Christ.”

Now why is all this important?  Jesus Christ, is by his very nature is the Son of God.  Humans are not God’s children by nature but only through adoption into God’s family.  But, our adoption comes through the historical action of the incarnation of the Son of God as Jesus of Nazareth.  He, fully God, took on our flesh and became our brother and thus our representative.  So, he was both the Word of God to humanity and the perfectly obedient true human who lived in full relationship with God the Father.  Since Jesus the Christ was Son of God by nature and our brother, in him (and only in him) we come to share in his Sonship with the Father and thus can rightly be called “sons of God.”

Those who make an issue out of gender language might balk at the use of the word sonship, but its important to not let our human understandings of terms like “Son” and “Father” overrule that which God has revealed about himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The terms “Father” and “Son” are names which denote relationships, not gender.  God the Father is not male, and God the Son is not a male God; he is only male in his humanity.  So there is no difficulty in saying that women share in Jesus’ sonship with the Father because this denotes a relational term.  Both men and women are fully sons of God the Father through Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.  

On a side note, if you’re interested in more, all of the Early Church Fathers are available online at http://www.ccel.org in any number of formats and much of it is well worth reading.    

(1) M. J. Edwards, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT 8. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 111.
(2) ACCS Introduction and Bibliographic Information, Ancient Christian commentary on Scripture. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005).

Reading Ephesians with the Church Fathers

Since my small group recently finished our reading of the Gospel of Mark, I needed to find something new for devotional reading.  What I settled on and hopefully will be blogging on is to read through the book of Ephesians with the Church Fathers.  I am fortunate enough to own 12 volumes of the Ancient Christian Commentary on the Scriptures so I will be reading that, along will reading Ephesians from the newly published and somewhat controversial (at least in the evangelical world) TNIV (Today’s New International Version).  I’ve used the TNIV a little and so far really like it as an update of the NIV.  For ministry purposes I tend to prefer the NIV’s dynamic equivalence method over the more literal method of the ESV/NRSV since I mainly work with teens.  

Given everything else that is going on I don’t know how often or how long I will be blogging, but hopefully I can keep it up at least somewhat regularly.  

Union Cafe

From BJ Woodworth

In 16 days the Union Station will open at the Union Project 801 N. Negley Ave. For those of who do not know the Union Project is home of the Open Door ( Pittsburgh Presbytery New Church Development) and the Union Station café is going to be a huge gift and blessing to the East End, the Union Project and the Open Door.

So come buy and bring a friend or two for your morning or afternoon cup of coffee, for lunch or an evening dessert. It is a great place to study! The great thing about this café is it has a plethora of outdoor seating which is hard to find in the East End. It offers free wireless as well! So help us spread the word! Here is the official press release.

Union Station Cafe

The Union Project provides neighborhood space to connect, create and celebrate. Through the restoration and reuse of the abandoned, blighted, former Union Baptist Church, the Union Project provides gathering and working space for artists, community builders and people of faith. Additionally, as key to meeting its mission and focusing on sustainability, the Union Project is initiating several social enterprises that employ local at-risk youth and low-income individuals.

The first of these social enterprises, Union Station café will open for business on May 5. Hours of operation will be 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week. Union Station café will serve coffee and cold drinks, light breakfast and lunch menus, and dessert options. Join us for an opening party on Friday, May 5 as part of our monthly First Friday Happy Hours. Contact antwan@unionproject.org for information about Union Station Café.

"The Union Station café is the new hot spot in the neighborhood. Join neighbors in a relaxed atmosphere were you can sit and chat, utilize the free Internet connection, read, or have a quick snack." says new Union Station manager Antwan Davis.

Holy Week and Discipleship

One of my favorite texts for some time has been Luke 14:25-27

"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even life itself—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:25-27, TNIV)  

While I've had no trouble explaining what Jesus meant by "hate" (Gk miseo, "to be disinclined to, disfavor, disregard" – BDAG) or as I explained it to our Jr. High group last weekend, to hate is to put everything else, family, friends, etc. as a second priority to your faithfulness to Jesus Christ, such that is being faithful to Jesus Christ and being faithful to someone else contradict, you get rid of whatever is hindering your faithfulness to Jesus Christ.  The usual and quite appropriate response is usually, "But I don't think Jesus wants me to leave my family."

As I was preparing for our Good Friday service I was given John 19:25b-27

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." (John 19:25b-27, TNIV)  

Here Jesus demonstrated precisely what he intended by Luke 14.  When it came to the mission he had received from his Father he ultimately had to give up everything, including his family.  But what Jesus demonstrates is that faithfulness to one's calling does not justify a callous and blatant disregard for family, as here he entrusts the care of his mother to the beloved disciple.  

Brian's Big News

So my mom commented that I hadn't updated my blog in a while which first of all shows that she has become quite the blog reader.  This has in part been because the biggest news in my life that I would be blogging about wasn't quite ready for public knowledge, but as of now it is public knowledge.  

Starting July 1st, I will be Minister of Youth and Outreach Worship at Hampton Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, PA.  There I will have two main responsibilities, youth ministry and turningpoint.  The Youth Ministry part is pretty much the typical responsibilities: youth group, bible studies, retreats, social events, etc.  As many of you know, youth ministry has been my passion for the past three years and I am excited to get the opportunity to land in such a position.  My other main responsibility will be turningpoint.  Turningpoint is a gathering for: skeptics, believers, veterans, rookies,the passionate, and the burned-out, who seek to know and follow Jesus Christ.  The music is rock n roll, the dress is casual, children are welcome, you can bring your friends.  As you might know my other passion has been developing worship gatherings that are focused on the praise and adoration of God in a language that is better understood by young people and those outside the church.  Needless to say, a position that combined the two things I feel the most passionate about really excited me and I cannot wait to begin.