A Short History and Exposition of the Apostles' Creed and of the First Eight of the Thiry-Nine Articles of Religion; With an Introd. by the Lord Bis (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... PART II THE APOSTLES' CREED Symbolum Apostolicum. To avfiftoXov T5)v 'attocttoxoiv. THE FIRST PORTION OF THE CREED. OF GOD THE FATHER. ARTICLE I I believe in God. Credo in Deum. Utarsvco sis rbv 6s6v. 'I believe.' 'Credo.' 'irtoreuV That is, I assent to as able to be received by my understanding and lived out in my life, tis, 'into, ' after irurrewo, believe, implies belief 'by my heart, ' the test of which is the life. Possibly the English word 'believe' means 'live by.' Certainly 'believe in' does. The 'in' implies confidence, hope, love, and consequent action. So Pearson, here. 'God.' 'Deum.' 'rbv Ot6v.' Three meanings: --(1) I believe in the notion or conception of God, i.e. that the idea of a God is a thing conceivable. (2) I believe in the existence of God, as a fact. This is not able to be proved by natural reason, but rests solely on the revelation made by Jesus Christ (see S. John i. 18, iii. n, 12, 13), of Whose credibility as a revealer His Resurrection is the infallible proof (S. Matt. xii. 38-40). (3) I believe in the Unity of God. (Cf. the Nicene Creed, I believe in one God---kwitivw tU Ira 0tov.) The Article here implies this Unity. Hereby Polytheism (i.e. any religion having more than one God) is excluded, and any division of the substance of the Godhead, such as that made by Arius and Macedonius (see below), or in the supposed interest of the doctrine of the Trinity. (See below on Article of Religion I. p. 102, &c.) Though there are three Persons, yet there is only one God. Our Lord asserts this Unity of God to the Scribe in S. Mark xii. 29, 30, quoting Deut. vi. 4, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord.' So, too, cf. 1 Cor. viii. 6. Practical.---God has absolute claims on us and all that is ours. 'Father.'...