Ancient Anglican

As you read through this chapter notice the different lists of gifts that Paul sets forth and the fact that 1) everyone has a gift, and 2) no one has all the gifts.

Within his struggle with scriptural interpretation, Augustine concludes his discussion with the idea that all of Scripture and any reading we would give to a particular passage must be ordered by the two great precepts of love of God and love of neighbor “for otherwise we make God a liar.”

The allevation of women having to cover their heads in church raises two questions: 1) upon what grounds does the church have the authority to dispense with a clear biblical directive (there are a lot more directives the church has let go of in the last century) and 2) what is the underlying principle of Paul’s directive and how do we continue to carry out that instruction today.

Although Augustine says we should be open to alternative interpretations of Scripture, one of the rules he lays down is that the Scriptures should not be given a nonsensical interpretation that contradicts our reason and observations of the natural world.

Here, Paul speaks of the cloud (Holy Spirit), the sea (baptism), and the food and drink (Eucharist) that those in the Exodus experienced just as the Church now experiences their fulfillment.

A person’s insistence that their interpretation of Scripture is the “correct one” stems not from “vision but from vanity” and love of themselves and not of God. True humility and charity requires we be able to equally love someone else’s true opinion of the Scriptures. Augustine – On Christian Doctrine

In chapter 7, Paul presents sex as the outward and physical means of the renewal of the marriage covenant and the celebration of the self-emptying that should occur between spouses. 

In the readings, Paul sets forth the ideal about sex and marriage, but makes a practical exception to his ideal of celibacy by holding up marriage as the appropriate vehicle to control and direct sexuality.

Although this reading is generally concerned with sex, that is not the only ground given by Paul to expel a member of the congregation. 

This week we are reading about sex and lawsuits.

We are the Temple where God’s Spirit dwells, and where the true worship of him occurs. 

One way to read the Bible is to allow the Spirit to speak to us today through our Scripture readings thereby giving life to those readings. Under the Lecto Divina method we are to Read, Meditate, Pray, and Reuminate on the lesson, allowing the Spirit to speak.