Who Said This?

[J.D.]

This person sounds like an Arminian when he says this:

15. Looking diligently, or, taking care, or, attentively providing, etc.5 By these words he intimates that it is easy to fall away from the grace of God; for it is not without reason that attention is required, because as soon as Satan sees us secure or remiss, he instantly circumvents us. We have, in short, need of striving and vigilance, if we would persevere in the grace of God.

But he sounds like a Calvinist when he says this about the same verse:

Moreover, under the word grace, he includes our whole vocation. If any one hence infers that the grace of God is not efficacious, except we of our own selves cooperate with it, the argument is frivolous. We know how great is the slothfulness of our flesh; it therefore wants continual incentives; but when the Lord stimulates us by warning and exhortation, he at the same time moves and stirs up our hearts, that his exhortations may not be in vain, or pass away without effect. Then from precepts and exhortations we are not to infer what man can do of himself, or what is the power of freewill; for doubtless the attention or diligence which the Apostle requires here is the gift of God.

Just for fun, can you identify 1) who wrote it, 2) where he wrote it, 3) what Bible verse he was commenting on, and 4) what he is saying, in your own words.

I don't gamble but if I did I would put $20 on Rippon to solve this riddle first.

 

[exscentric]

I know but will allow someone else win :laugh:

 

[webdog]

It's TCGreek!! :laugh:

 

[Allan]

This person sounds like an Arminian when he says this:



But he sounds like a Calvinist when he says this about the same verse:



Just for fun, can you identify 1) who wrote it, 2) where he wrote it, 3) what Bible verse he was commenting on, and 4) what he is saying, in your own words.

I don't gamble but if I did I would put $20 on Rippon to solve this riddle first.

It was Spurgeon when he was speaking on Hebrew 12:15ff
As for when? I would have to say it was while he was still alive.

Here is the rest of it:

Lest any root, etc. I doubt not but that he refers to a passage written by Moses in Deuteronomy 29:18; for after having promulgated the Law, Moses exhorted the people to beware, lest any root germinating should bear gall and wormwood among them. He afterwards explained what he meant, that is, lest any one, felicitating himself in sin, and like the drunken who are wont to excite thirst, stimulating sinful desires, should bring on a contempt of God through the alluring of hope of impunity. The same is what the Apostle speaks of now; for he foretells what will take place, that is, if we suffer such a root to grow, it will corrupt and defile many; he not only bids every one to irradiate such a pest from their hearts, but he also forbids them to allow it to grow among them. It cannot be indeed but that these roots will ever be found in the Church, for hypocrites and the ungodly are always mixed with the good; but when they spring up they ought to be cut down, lest by growing they should choke the good seed.

He mentions bitterness for what Moses calls gall and wormwood; but both meant to express a root that is poisonous and deadly. Since then it is so fatal an evil, with more earnest effort it behooves us to check it, lest it should rise and creep farther.

 

[Jerome]

Calvin? Hebrews Commentary?

"In his expositions [John Calvin] is not always what moderns would call Calvinistic; that is to say, where Scripture maintains the doctrine of predestination and grace he flinches in no degree, but inasmuch as some Scriptures bear the impress of human free action and responsibility, he does not shun to expound their meaning in all fairness and integrity. He was no trimmer and primer of texts."
---Charles Spurgeon

 

[Allan]

Calvin? Hebrews Commentary?

"In his expositions [John Calvin] is not always what moderns would call Calvinistic; that is to say, where Scripture maintains the doctrine of predestination and grace he flinches in no degree, but inasmuch as some Scriptures bear the impress of human free action and responsibility, he does not shun to expound their meaning in all fairness and integrity. He was no trimmer and primer of texts."
---Charles Spurgeon

Ya know, your right!

The weblink I saw concerning it stated it was Spurgeon but when I went to Calvin's Commentaries on Hebrews that was it. And it was the only site I could find that stated the beginning ten words exactly. (wonder why Calvin's commentary didn't show up?)

Good Job! :thumbs:

 

[J.D.]

Congrats to Jerome and I owe you $5. Rippon where are you? How did you miss this one?

The first part of Calvin's comments can be easily miscontrued to mean that someone might "lose their salvation", but that's not at all what he is saying. "Falling from grace" is a temporary state in Calvin's theology - the regenerate elect do not completely fall but they are restored and persevere. Which is what the second paragraph basically says - the exhortations to perseverence are effectual in the regenerate elect.

I just thought that some folks might be suprised with Calvins words "it is easy to fall from grace".

 

[Rippon]

Congrats to Jerome and I owe you $5. Rippon where are you? How did you miss this one?

Sorry J.D., I've been vocalizing with real singers.

 

[Allan]

I just thought that some folks might be suprised with Calvins words "it is easy to fall from grace".

They would have been if that were all he'd have said.