Required reading
Dogmatic Theology Vol 3 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or here) - Conclude Theology (Doctrine of God).
My summary
In this week's reading from the chapter on theology we hear about:
(i) the original unity of the human species;
(ii) the antiquity of man;
(iii) the origin of material motion;
(iv) the fatalism of Spinoza;
(v) miracles.
What grabbed me
I was interested in Shedd's tight definition of a miracle: 'The essence of the miracle is creation ex nihilo. Whoever holds this doctrine holds that of miracles generally; for every miracle is an exercise of this kind of power. In every one of the biblical miracles there is an element of creation from nonentity by pure will without the use of existing materials or instruments. This element is greater in some miracles than in others, but it is in them all. When Christ multiplied the loaves, there was some existing material to being with; but the addition to them was origination of bread from nothing. The “five loaves” could not become a mass of bread sufficient for “five thousand men besides women and children” by mere evolution. But when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, there was no existing life to which life was added by an act of will. Here there was no existing element upon which the miraculous power joined. This was a higher grade of miracle than the former. Christ teaches that the power to work a miracle originally, as he did, and not by delegated power, is proof conclusive of omnipotent deity, like the power to forgive sin (Mark 2:6–11).'
A miracle is always an act of God as only he can create out of nothing.
Next week's reading
Commence Anthropology by reading up to the paragraph beginning: 'Vol II. p. 52. Owen, Arminianism, ch. vii.) thus speaks of the separation of punishment from culpability'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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