Three problems with the doctrine of satisfactionism. It assumes God has human characteristics; it makes sin to be God's problem rather than man's; and it turns salvation into something external to man, leaving him essentially unchanged.
How precious the gift of the Cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the Cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise: it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light.
These three spiritual principles, or disciplines, are really a summation of the Philokalia, the collection of Orthodox Christian spiritual wisdom. And they are disciplines every single one of us can practice, no matter where we are in life...
Christians cannot be distinguished from the rest of the human race by country or language or customs. They do not live in cities of their own; they do not use a peculiar form of speech; they do not follow an eccentric manner of life...
Cynicism was a school of ethical philosophy that provoked extremes of admiration but also hostility. It is interesting that the revival of interest in Cynicism coincided with the emergence of Christianity.
The prologue in John sets the stage for the rest of the book. It shows the areas of focus John takes in Gospel: Jesus’ Divine role, and the authority of those who believe.