All posts by Dwight Gingrich

On reading Augustine of Hippo

(Old Facebook Post)

I finished listening to St. Augustine’s City of God today. Forty-five hours of listening to a master rhetorician from the 5th century. One [amazon template=thumbnail11&asin=0140448942]moment I’m stirred by top-notch logic, powerful theological insights, and fascinating historical observations, the next I’m plunged into confusion by yet another hour of describing pagan gods and philosophies, and yet again I’m smiling at some strange ancient belief (salamanders can live in fire; peacock meat doesn’t spoil) or preoccupation (if “not a hair of your head will perish,” does that mean your resurrection body will have long hair and fingernails?). A wonderful opportunity to time travel, to remember again how much bigger this world is than our little 21st century. Now on to Augustine’s Confessions.

The frustration and joy of John the Baptist

(Old Facebook Post)

I love John the Baptist’s frustrated/joyful response to those who rejected Jesus:

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. [Pulls out his hair and rolls his eyes.] You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bride, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. [Wow! Here’s a key to joy!] He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:27-30 ESV)

Fun with church history and chastity

(Old Facebook Post)

Church history is fun! Today I learned from St. Augustine what the 3 floors of Noah’s ark might symbolize: 1st floor–chastity (faithfulness) in marriage; 2nd floor–chastity of widows; 3rd floor–chastity of virgins. It’s easy to see which he prized as displaying the highest virtue.

Tertullian’s perspective was even more interesting. He thought it was no great virtue to be a virgin if you had never married–that was only a natural and expected state for the never-married. If you wanted a virginity that counted, you should be a virgin as a widow, after having know the pleasures of sexuality. But if you really wanted a virginity that would really earn some merit… you should live as a virgin while married. Unfortunately for Tolstoy’s wife, that’s what Tolstoy also believed.

As I said, church history rocks! 🙂