Theological Term of the Week: Columba

Columba
An Irish presbyter-monk and missionary to Scotland; often called “the apostle of Scotland.” He lived from 521–597.1

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 312: 

Born at Garten in Donegal (northwestern Ireland), [Columba] was a presbyter-monk who established a number of churches and monasteries in his Irish homeland before crossing over to Scotland in 563. Tall, beautiful, burning with physical energy, constantly singing the Psalms of David in a booming voice, fearless, and in love with travel and adventure, Columba summed up in his own person and life the essence of Celtic Christianity. His missionary expedition to Scotland followed the normal Irish pattern—12 missionaries under the leadership of a 13th, based on the 12 apostles under the leadership of Christ. Columba and his team set up their headquarters on the tiny island of Iona, off the Scottish west coast. The monastery he founded there became one of the most successful centres of missionary work in the history of Christianity. From Iona, Columba’s disciples planted churches and monasteries throughout Scotland and northern England; Iona became thhe spiritual capital of the whole region. Among the northern Celtic Christians, the authority of the abbot of Iona had far more weight than the word of the pope.

• A hymn attributed to Columba: 

Christ Is the World’s Redeemer

Christ is the world’s redeemer,
the lover of the pure,
the fount of heavenly wisdom,
our trust and hope secure,
the armour of his soldiers,
the lord of earth and sky,
our health while we are living,
our life when we shall die.

Christ has our host surrounded
with clouds of martyrs bright
who wave their palms in triumph
and fire us for the fight.
For Christ the cross ascended
to save a world undone
and, suffering for the sinful,
our full redemption won.

Down in the realm of darkness
he lay a captive bound,
but at the hour appointed
he rose, a victor crowned,
and now, to heaven ascended,
he sits upon the throne
in glorious dominion,
his Father’s and his own.

Glory to God the Father,
the unbegotten One;
all honour be to Jesus,
his sole-begotten Son;
and to the Holy Spirit —
the perfect Trinity.
Let all the worlds give answer:
‘Amen, so let it be’.

Learn more:

1. Ligonier Ministries: Columba: Missionary to Scotland
2. Christian History: Iona’s Tough Dove
3. 5 Minutes in Church History: Iona

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Apollinarius
• Athanasius
• Augustine of Hippo
• Basil of Caesarea
• Cappadocian fathers
• Cyril of Alexandria
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Gregory the Great
• Hilary of Poitiers
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Jerome
• John Chrysostom
• Justin Martyr
• Monica
• Nestorius
• Origen
• Patrick
• Pelagius
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Theological Term of the Week: Patrick

Patrick
An outstanding Celtic Christian and missionary to Ireland; often called “the apostle of Ireland.” Also known as Saint Patrick. He died in 460 or 490.1

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 311: 

[H]e was probably born in Scotland, the son of a deacon and grandson of a presbyter. A band of Irish criminals kidnapped him in his youth, and sold him into slavery for six years in Ireland. It was during this period as a slave that Patrick experienced conversion; the faith he had learned in childhood became a living reality in his soul amid the harshness of a slaves existence… .

Patrick eventually managed to escape from his captors, and went to France, where he joined the monastery a Lerins and then at Auxerre (central France). But a vision called him back to Ireland to evangelise its largely pagan population. To this Patrick devoted the rest of his life crusading against the supernatural powers of pagan religion that reigned in Ireland, and conquering all their dark magic in the mighty strength of Christ.

• A hymn by Patrick, the apostle of Ireland.

Patrick’s Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on cross for my salvation,
his bursting from the spiced tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay,
God’s ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
God’s heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, 
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature has creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
salvation is of Christ the Lord!

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Saint Patrick and why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s day?
2. Ligonier Ministries: Who Was Saint Patrick and Should Christians Celebrate St. Patrick’s day?
3. Christian History: Patrick the Saint

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Apollinarius
• Athanasius
• Augustine of Hippo
• Basil of Caesarea
• Cappadocian fathers
• Cyril of Alexandria
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Gregory the Great
• Hilary of Poitiers
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Jerome
• John Chrysostom
• Justin Martyr
• Monica
• Nestorius
• Origen
• Pelagius
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Theological Term of the Week: Gregory the Great

Gregory the Great
Pope Gregory I, one of the greatest of Rome’s bishops. He was born in 540 and was pope from 590-604.1

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 307: 

Gregory was a devout disciple of Augustine of Hippo in his theology, but he blended Augustine’s theology with other elements drawn from the popular religious beliefs and practices of his own day. He taught that all human beings are born sinful, and that Christ alone in his sovereign grace can rescue sinners from their bondage to sin. This salvation comes through baptism, in which the Holy Spirit causes the sinner (including the new-born baby) to be spiritually reborn. However, the Christian must make up for sins committed after baptism through works of love. Gregory also taught that, for believers, holy communion had the power to wash away post-baptismal sin, and that if at death a Christian had any sins left which had not been dealt with, he must pay for them by sufferings in purgatory, a place of purifying fire midway between heaven and hell. Theologians had considered belief in purgatory to be an opinion rather than a definite Christian doctrine in Augustine’s time; Gregory’s influence helped to make it a definite doctrine in the West (although not in the East, which has never accepted the idea). Based on this belief in purgatory, Gregory introduced the practice of celebrating special communion services for the dead; such services, Gregory thought, were effective for remitting the sins of departed souls and thus hastening their passage from purgatory to heaven.  

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Gregory the Great
2. Ligonier Ministries: Gregory “the Great”
3. Christian History: Gregory the Great
4. Christian History Institute: Gregory I and England

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Apollinarius
• Athanasius
• Augustine of Hippo
• Basil of Caesarea
• Cappadocian fathers
• Cyril of Alexandria
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Hilary of Poitiers
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Jerome
• John Chrysostom
• Justin Martyr
• Monica
• Nestorius
• Origen
• Pelagius
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.