Answer to question 123261, "Christian Theology-2", by pammypetey-ga.
1.) The author of The Didache describes the two great commandments,
aspects of the Sermon on the Plain, and the Lord's Prayer. Are these
descriptions similar to or different from the descriptions provided by
the author of the Gospel of Luke?
The Didache's descriptions generally follow Matthew's text, not
Luke's. With few exceptions, probably related to "Q" as a prior
source for both Matthew and Luke, the author(s) of The Didache quote
directly from Matthew. The *meaning* of The Didache's descriptions
are similar to the meaning of the parallels in both Matthew and Luke,
but the semantics follow Matthew.
See "A Short Comparison of the Didache with the Canonical Record", by
John R. Mabry, http://www.apocryphile.net/jrm/articles/didache2.html
2.) What do you know about the sacraments of baptism and eucharist
based on The Didache?
Answer no longer needed (clarification dated 12 Dec 2002 16:37 PST)
3.) How did Ignatius understand his impending martyrdom?
Ignatius of Antioch understood his impending martyrdom as an
opportunity to become "the wheat of God" ... "I am the wheat of God,
and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be
found the pure bread of Christ." For Ignatius, martyrdom was the
ultimate test of a Christian's faith.
See "The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans", Chapter IV,
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-19.htm
4.) Why did Athanasius write the Life of Antony?
Answer no longer needed (clarification dated 12 Dec 2002 16:37 PST)
5.) What is the difference between the heavenly and earthly cities, as
described in chapter 17? Does any part of the heavenly city exist on
earth?
The earthly city is no longer the picture of God's presence with His
people. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who are under bondage to
sin, and are therefore alienated from the true people of God, abide in
the earthly city. The heavenly city, on the other hand, is called the
Holy City because it is there that God dwells in the midst of His
people. The heavenly city is the kingdom of God -- an eschatological
reality that starts here and now, albeit imperfectly.
See "The City of God", by St. Augustine of Hippo, Book XVII,
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/120117.htm
6.) How does Augustine respond to those who blame Christians for the
fall of Rome?
Basically, that the fall of Rome -- an earthly city -- to the
Barbarians was a political-military event which had nothing to do with
the Christian faith and the heavenly city.
See "Augustine the African", by James J. O'Donnell,
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/twayne/aug1.html
7.) Compare and contrast the stories of John the Baptist's and Jesus'
conception, birth and presentation in the temple.
John the Baptist was Jesus' precursor. John was conceived via nuptial
love, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in response
to Mary's "fiat". Both were born of women, and both were presented in
the temple for circumcision, as any other Jewish boy. But the
difference is that John is 100% human, while Jesus is both 100% human
*and* 100% divine. John is the greatest before Jesus, but he was not
worthy of tying Jesus' sandals, and the least in the kingdom is
greater than John.
See the "infancy narratives" in the four gospels,
http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
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