Selected Reading, April 24, 2021

 

Three—no four—recommendations.

Christian History

When Martyn Lloyd-Jones Confronted a Pastor Who Loved Controversy and Denunciation
I’d never heard of T. T. Shields until a few years ago when an older friend mentioned that her father had been involved in some dispute with him.

This piece from Justin Taylor contains a long quote from Iain Murray’s biography of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Murray tells the story of of a time when Lloyd-Jones confronted Sheilds over his “wrong spirit” and “wrong methods,” which he believed spoiled Shields’ otherwise orthodox ministry.

Why Do We Say “Gospel-Centered”?
A short history of the term gospel-centered.

Basil of Caesarea
The latest important person from Christian history to get a theological terms entry. Other recent entries in this category includw Ambrose of Milan, Sabellius, and Origen.

Gospel

3 Things the Gospel Isn’t
From Ephesians 5:13-25, here are three things the gospel isn’t (Jared Wilson).

Theological Term of the Week: Basil of Caesarea

Basil of Caesarea
One of the Cappadocian fathers, the brother of Gregory of Nyssa, who was bishop of Caesarea, and “a mighty theologian.”1 He lived from 330-379. Also known as Basil the Great.

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

Basil lived the life of a hermit in Cappadocia for some years, but in 364 the bishop of Caesarea, Eusebius, persuaded him to accept ordination as a presbyter and help him in his battle with the Arians in the Caesarean church. In fact, Basil effectively ran the church as the presbyter in whom Eusebius placed the greatest confidence. On Eusebius’s death in 370, the church elected Basil as its new bishop. In the conflict against Arianism, Basil proved a hugely effective practical Church leader, organiser and administrator, as well as a superb preacher. He was also a mighty theologian who wrote a highly important treatise On the Holy Spirit in 375, in which he argued for the Spirit’s full diety. Many have praised Basil’s sermons and treatises as the clearest, most beautiful Christian writings in Greek from the entire patristic period.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Basil of Caesarea? and Who were the Cappadocian Fathers?
2. Theopedia: Basil the Great
3. Michael Haykin: “A beacon of fire shining from afar”: Basil of Caesarea’s friendship with the Syrian Christian, Eusebius of Samosata
4. Christian Classics Ethereal Library: Basil the Great

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Apollinarius
• Athanasius
• Augustine of Hippo
• Cappadocian fathers
• Columba
• Cyril of Alexandria
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Gregory the Great
• Hilary of Poitiers
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Jerome
• John Chrysostom
• Justin Martyr
• Maximus the Confessor
• Monica
• Nestorius
• Origen
• Patrick
• Pelagius
• Sabellius
• Tertullian
• Venerable Bede, The

Filed under Christian History

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

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Sunday's Hymn: Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the sun of life divine
Through passing clouds
Shall but more brightly shine.

—Ka­tha­ri­na A. von Schle­gel

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• This Is My Father’s World at The Happy Wonderer