The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: A Cause for Concern

February 12, 2008

The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Online Source)

… is an ecumenical project, promoting a vital link of communication between the varied Christian traditions of today and their common ancient ancestors in the faith. On this shared ground, we listen as leading pastoral theologians of seven centuries gather around the text of Scripture and offer their best theological, spiritual and pastoral insights.

The admission that this is an ecumenical project should be cause for concern to any serious conservative protestant. News flash, the reformation is not over. This so called communication between varied Christian traditions really means the now apostate Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. In my estimation, much of the heresy of these two traditions where born out of the patristic period.

To be sure, critical doctrinal issues such as the divinity of Christ, the Trinity, and original sin, were defended during the patristic period. However, a renewed interest in this period will only fuel the already toxic ecumenical climate we live in. It is no surprise that ecumenist like J. I. Packer, Richard John Neuhaus (Roman Catholic), Eugene Peterson, and Avery Dulles, commend these volumes.

Unity between Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants is literally impossible given the divide on the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Justification is hardly the only line that divides but it is a critical one to be sure.

For those who trust in the biblical view of the doctrine of Scripture must consider Galatians 1:6-9.

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Based on this passage from Galatians, biblical Christians can not be united with those in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Posted in Doctrine